Alpha 2 Question

IMO, Alpha 2 this Summer. Beta 1 Q1 2023. Beta 2 Summer 2023. Launch Nov 2023.

Alpha 2 is stated to be a persistent alpha. My Q: does this mean the plan is to have the world up all the way to Beta? Ofc I realize there will probably be lengthy multi-week downtime, code changes, server wipes, etc. But aside from that, is the plan for Alpha 2 to run all the way to Beta?

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Ludullu

Until launch.
https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Persistent_alpha
And those release expectations are really optimistic so I'd suggest shifting them at least a year into the future so that you don't get upset when they're not met.

Talents

mcnasty wrote: »

IMO, Alpha 2 this Summer. Beta 1 Q1 2023. Beta 2 Summer 2023. Launch Nov 2023.

Voxtrium

Alpha 2 probably still 6 months out from now minimum @mcnasty

TheDarkSorcerer

I mean, I would LOVE these predictions myself. But I'm not keeping my hopes up because I know i'll end up being disappointed if I do.

Leiloni

NiKr wrote: »

Until launch.
https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Persistent_alpha
And those release expectations are really optimistic so I'd suggest shifting them at least a year into the future so that you don't get upset when they're not met.

Also post-launch the Alpha 2 servers will merely be switched over to be PTS servers. So they're never really going down, the purpose just will change.

Happymeal2415

Also I'm pretty sure beta 2 is supposed to only be a couple days long and only a few days before launch.

Veeshan

This calendar surely holds the key to alpha2 :P hahaha if only

Veeshan

Happymeal2415 wrote: »

Also I'm pretty sure beta 2 is supposed to only be a couple days long and only a few days before launch.

correct the beta cycles are gonna be super short atleast according to the wiki

Dygz

Never trust dev guesstimates...
Also, Steven is especially bad at prognosticating times.
Scope creep like UE5 and signifcantly changing the base models of the races inherently means additional time. We haven't even seen concept art for the Tulnar in the last 4 years, let alone 3D models.

Alpha Two has tons for us to test. And it's going to be a year since Alpha One started.
So... even if the Beta cycles are "super short", we can expect 1.5 years between Alpha Two and Beta One.

I don't understand the point of a Beta that is only a couple of days. That sounds like a Head Start.

Happymeal2415

Dygz wrote: »

I don't understand the point of a Beta that is only a couple of days. That sounds like a Head Start.

A test launch essentially.

Dygz

I've never known a beta to only last a couple of days.
You have to do more with any beta than just test the launch.

Ludullu

Dygz wrote: »

I've never known a beta to only last a couple of days.
You have to do more with any beta than just test the launch.

Artifact's beta only lasted a week before the release, so there is precedent. Don't know if there's one in the mmo genre though.

Lunnix

It has been a long time, I still log in and buy cosmetics from the shop, but it's been over a year or 2 I am starting to lose hope and feel bad buying items for a game that is still years away from being completed. Hopefully, Alpha 2 comes out soon even if it's another tech alpha just so we can see what changes from last year.

Vaknar

As @NiKr pointed out, these are our current plans: https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Persistent_alpha 🏗

Leiloni

Dygz wrote: »

I've never known a beta to only last a couple of days.
You have to do more with any beta than just test the launch.

Most betas I've seen are only a few days, where they do several weekend events. The real game testing is what Alphas are for, while Betas are often more for stress testing, preparing for launch, and catching major last minute bugs. By the time a beta comes around a game needs to be almost ready for launch because it's too late in development to make real changes.

Dygz

Several weekend events are not a couple of days.
You are still supposed to test all the features in a Beta. And you can't meanigfully do that in just a couple of days with an MMORPG.

Happymeal2415

Dygz wrote: »

Several weekend events are not a couple of days.
You are still supposed to test all the features in a Beta. And you can't meanigfully do that in just a couple of days with an MMORPG.

I think that's what A2 is supposed to test right? A2 will test the game features. Betas will test the start up with larger and larger numbers

Voxtrium

I will go ahead and predict right now Alpha 2 will come out in June or July of 2023, Originally i thought they may release in November at the earliest because that would give them 6 months of streams to release some of the major mechanics they wanted, but i realized with Throne and Liberty being released and starfield being released in November and their history of avoiding conflict of interest it makes me realize they will likely opt for a summer launch. This allows them to have 2 years between A1 and A2, an adequate amount of time to flesh out each of these complicated systems and avoids the conflict of interest in game releases.

Dygz

Happymeal2415 wrote: »

Dygz wrote: »

Several weekend events are not a couple of days.
You are still supposed to test all the features in a Beta. And you can't meanigfully do that in just a couple of days with an MMORPG.

I think that's what A2 is supposed to test right? A2 will test the game features. Betas will test the start up with larger and larger numbers

When you make any build, you still have to do a pass of testing on all the features. And, for an MMORPG, that is going to take more than a couple of days.

A2 is still going to be implementing features.
Betas are supposed to be feature-complete. You are mostly bug-fixing.
B2 is not intended to be months. Might not even be weeks. But, it's most likely going to be more than a couple of days, otherwise there is no point in having it.
Headstart is two days.

volsh

Can't wait

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