Today Square Enix announced the beta testing of the upcoming Final Fantasy XV DLC titled "Multiplayer Expansion: Comrades."

The beta test will be held between August 3rd and August 8th, and those who purchased the season pass will be able to participate. PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold are also required. The same requirement will be extended to the final version of the expansion, but you'll be able to purchase it separately from the season pass.

The beta test will let you create and save up to eight different cgaracters (avatars), while in the final version you'll be able to grow them by completing quests and defeating enemies that will yield experience. Following updates will let you play as Noctis, Gladiolus, Prompto and Ignis.

Further customization will be allowed in the beta via various items, and when the expansion will release you'll be able to unlock new customization items by purchasing them at outposts and winning them as quest rewards, with more items coming via future patches.

The beta will include a base camp and a tutorial, while the final expansion will include its own full fledged city.

Only katana, clubs, daggers, and shuriken will be available as weapons in the beta, with different attack patterns compared to Noctis in single player. More weapons will come when the expansion releases, including polearms, crossbows, and shields, and more attack patterns. Each weapon will come with its own experience curve and abilities, and can be leveled up by meeting certain conditions.

Royal sigils will let players invoke the power of sovereigns. Four default ones will be included in the beta, while they will be collected and equipped with progression in the final experience. The enhancements they provide will play a key role in multiplayer battles.

The beta will let you play only three quests with up to three stages each, and online matching will be performed to get players together. The final launch will include quests with full story lines, single player quests, the ability to fight with up to three other players or AI companions.

Final Fantasy XV's iconic Meals will also be included. In the beta each player will receive an ingredient at the end of each quests, while there will be more variety in the final expansion, with a variety of cooks and boosts provided by different meals.

Items named Meteorshards will also be implemented. They won't have an use in the beta, but they will expand the scope of available quests and activities in the final version.

The beta will support preset messages and voice chat, while the final expansion will include the ability to make camps to meet with friends, receive quest report cards, take pictures and more. Preset chat messages will also be expanded and will be made customizable.

Below you can check out four screenshots. Final Fantasy XV is currently available for PS4 and Xbox One.

In the meanwhile, Final Fantasy XV‘s development team is continuing to push the game with single player DLC, including the recently released Episode Prompto, and Episode Ignis, that will come in December. Major announcements are also expected to come at Gamescom in August.