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🥾 We are here to stomp out the speculation!
JUST ANNOUNCED on our Development Update - Alpha Two is coming to you in 2024! Who else can't wait?! 🔥
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Great news!
(not because they want but because they'll have unexpected delays)
Dünhold Discord
Dünhold Website
Getting time off work for sure!
OOOFFF !!! So Release early 2024 is out of the Question. 😅 ( fxxx, hahaah.
What interests me right now is -> is it early 2024, or Summer 2024, or Autumn or Winter 2024 a whole Year from now on ?
I am excited, but this is kind of a Hole similar like a Plothole. Something everyone would be exited to understand and know : but there is just no Knowledge and/or Information.
Being well aware over here, what " Not Year's* away means ".
It could mean everything beneath the Time-Span under Two whole Years, right ? So if it is 1 Year and a whoppig 364* Days (lol) - it still would be below Two Years, right ?
It could also mean, that the " Beta " of Ashes of Creation is easily only at first Playable in 2025. 😅
Good things need Time, Yes. But this is heavy. Very heavy. The Game looks so "finished" already, but knowing it will still take so long. How incredibly huge is this Game to be planned at Launch ? 😳
I changed my mind. I think it will be July.
Reasoning: they said 2 tests will happen before Alpha 2.
They have enough time to prepare the first testing they mentioned in February.
Then 1 month work on feedback: March
April 2nd test
May and June: work on feedback
July: Alpha 2
I assume there will be a lengthy period of time for select play testing for most of next year to prepare for the wider audience of Alpha 2.
We also will need to find out more about the start/restart schedule post Alpha 2 kickoff. I would imagine the intent is to try to make this as seamless as possible based on previous livestream demonstrations, but it is still an Alpha. That said, is Intrepid looking at predetermined weekly/monthly/quarterly resets or is the plan to roll the changes as either needed or when it “feels” right? Pretty sure you are using metrics to help with those decision points.
To me the most interesting part will be the decision point between a beloved system or feature versus the data from the players that points towards a different direction or concept. In addition the contrast between what players say they want versus what they actually do.
I wonder had Alpha 1 been persistent would Intrepid already have some of these data? Guess that would be balancing several years of data versus the costs to maintain a persistent Alpha 1 at the expense of development. Although come Alpha 2 the features added since Alpha 1 closed would have been battle tested. So there are trade offs with pros and cons.
This makes the most sense from a business plan. Work half the year to make sure you're ready. Launch A2 start of third quarter allowing you to fix shit and obtain data all the way up to Q4 then use the early part of Q4 for major adjustments before the holidays. Let those adjustments ride into the new year then start executing the next years plan.
Q1 : Unlikely as they would have marketed this differently. There is almost no hype build-up for people who are not actively listening to all of Stephen's words. Also, since they mentioned they want us to test the game as fully as possible they will release (showcase) one new class (the bard) and probably a reworked fighter and ranger. Unless the December showcase is a massive one, i dont see how intrepid will get this done by January.
Q2 : Possible, but tight deadline and as Spif mentioned I doubt they will launch alpha 2 during the holiday season.
Q3 : Most likely since they will have had enough time to release 'promised' content and deal with any/most setbacks.
Q4 : Possible but I personally dont think they would market a "2024" launch, stop selling alpha 2 keys in 2023 and then release alpha 2 at the end of 2024.
All things considered, I personally can't wait to play the game and see what the actual state of the game is.
But for less disappointment, of course you need to convince yourself in the 3rd quarter - because the +- 1st quarter error (in your prediction) doesn’t look super big, right?
Very exciting news.
Alpha 2 will not be feature complete (summoner will not be playable), so it is a not-so-typical release, but I think this gives me some confidence to say ashes may be coming 2025/early 26? Beta 1's usually only last 3-4 months, looking at other MMOs, and beta 2 is usually something like 2 weeks.
I'm feelin pretty hyped bois.
Pax Dei and Dune start alpha tests.
Which one will release first?
PvX OCE/SEA Guild
Discord https://discord.gg/ea9NwHhMTc
https://www.amnestyguild.net/jointheguild
That way people can play Alpha 2 without having to compete