Fallen Earth, the development studio behind the eponymous upcoming MMO Fallen Earth, has announced that the post-apocalyptic title is now in closed beta. Interested parties can now sign up to receive closed beta keys at the Fallen Earth website.

According to the developers, closed beta testers are to have the opportunity to experience the storyline and play through all three sectors of the game world, while the developers perform system stress tests and other tweaking.

Fallen Earth is set in the Grand Canyon in 2156 after a "lethal disease destroyed most of mankind" and features a classless advancement system, six factions and a crafting system in which players can make 95 percent of game items. The title is due for release in the second quarter of 2009.

“This is a critical milestone for our team and an opportunity to showcase updated content and features,” said Colin Dwan, project manager for Fallen Earth. “We are excited to see how players progress through all three sectors without any interference, and anxious to see where we can improve the overall experience.”