Battalion 1944 launches on Steam Early Access at 12 p.m. ET on February 1

Battalion 1944 is gearing up to take on the competitive shooter scene with its February 1 Steam Early Access launch. To mark the occasion, the team behind the game has revealed all of the launch details for those wanting to jump in right away, as well as a peek at what's coming down the pike.

First and foremost, Battalion 1944 is set to launch at 9 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. ET (5 p.m. GMT) on Steam Early Access. The game will be available for a base price of $14.99 going forward, but a 10 percent discount will be available at launch for a limited time. If you supported the game on Kickstarter of via Humble Bundle, you should receive a Steam key via email to redeem for the full game. Those who really want to fly their Battalion 1944 stripes will also be able to pick up a "First to Fight" Edition for $24.99. This edition packs bonus content, including:

• Battalion 1944 Core Game
• 5x 'The Originial War Chests'
• Exclusive 'First To Fight' Trench Gun Weapon Skin
• Battalion 1944 Original Soundtrack

According to the Battalion 1944 team, if you already own the game, you'll also be able to upgrade to the "First to Fight" edition for $12.99.

Looking forward, Battalion 1944's first post-launch update will bring competitive matchmaking to Early Access on February 8. Here's how things will work:

Ranked play will match players against each other of similar skill level with a hidden ELO system. Players will initially be put into placement matches with other players who are also completing their placements. Once all 10 placement matches are complete, you will then be put into a ranking division, either Bronze, Silver, Gold or Diamond. The goal of ranked play is for players to find others of a similar skill level and strive towards self improvement and teamplay.

The first patch will also include VOIP support and a number of other small tweaks and changes. As for events, the first community event, called The Blitzkrieg Battle, will be run as a 64-team tournament on February 3.

With an eye on fostering a competitive scene around its World War 2 shooter core, Battalion 1944 will be an interesting game to watch as it continues to be shaped by player feedback. That's particularly true now that the game is likely to see an influx of players during its Early Access period. For more, you can check out a look at Battalion 1944's development roadmap, as well as our hands-on with an early alpha version of the game from last spring. If you're looking to jump into the action, you can grab Battalion 1944 for $14.99 starting February 1.

See at Steam