'The Secret World' at GamesCom: new trial, first raid instance revealed, August update details

Funcom has announced that a limited time trial for the company's recently launched massively multiplayer online role-playing game 'The Secret World' kicked off today. The trial coincides with this week's GamesCom show that is taking place in Cologne, Germany, where Funcom is conducting press demos and showcasing exclusive new content that will be making its way into the MMO in the coming weeks and months.

The trial offer is open until Sunday August 19th and to participate all you have to do is visit thesecretworld.com and register. Registering will allow you to play for three days for free (no matter when you sign up as long as you sign up by August 19th), and players who manage to complete at least thirty missions during that time will also be awarded with two extra days of playtime.

Among the content being revealed for the very first time at GamesCom is the first raid that will be introduced to the game in a couple of months time. The raid, set in a devastated New York City, builds on the story focus in The Secret World to create a unique raid experience. Starting out, players will be introduced to the story by listening to the accounts of characters that have taken refuge in the New York subway system, and eventually players will battle a monster (below) that towers over the skyscrapers in the middle of Times Square.

Funcom announced in July that the company is committed to an ambitious update plan where new content is being introduced to the game on a monthly basis. The first of these updates, which are known as Issues, launched late July and introduced several new missions, a marketplace for players to buy and sell items, and a hardcore mode to two dungeons. The second update - titled Issue #2: Digging Deeper - was revealed today and will introduce, among other things, the rocket launcher auxiliary weapon, several new missions, and the ability for players to seek out a plastic surgeon and barber in the game world to customize their looks.