Earth Eternal has quite a history. Sparkplay Media launched the free-to-play MMO that features anthropomorphic animals in late 2009, but had to shut the game down in summer 2010 when it ran out of funds. The game was then reborn in Japan in April, officially launching launching a couple weeks ago as Ikimonogatari.

After all that, Earth Eternal is finally returning to North America this summer! MMORPG.com announced that the ownership of the game is now handled by Outblaze and TurnOut Ventures. According to the FAQ, it's best to think of this Earth Eternal as a brand new game. You won't be able to play with your old character, and you'll need a Facebook account to connect to the game. Earth Enternal is still free-to-play, and the open beta should launch very soon.

For a look back at the original Earth Eternal, check out our tour of the closed beta back in 2009. Matt Mihaly, then-CEO and creative director of Sparkplay Media, spoke with us at the time about the MMO's in-depth history and development.