Persistent alpha
Alpha-2 is known as the persistent alpha.[1][2] Persistent means that the Alpha-2 servers will be kept up all day and night until launch.[3][1]
- Alpha-2 servers will become the public test servers (PTS) post-launch that are used to test patches and updates.[7][5][1]
- Alpha-2 will remain even post launch as our public test server.[7] – Steven Sharif
- The ultimate goal for A2 is to be persistent and the PTS, but before we get that far there's gonna be some wipes I would expect.[5] – Steven Sharif
Alpha-2
Ashes of Creation's core game systems are expected to be in place at the start of Alpha-2.[11][12] By the end of Alpha-2, the game is expected to be feature complete, but it will not be content complete until launch.[3][4] Alpha-2 will last until launch and will run in parallel with Beta-1 and Beta-2.[3][1]
- Alpha-2 is intended to be a true functional representation of all the core systems and features.[13] – Steven Sharif
- World
- Seasons and climates.[14][12]
- Events.[15][16]
- Story arcs.[CORE 1][11]
- Quests.[CORE 1][11][15][17][18]
- Points of interest.[CORE 1][11]
- Zones are expected to be around 60-70% complete before they are ready for Alpha-2.[19] The developers will publish a list of starting biomes closer to the start of Alpha-2.[20][21]
- The starting biomes will be announced when we are confident which ones will be ready. Environmentally and asset wise, there are 7ish biomes created. Content wise (PoIs, narrative/quest, creatures etc) is a decision that will be evaluated for A2 entrance as testing continues. When we are ready to share this info we will.[21] – Steven Sharif
- The eastern continent may not be included until later in Alpha-2.[22]
- Character
- Character creator.[23][24]
- Some aspects of the character creator will not be present at the start of Alpha-2.[25]
- Character progression up to level 30 (subject to change).[26] Previously this was stated to be level 35.[CORE 1][11][11][27]
- Bard, Cleric, Fighter, Mage, Ranger, Rogue, and Tank primary archetypes are expected to be present at the beginning of Alpha-2, along with some secondary classes and augments.[28][29][30][CORE 1][11][31][15][32][33][34] Summoner may also be released at the beginning of Alpha-2.[35]
- Secondary selections will be released individually, rather than all at once.[30]
- Tulnar race.[36]
- Family summon mechanic.[37]
- Religions.[38]
- Mounts.[CORE 1][11]
- Character creator.[23][24]
- Combat
- Combat revamp.[15][32]
- Active and passive skills will be re-architected.[32]
- Primary skills are expected to be very different to those in Alpha-1.[32][39]
- Weapon skill trees will be present to augment the combo system.[40]
- Sieges.[CORE 1][11][12]
- Guild wars.[CORE 1][11]
- Combat revamp.[15][32]
- Nodes
- Node progression to City (stage 5) and potentially Metropolis (stage 6).[CORE 1][11][12]
- Relics and the Reliquary node building.[43]
- Player housing.[CORE 1][11][12]
- Crop rotations.[12]
- Naval content will be introduced as an Alpha-2 update.[44][15][12]
- Naval warfare.[12]
- Three ship classes.[12][45]
- Ships will have functioning cannons but the ship building UI may not be complete.[12]
- Economy
- Artisan classes (Gathering, Processing, Crafting).[CORE 1][11][15][46]
- Artisan gear sets.[47]
- Potential gameplay layers such as surveying and land management are being considered for gathering.[48]
- Auction houses.[12]
- Crates used to transport supplies between storage points and caravans.[49]
- Artisan classes (Gathering, Processing, Crafting).[CORE 1][11][15][46]
- Other
- Guild management tools.[50]
- Unreal Engine 5.[51][52][53]
- Some of Bear McCreary's music will be in Alpha-2.[54]
- User interface and tutorial systems.[17]
- Emblem, logo and symbol editor (tentatively).[55]
Alpha-1 and Alpha-2 testers may be invited to participate in spot testing prior to the Alpha-2 release.[56][57]
Alpha-2 is known as the persistent alpha.[1][2]
- Q: What systems are still needed to be rolled out before Alpha two?
- A: I don't think it's at a core level that there's a particular system that has yet to be feature developed. Right now, it's more along the lines of expanding on those features, getting UI support for those features... UI, VFX, audio effects: Those are all big bottlenecks because they tend to occur at the end of the pipeline of content development; and then also ensuring that the interactions are polished and working. So from a large feature perspective- let me think about that, what large feature endeavor is still outstanding on the Alpha-2 front? A lot of it is content. I'm not sure that it's a feature one. I can't think of any large system features that haven't been stood up from a core functional perspective that don't just need expanding on, slash content development on.[58] – Steven Sharif
- Q: And when you say content, that's like art and implementation and so on?
- A: Narrative quests, the assets, the modelling, the particular types of buildings, the armor sets, the creatures, the visual effects, audibility systems. Those are all content that accompany what the code is creating from a mechanical perspective.[59] – Steven Sharif
Alpha-2 core features list.[11]
Alpha-2 availability
Phase | Release | Estimated/Actual date |
---|---|---|
Alpha-2 | Alpha-2 spot testing (NDA).[60][61][56][62] | November 2023.[63] |
Alpha-2 (No NDA).[60][56][1][2] | Q3 2024.[64][60][65] |
Server wipes
Alpha and Beta servers will be wiped prior to launch.[6]
As a general rule, if the testing phase contains the word Alpha, it is safe to assume there will likely be wipes.[5] – Steven Sharif
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Livestream, January 18, 2018 (25:22).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Livestream, April 7, 2023 (28:08).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Livestream, July 29, 2022 (1:08:49).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4
- ↑ 6.0 6.1
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Livestream, July 29, 2022 (1:10:05).
- ↑ Podcast, July 15, 2023 (5:23).
- ↑ Video, March 31, 2022 (34:16).
- ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 Livestream, March 31, 2023 (1:24:21).
- ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 Podcast, September 29, 2021 (59:29).
- ↑ Interview, July 9, 2023 (1:30:10).
- ↑ Livestream, April 29, 2022 (56:24).
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 Livestream, October 14, 2022 (6:38).
- ↑ Livestream, April 29, 2022 (32:29).
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Blog: Creative Director's Letter, October 16 2020
- ↑ Livestream, April 7, 2023 (13:35).
- ↑ Livestream, March 29, 2024 (2:31:06).
- ↑ 21.0 21.1
- ↑ Livestream, April 7, 2023 (22:15).
- ↑ Interview, July 9, 2023 (1:49:39).
- ↑ Video, March 31, 2022 (0:00).
- ↑ Livestream, April 7, 2023 (54:02).
- ↑ Livestream, December 19, 2023 (1:41:54).
- ↑ Livestream, January 28, 2022 (15:35).
- ↑ Interview, July 9, 2023 (1:11:29).
- ↑ Interview, July 9, 2023 (1:06:53).
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Livestream, April 7, 2023 (1:14:05).
- ↑ Livestream, October 14, 2022 (15:44).
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Podcast, September 29, 2021 (23:00).
- ↑ Livestream, March 28, 2020 (1:41:11).
- ↑ Interview, October 20, 2018 (12:38).
- ↑
- ↑ Livestream, 2018-04-8 (AM) (2:17).
- ↑
- ↑ Interview, October 20, 2018 (0:00).
- ↑ Livestream, September 24, 2021 (1:18:06).
- ↑ Livestream, September 24, 2021 (1:19:17).
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ Livestream, April 29, 2022 (21:00).
- ↑ Interview, July 9, 2023 (1:28:32).
- ↑ Livestream, September 27, 2018 (54:02).
- ↑ Interview, February 7, 2021 (35:30).
- ↑ Livestream, June 30, 2022 (1:17:34).
- ↑ Livestream, April 29, 2022 (25:16).
- ↑ Livestream, February 25, 2022 (1:10:00).
- ↑ Interview, July 9, 2023 (1:52:20).
- ↑ Livestream, January 28, 2022 (7:26).
- ↑ Livestream, December 23, 2021 (40:53).
- ↑ Livestream, December 23, 2021 (50:50).
- ↑
- ↑ Livestream, October 31, 2018 (47:44).
- ↑ 56.0 56.1 56.2 Livestream, March 31, 2023 (5:57).
- ↑ Livestream, July 30, 2021 (45:11).
- ↑ Interview, July 9, 2023 (1:11:53).
- ↑ Interview, July 9, 2023 (1:13:08).
- ↑ 60.0 60.1 60.2 Livestream, September 29, 2023 (55:34).
- ↑ Interview, July 9, 2023 (26:35).
- ↑ Livestream, October 14, 2022 (17:05).
- ↑
- ↑ Intrepid Studios Support - What are the Alpha/Beta Release dates?
- ↑
- ↑ Alpha one test schedule, Mar 12, 2021.
- ↑ Livestream, November 30, 2020 (7:27).