The free-to-play gaming market got a little richer today with the release of Global Agenda's 1.4 Free Agent update. The latest update from Hi-Rez Studios adds revisions to several skill trees, new repeatable missions, additional endgame content with the long-awaited Dome Defense raid challenge. There are several other pieces of content included in the update, but most notably, the Free Agent update officially brings Global Agenda to the free-to-play market.

Players that purchase the paid version of the game will become known as "Elite Agents" and will also have the added benefit of earning experience, tokens, credits faster and the ability to earn elite loot drops in-game. Elite Agents can also use premium in-game features like mail, the auction house and gain priority server access. Check out the official press release after the break.

Still have questions? Be sure to check out the Global Agenda Free Agent FAQ.

Hi-Rez Studios Launches Global Agenda: Free Agent

The #1 Shooter MMO Is Free-To-Play Starting Today

ATLANTA - April 14, 2011 -- Hi-Rez Studios today announced the launch of Global Agenda: Free Agent (GA: Free Agent), a free to play, sci-fi, jetpack-enabled Shooter MMO. GA: Free Agent features fast-paced class-based shooter combat, AAA graphics powered by Unreal Engine 3, accessible RPG character advancement, and a diverse set of mission content including OpenZone, PvE, PvP, and Agency vs. Agency.

Today, with version 1.4 now live, players can download and play all existing Global Agenda: Free Agent content at no charge by visiting http://www.globalagendagame.com.  The Global Agenda website, forums, and web-store have also been updated to greet players new and old with the Free Agent branding.

Optional purchases at the Global Agenda web-store allow players to progress more quickly through the game, accelerating xp, credits, tokens, and loot.  

"Today Hi-Rez Studios delivers exceptional class-based shooter combat for free", says Todd Harris, Hi-Rez Studios COO. "To a free-to-play audience tired of click and wait fantasy MMOs, or unbalanced pay to win shooters, we think that the advanced sci-fi visuals and balanced combat of Global Agenda: Free Agent will be very refreshing.  We’ve seen a very positive response from our announcement and have invested in server capacity to handle the increased demand."

In addition to enabling free play, this version 1.4 Free Agent update introduces new content and features to the current Global Agenda gameplay.  These updates include:

• New revised skill trees for Recon, Assault, Robotics and Medic classes to encourage specialization and build diversity.
  
• New repeatable missions from Operative Vanik and Ava Lockhart in Dome City
  
• New end-game content, Dome Defense, added as a Raid challenge for players level 40 and above.  Dome Defense requires a highly skilled and coordinated team to maintain the health of the hero NPC Dalton Bancroft while defending Dome City from waves of Recursive Colony robots
  
• Mercenary PvP matches for players level 30 and above now grant separate and better rewards.  Increased drop rates for Epic items as well as increased drop of Crescent Jetpack.  New Tier-5 Dyes now drop from 30+ Merc PvP
  
• PvP game-type Demolition has been re-implemented as Acquisition in which one team must capture a robot from the enemy and take it back to their base; our Global Agenda version of the class Capture the Flag game-type
  
• Many PvP and PvE instance maps have been adjusted to fix exploits and promote more varied and balanced gameplay.

Learn more in the Free Agent FAQ.

About Hi-Rez Studios

Hi-Rez Studios, Inc, located just outside of Atlanta GA, was established in 2005 to create exceptional online interactive entertainment.  In February 2010 the company released the squad-based Shooter-MMO Global Agenda.  Hi-Rez is currently developing other competitive online games including Tribes: Ascend.   For more information, visit www.hirezstudios.com