Alpha-2

Alpha-2 is intending to be obviously a very large chunk of the game's mechanics: a very very big percentage of it. – Steven Sharif

Alpha-2 is the Persistent alpha. All core game systems are expected to be in place for this test, including:

• Node progression to City (stage 5) and potentially Metropolis (stage 6).
• Actual sieges in the real sense.
• Tulnar race.
• Naval content.
  • Naval warfare.
  • Three ship classes.
  • Ships will have functioning cannons but the ship building UI may not be complete.
• Artisan classes will be fully implemented.
• Auction houses.
• All archetypes will be available.
  • Some secondary classes and augments.
• Combat changes (from Alpha-1).
  • Active and passive skills will be re-architected.
  • Primary skills are expected to be very different to those in Alpha-1.
  • Weapon skill trees will be present to augment the combo system.
• Freeholds.
• Crop rotations.
• Climate system.
• Religions.
• Family summon mechanic.
• Emblem, logo and symbol editor (tentatively).

UI, tutorial systems, and much of the questing will remain placeholder for Alpha One, and won't really come online until Alpha Two. – Steven Sharif

Alpha-1 and Alpha-2 testers may be invited to participate in spot testing prior to the Alpha-2 release.

"Persistent" means that the Alpha-2 servers will be kept up all day and night until launch.

• There may still be character wipes.
• There may still be testing wipes.
• Alpha-2 servers will become the public test servers (PTS) post-launch.
  • Used to test patches and updates.
• Beta-1 and Beta-2 will probably not be persistent.

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. – Steven Sharif

Alpha-2 availability

Phase	Release	Estimated/Actual date
Alpha-2	Alpha-2 (persistent alpha).	To be announced.

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Alpha testing system requirements

Alpha-1 stress testing, March 17, 2021.

Funny story; So yesterday as we are stress/density testing with our NDA testers, I accidentally summoned 5k bears around our few hundred players. But hey, it didn’t crash! Can you spot Lt. Toast here? – Steven Sharif

These are fully operational NPCs. They have behavior trees, they have AI blackboards; you know they are functioning as an NPC would; and to my surprise, to everyone's surprise actually, the server handled it quite well: 5000 entities all within a very dense area. – Steven Sharif

Ashes of Creation alpha testing minimum system specification.

• Operating System: Windows 10 64-Bit
• Processor: Intel Core i3-2125 3.3GHz / AMD Phenom II X4 3.3GHz
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 460 or AMD Radeon 6870 HD with 1GB and DirectX 12
• Memory: 6 GB RAM
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 35 GB of available space
• Sound Card: DirectX Compatible Sound Card

Recommended specification.

• Operating System: Windows 10 64-Bit
• Processor: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz / AMD FX-9590 4.7GHz
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon R9 Fury with 4GB and DirectX 12
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 35 GB of available space
• Sound Card: DirectX Compatible Sound Card

Tulnar race

The Tulnar race will be in place before Alpha-2. Concepts and early works are expected at that time.

Naval schedule

Ship assets will likely be released leading in to Alpha-2.

Artisan classes timeline

Artisan classes (Gathering, Processing, Crafting) will come online fully in Alpha-2 and the Betas.

In Alpha One the core basics of what crafting represents as a gameplay loop that is represented. So that means that there are gatherables out there. You will have to have tools in order to service those gatherables. There will be processing that's necessary; and then there's crafting stations that are available and can be constructed by the players. This is in Alpha One. You have to collect the recipes, you have to collect the materials, and you have to refine the materials; and then you have to create the reagents and then use those to kind of create the final crafting component of that you're trying to create. So that in and of itself is present, but it is a very very small piece of really what will be the larger crafting puzzle for Alpha 2 and betas. – Steven Sharif

• Approximately 10 percent of the artisan system will be online in Alpha-1. The core basics of the artisan gameplay loop will be facilitated via the merchant (NPC) system.
  • Gatherables and gathering tools.
  • Some processing/refining of materials.
  • Recipes will be able to be collected.
  • Crafting stations will be available and can be constructed by players.

Crafting honestly will not come online in any sense of its true form until Alpha-2. Alpha-1 has essentially what are intended to be the core gameplay loop of crafting, meaning the collection of materials, the translation of those materials into processed goods, and the use of those processed goods into item acquisition. That's the core gameplay loop that is currently present in Alpha-1. But those are mostly facilitated kind of piggy backing the merchant systems right now and not actually using the real crafting system; and that's because crafting hasn't been completed in a form that can be implemented in Alpha-1, but will be for Alpha-2. What's present in Alpha-1 doesn't even really scratch the surface for crafting. – Steven Sharif

Emblem, logo and symbol editor

Guild banner concept art.

Import of user-created image content (UCC) is being considered. This was previously not under consideration.

• An active GM staff will be monitoring user-created content. Users who upload inappropriate content will place their accounts in jeopardy.

I know previously we had spoken about not allowing custom user images in the game, however I think we're leaning more now in the direction of allowing for custom user images. Absolutely well what it will be is the fact that we're a subscription game and if you want to jeopardize your account by doing the wrong thing with regards to custom users [images] then by all means you may do so and we'll have stringent practices in place to prevent that from actually being an issue. – Steven Sharif

With regards to this UCC question, I think when you have an active an active GM team that you know you are you have directed to care take the product you're going to mitigate a lot of that functionality you don't want to see out of this custom image system. People who look to let's say meme the system are going to be met with the type of enforcement that they don't want to have on their account; and being a subscription-based product and being a risk versus reward and maybe a more old-school approach to character development and progression I think they're gonna take a significant risk in doing things that we don't want them to do, which will result in the jeopardy of their account. So I think that is not going to deter a hundred percent of things- I don't think you ever can deter a hundred percent of things unless we go away from custom images- but I think that we can achieve some parity of essentially enforcement versus infraction ratio that's going to be liveable for everybody. – Steven Sharif

The user interface will allow emblems, logos and symbols to be designed in-game.

• Guild emblems.
  • Flags.
  • Guild halls.
  • Mount barding.
• Sails.
• Shields.
• Cloaks.
• Armor attachments.

Emblem editor functionality is tentatively planned for Alpha-2.

Alpha-2 NDA

Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1, Beta-2 releases are not covered by NDA (non-disclosure agreement).

• Alpha-1 testing prior to the full release of Alpha-1 was covered by NDA.
  • NDA review and acceptance is done via the game client.
  • The text and voice NDA was lifted from the PI QA testing phase on May 28, 2020.
  • The verbal NDA was lifted from Alpha-1 preview testing, and future testing, on May 17, 2021.
  • The NDA was lifted on July 9, 2021 for the three day Alpha-1 preview weekend test.
  • The NDA was lifted on July 14, 2021 for Alpha-1.

We are extremely excited to invite folks to this glorious milestone of our development journey with NO NDA as we want everyone to be able to provide feedback unfiltered. During Alpha One testing, we'll be looking for your feedback specifically on the following things: download and installation process, client performance, and server performance.

Early access

Alpha and beta key concept art.

Ashes of Creation early access packages:

• Alpha-0 was the invite-only "raffle" friends and family alpha test phase.
• Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1, and Beta-2 were available for purchase during the Kickstarter and Summer crowdfunding campaigns.
• Alpha-1 was available in the Intrepid pre-order pack and is currently available in the Adventurer pre-order pack from the cosmetic store.
• Alpha-2 and Beta-2 were available during PAX West 2017.
• Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1, and Beta-2 are currently available in Pre-order packs on the cosmetic store.

Pre-order packs

The Dying of the Light pre-order packs.

Standing against the heralds of corruption, the Lightpact once carried the hopes of all Verrans on their shoulders. Their flames would ultimately be dashed on the rocks of betrayal and destruction. Corruption, death, and evil now grasp and consume the light that once led the way. With the re-emergence of the Divine Gates, will the beacon of faith be set ablaze once more?

Pre-order packs are available from the Cosmetic store.

• Wayfarer pre-order pack (History).
• Expeditionary pre-order pack (History).
• Voyager pre-order pack (History).
• Voyager plus pre-order pack (History).

We offer cosmetics for players who wish to support the project early. The exclusive nature of the limited availability is something I think collectors value. If you buy cosmetics as an MMO player, I know I enjoyed if the cosmetic is rare and not every girl at the party is wearing the same dress. In addition, these cosmetics are used to populate the world through NPC variants and color/texture changes so their offering aligns with our production schedule. The good thing about these packs is they contain no P2W advantages and there is no box cost, so from a mechanics standpoint you do not need to buy them to excel in the game on launch. And also, there are comparable and subjectively more grand cosmetics achievable in game as well. – Steven Sharif

Participation

• Alpha-0 had over 2,500 participants.

• Alpha-1 and Alpha-2 are expected to have 10,000 participants.

• Beta-1 and Beta-2 are expected to have 27,000 participants.

Alpha and Beta participation is expected to grow with the sale of pre-order packs.

Server wipes

Alpha and Beta servers will be wiped prior to launch.

• Alpha-1 testing phases will include full wipes.
• Servers may also be wiped between individual tests, unless the developers require progression to be saved for certain spot tests.

As a general rule, if the testing phase contains the word Alpha, it is safe to assume there will likely be wipes. – Steven Sharif

Milestones

December 2015	First team members were hired.
February 2016	Ashes of Creation design documentation and prototyping.
December 10, 2016	Official website was launched and project announced.
January 18, 2017	Official discord was launched.
May 2, 2017	Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign launched with $750,000 funding goal.
June 3, 2017	Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign completed with 19,576 backers raising $3,271,809.
June 2017	Game production began with a team size of 15-20.
June 21, 2017	Summer crowdfunding campaign launched.
July 22, 2017	Summer crowdfunding campaign completed with 2,485 backers.
September 1, 2017	PAX West 2017.
November 4, 2017	Raised $16,500 for Extra Life children's hospitals.
December 15, 2017	Alpha-0 released on schedule.
March 19-23, 2018	Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2018.
April 5, 2018	PAX East 2018.
August 15, 2018	Last day for purchases of Alpha-1 through Intrepid pre-order packs.
August 20, 2018	At Gamescom with My.com.
August 27, 2018	100 developers working on Ashes of Creation.
September 1, 2018	PAX West 2018 panel.
October 19, 2018	Ashes of Creation Apocalypse battle royale (previously called Alpha-1 phase 1 battlegrounds).
November 4, 2018	Raised $20,518 for Rady Children's hospital with Extra Life.
April 15, 2019	60 developers working on Ashes of Creation at San Diego offices (following disengagement with Malaysian art team).
November 3, 2019	Raised $20,901 for Rady Children's hospital with Extra Life.
August 21, 2020	Announced a mutual parting of ways with publisher My.games.
October 17, 2020	Almost 3,000,000 registered accounts for Ashes of Creation.
October 17, 2020	~87 developers working on Ashes of Creation.
November 8, 2020	Raised $88,546 for Rady Children's hospital with Extra Life.
February 26, 2021	Official ashesofcreation.com website redesign.
May 5, 2021	Alpha-1 sales resumed with the announcement of the Adventurer pre-order pack.
May 17, 2021	Verbal NDA was lifted from Alpha-1 testing.
July 9, 2021	Alpha-1 no-NDA preview weekend began on schedule.
July 11, 2021	Alpha-1 no-NDA preview weekend completed on schedule.
July 14, 2021	Alpha-1 no-NDA month long test began on schedule.
August 15, 2021	Alpha-1 no-NDA month long test completed on schedule.

Accomplishments

• Kickstarter's most funded MMORPG.
• Kickstarter's #7 most funded video game.
• Most anticipated MMO – MMORPG.com's Best of 2017 Awards.
• Most anticipated early access hands-on MMORPG – MMOs World.
• Gamescom 2018: Best Independent game.
• Gamescom 2018: Best Online game.
• Best indie MMO of 2020 – massivelyop.com reader's poll.
• Most anticipated MMO of 2021 and beyond – massivelyop.com reader's poll.
• Forbes: Top 10 Best Upcoming New MMORPGs For 2021 And Beyond.

See also

• Development
• Release schedule
• Alpha-1