Bethesda Vice President Pete Hines revealed on Twitter on Wednesday that the company has begun distributing invites to the beta for Elder Scrolls Online, GameSpot.com reports, leaving many gamers wondering if it will be released sooner than expected.

While the game is slated launch sometime in 2014, it remains unknown if the MMO will be made available to users toward the beginning or end of the year.

"A LOT of beta invites going out for ESO (reminder: closed beta, under NDA). Maybe I'll see you in Tamriel this weekend?" Hines wrote on Twitter.

Earlier this week, ZeniMax Online Studios revealed that users can get attacked while picking locks if they let their guard down within the game, VG247.com reports.

"Tamriel is a dangerous place," ZeniMax Online wrote in its Elder Scrolls Online blog.  

"If you let your guard down while you focus on lockpicking, you might get attacked. Enemy NPCs might do this anywhere in the world, and hostile players will love the opportunity to surprise you in Cyrodiil. But then again, you never know what loot might be in that chest ... maybe it's worth bringing a friend to watch your back?"

They also revealed that the game's release date version will limit the number of alliance participants.

War campaigns will feature a "soft cap to limit the number of participants from one alliance," so no one faction will have the advantage of overwhelming numbers, Joystiq.com reports.