Glorious Alpha Two Testers!
Phase I of Alpha Two testing will occur on weekends. Each weekend is scheduled to start on Fridays at 10 AM PT and end on Sundays at 10 PM PT. Find out more here.
Check out Alpha Two Announcements here to see the latest Alpha Two news and update notes.
Our quickest Alpha Two updates are in Discord. Testers with Alpha Two access can chat in Alpha Two channels by connecting your Discord and Intrepid accounts here.
Phase I of Alpha Two testing will occur on weekends. Each weekend is scheduled to start on Fridays at 10 AM PT and end on Sundays at 10 PM PT. Find out more here.
Check out Alpha Two Announcements here to see the latest Alpha Two news and update notes.
Our quickest Alpha Two updates are in Discord. Testers with Alpha Two access can chat in Alpha Two channels by connecting your Discord and Intrepid accounts here.
So when do you guys think A2 phase IV starts? Place your guesses here!
Nerror
Member, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
Based on the Phase III slide, that's when we'll get the secondary archetype specialization for Cleric and Tank, but nothing for the other 6. There is also a lot of the map and content we're still not seeing that needs to be tested. These are not things to be tested in a beta. Betas are for bugfixing and polishing finished content, and the Ashes betas are apparently fairly short in comparison.
So there has to at least be a phase IV, maybe even a phase V as well, before the betas start.
I'mma say January 2026 for Phase IV, assuming there is also a phase V.
So there has to at least be a phase IV, maybe even a phase V as well, before the betas start.
I'mma say January 2026 for Phase IV, assuming there is also a phase V.
2
Comments
The question is how much content do they hold back. And what development branch will be used to establish the beta client and production client. I suspect that will be the alpha servers as they will also be the public test realms in the future.
It's really Intrepids call as to how they approach this. But in my development world I would limit the size, features, and scope of the beta and use my alpha test realms as the place to validate the final release candidate. And maybe move that to beta for a week or two or three before giving a thumbs up to go no go for production
Oh and my guess... Hopefully right around September 2030. As that is the time I can retire from work and put all my time into my hobbies.
I see your January and raise you 3 months to April 2026.
Christmas 25 for Naval content as part of Phase 3 and then 3 months of testing combined systems.
Don't forget the additional $120 charge for Phase IV,V and VI, not included in the Phase I, II, III purchase.
The entire leveling curve and augment system, as well as the 'feeling' of how to tune it alongside everything else, is one of the hardest parts, and the information gathering required for it is massive imo. Doing it in an MMO environment in under 18 months would be amazing.
Now, obv, they could do what they did this time and have a 'Phase Marker'/separation that doesn't match my understanding of it, but I'm trying to stick closer to what I think you mean.
Ashes' combat design introduces some constraints to things that aren't immediately obvious, both because of how ambitious the game is, and because of the mild 'mismatch' between the combat type and the tactics type of the game. I expect the combat teams to be hard at work navigating these constraints within the Secondary Archetype designs.
Are we even getting Spears before Phase IV (I guess my Prediction is Dec 2027)?
They should have started with iV, V, VI and then go with I, II and III.
This proved successful in the past, long time ago...
I expect it to be 6 weeks later. And the next phase another 6 weeks later.
And yes, I know that Phase 3 breaks this timeline
Right, this is why I say it's too early.
Just multiply "features that should definitely be deployed alone in the sequence to prevent testing cross-issues" by 6 weeks.
Even if generous and assuming we get Augments from 2 Archetypes at a time, and that most of Naval can happen in one shot, as long as we assume that Summoner Archetype comes by itself after Phase III start, and Tank and Cleric Augments, even if they come together, are also after Phase III start, then there's still itemization, religious augments, and some Weapon SkillTree finalization (if I'm remembering that part correctly, not to mention I still really feel like the given list was missing a few weapons).
Then Cities, Metros, and related interactives, and finally Map Routing/full World Manager, I wouldn't envision a plan with a duration less than 72-84 weeks to get from Phase III start to 'Level 50 content with most/all classes and weapons'.
At which point I'd expect/hope for a wipe since I wouldn't risk trying to get First Time User Experience simulation from just Betas (but opening new FTUE test servers would be fine too).
But Jan 2026 is only like 36 weeks from Phase I start, so only 6 major version deployments...
Intrepid could just say "we want you to start a new char and play the game like you would at release". Isn't that the whole point of trying to have "proper testers" in A2? People that would do what the devs are asking them to do.
And then betas can show the difference between those who've been testing the game for years and those who're truly starting it from 0. At which point Intrepid can rebalance some stuff, as is appropirate for a beta phase afaik.
I'm not sure I understand what you're mathing here.
C~oooouuuuuuuuuuuuld be exactly around June 20th of 2025.
Why ?
Because it looks like dear Intrepid wants to have every single "Phase" of the Alpha Two last for around a Quarter, now doesn't it ? With the Start from October probably be the only Exception,
because it got delayed into October. It just looks like this to me. 😐
✓ Occasional Roleplayer
✓ Guild is " Balderag's Garde " for now. (German)
Phase III is the last one, its gonna be up until launch and get updates
EDIT:
yup,
I'd say to remember who you're dealing with, and I don't mean that negatively really.
Intrepid is very careful with wording but that wording can sometimes be the type that is interpreted in incorrect ways if you take it too simply or read into it.
I'll just say that 'Phase III testing keys lasting until the game launches' is not equal to 'There are no phases past 3'. The other line about how long Phase III testing is going to last also doesn't equal 'Alpha itself is tentatively scheduled to end/transition at the end of Phase III in around Summer 2026'.
It barely even implies 'Beta will start in around Summer 2026'.
I am, however, thankful that he clarified that people who buy the new Keys still don't start testing Alpha-2 until at least two weeks after those with Alpha Two keys from elsewhere. That was gonna be rough if not clear before the sales opened.
Let's hope that part reaches a lot of people.
That's true about the wording. We could still see phase 4 summer 2026 or later. I am under no illusion we'll get into beta at that point at least.
it cant get any more clear than this
if your super lucky 12 months