Weeks ago, Sony Online Entertainment teased gamers on the imminent release of the beta version of "Planetside 2." Now, it has confirmed that the exclusive beta of the game for PlayStation 4 will roll out on Jan. 20. 

Sony will release a few thousand invites to players that will most likely increase as the beta runs. According to IGN, the invitation will be sent in chronological order to gamers who signed up on the "PlanetSide 2" website. The beta version will be available in North America only. 

Earlier this year, Sony Online Entertainment President John Smedley took to Twitter and posted: "It (PlanetSide 2's beta) was approved first pass and goes up either the week of the 13th or 20th. We will know when we are back on the 5th."  

He also encouraged players to sign up for the beta version.

The beta version for PlayStation 4 was supposed to be released last year, with Dec. 31, 2014 pegged as its tentative schedule. However, it was delayed indefinitely. The PS4 version of the game has long been overdue since the PC version was released way back in November 2012. 

"As much as it sounds like we're blowing smoke, we're working hard to release a game that feels like a full-on console experience and not just like a port. So, it's taken us quite a long time to re-jigger our user interface and our controls. There's a lot that needs to get done," creative director Matt Higby said in November last year.

"Planetside 2" is a Sony Online Entertainment's free-to-play massively multiplayer first-person shooter game officially launched at the Sony Fan Fair on July 7, 2011. The original version of "Planetside" was released in 2003. Just like the original game, the sequel follows three factions as they fight for territorial control of planet Auraxis. It makes use of a new game engine that supports a large number of players in continuous large-scale conflict.