Stronger, faster and more lethal than mankind’s deadliest soldier: Enlist today as a member of Section 9, an elite force of cybernetically enhanced combat operatives who connect through cyberspace to protect society and fight terrorists on the bleak streets of a futuristic Japan.

In First Assault, society has embraced new technology, leaving themselves vulnerable to malicious super-hackers. Cyber terrorism has evolved and so must you! Dive beyond humanity as you upgrade and augment yourself into a walking weapon, capable of super human feats. Deliver the first assault by coordinating strategic attacks, hacking enemy weaponry and utilizing SkillSync to link-up and share cyber skills with your allies, in this gripping team shooter inspired by “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex”, the critically acclaimed series based on Shirow Masamune’s original comic “The Ghost in the Shell".

Starting today players in North America, Latin America, Europe, Australia and other supported regions can join Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – First Assault Online (First Assault) for free on PC via Steam or the Nexon Global Platform.

After working with fans throughout Early Access and implementing their feedback to help shape the game, Neople is now ready to introduce First Assault to a wider audience, as the developer continues to add and improve content. Now in an extended free weekend promotion, players who join this week can also take part in the “Major Reflection” in-game event and compete for a chance to win signature skins and other rewards.

As a member of Section 9, First Assault playersare part of an elite force of cybernetically enhanced combat operatives tasked with protecting society and fighting terrorists on the bleak streets of a futuristic Japan.

In tandem with the open beta launching today, Neople has also revealed a new update for First Assault titled “Up Close and Personal; Hand of Destiny”, which features a prototype of the upcoming ‘Ghost Assault Mode’. In a match of cyborgs versus “Ghosts,” where the latter is hackable by either team when killed, players must leverage cyberskills including Hyper Sprint and Therm-optic Camo in the battle to survive.

Also included in the update is new operative Kuro, another character created exclusively for First Assault to continue building the franchise and advance the story beyond its connection to “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex”. Kuro hails from the Japanese self-defense forces, where he quickly racked up commendations for his combat skills. His career was nearly cut short by catastrophic injury, but he elected to undergo full-body prosthesis in order to remain combat-ready.  A specialist in electronic warfare to rival even Ishikawa, Kuro can shut his enemies down with EMP devices. It was for this talent that Chief Aramaki, also a JSDF veteran, brought him into Public Security.

“Our team are dedicated fans of ‘The Ghost in the Shell’ franchise, and it’s important to us to bring this engaging world to life as an exciting sci-fi FPS in a way that will appeal to both established fans and newcomers to the IP,” said Jung Eik Choi, lead director of First Assault at Neople. “Maintaining open communication with our community in the Early Access phase allowed us to improve many aspects of First Assault, including game experience, maps, modes, controls and more. We are so appreciative of the players who have been part of the journey so far, and are looking forward to sharing this truly collaborative effort with a wider audience in open beta.”

• Improvements made to First Assault since its Early Access launch in December 2015 include:
• Rebalances of Operative skills and weapons for better competitive play
• Introduction of two in-progress “prototype” maps for player feedback, and three new official maps based on locations seen in the “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex” anime
• Addition of a new Operative, Maven, original to the game
• Improved UI for menus

Neople will continue to add and iterate on new content throughout the open beta phase, sourcing ideas and feedback from their continued connection with the First Assault community.