We've known that Star Trek Online's release date was sometime in the year 2010 but it looks like developer Cryptic Studios and publisher Atari have now gotten the release date nailed down a little more. In a new chat at Videogamer.com, Cryptic's executive producer Craig Zinkievich stated the sci-fi MMO will be due out in the first quarter of next year.

Even better news for Trekkers who people who just want to play the game is that the closed beta test should begin soon-ish with Zinkievich stating, The closed beta is really just right around the corner. I think that there's a press release that's going to go out in just a couple of days." In the meantime our sister site Massively has posted five new and exclusive screenshots from Star Trek Online to check out today.