Planetside 2's second continent goes live today

Planetside 2 beta testers will be able to explore the second of two pre-launch continents this week.

As detailed on Massively, Esamir is quite different from the crowded canyons and forests of Indar. A snowy landscape, Esamir has only about half as many structures and many more wide-open spaces, meaning you have more time to breath and plot than in the ambush-ridden landscape of Indar.

It also means it takes you a while to hoof it from one base to another, so there should be time to get settled and comfortable before your freshly-taken base comes under enemy assault. Like Indar, the entire length and breadth of Esamir has been designed by hand, so even with this emphasis on space there should be plenty of interesting nooks and crannies to find and exploit.

The snow and ice mean vehicles will handle differently, but Sony Online Entertainment also hopes that Esamir's design will favour those who use vehicles creatively and reactively, rather than relying on a small number of strategies, as on Indar.

A third continent will eventually join Indar and Esamir, but possibly not till after launch. Planetside 2 is in closed beta but expected to go public later this year; it will be free-to-play but premium members score some sweet bonuses.