Aeria Games’ F.E.A.R. Online was recently announced and managed to make more than a few of us wonder just what’s up. After all, this is a free to play online shooter based on F.E.A.R. franchise, which has seen its share of ups and downs in the past several years.

Regardless, it was announced that there would be a closed beta for the game starting on October 8th. However, Aeria Games has revealed on Facebook that the beta will be open to all. All you need to do is register an Aeria account and you’ll be good to go. You still need to download the client from the main website so don’t bother looking for it on Steam.

F.E.A.R. Online takes place during the events of F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin. There will be 10 maps available and several different gameplay modes, chief among them being a four player co-op mode. The game launches on October 17th for Steam.

Inplay Interactive’s F.E.A.R. Online has been announced today based on the first person shooter/horror franchise from Monolith Productions and various other studios over the years. It will launch on October 17th for PC via Steam but also be available as an open beta on October 8th for those who sign up at the official website.

F.E.A.R. Online will be a free to play FPS/horror title but apparently has an “extensive redesign” and “gameplay adjustments” to help it stand out. The game will feature ten different maps and several game modes including a co-op mode for four players. If you watch the most recent teaser trailer, you’ll see hints of antagonist Samara throughout along with the various, nightmarish creatures encountered throughout the series. According to Aeria Games, F.E.A.R. Online runs parallel to the second game, which starred Michael Becket.

What are your thoughts on F.E.A.R. Online? Let us know in the comments below.

Today Aeria Games, one of the best known names in free-to-play games announced that they will be releasing the upcoming F.E.A.R. game, and that it will be free online. F.E.A.R. will act as an online co-op extension of the 2009 console release, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, utilizing the same FPS style of game play and expanding on the Project Origins story. The story will again center on F.E.A.R. antagonistt, Alma Wade.

If the trailer is any indication, F.E.A.R. Online looks to be yet another psychologically harrowing installment in an already terrifying series.

Tom Nichols, Vice President of PC gaming at Aeria Games had this to say about the newly announced F.E.A.R. installment: “We are thrilled to present the next entry in one of the most popular horror franchises of the last decade. F.E.A.R. Online will bring back the tense, heart-pounding action that the series is known for and make it accessible to a huge online community of competitive players.”

Interested games can sign up for the F.E.A.R. Online Beta here.