Release schedule

Ashes of Creation community empowered Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Alpha-2 testing phases.[1]

Alpha Two starts on Friday, October 25th 2024! We have not announced specific dates or testing schedules [for] Beta One, or Beta Two yet.[2]

The Ashes of Creation release schedule is subject to change.[3][4]

We obviously have PI joining us in testing, but we need more testers, so we are going to be starting to expand that. We're going to do a slow rollout of what that expansion looks like; and so for these initial testing we are going to be starting to add some of the Alpha-1 users. Now, how we're going to pick that? I know that's going to be a big contentious thing, but we are definitely going to do our best; and so the first thing that we want to do for this first round is we're going to add the top 500 from the Alpha-1 contributors. So, that is looking at people who actually participated in game in Alpha-1. We are going to be grabbing those users and then we're going to have another 500 that will be randomly chosen. You guys will all be emailed- the goal is to email you within this July timeframe.[5]Margaret Krohn
Phase Release Estimated/Actual date
Pre‑alpha Alpha-0.[6] December 15, 2017.[7]
APOC Ashes of Creation Apocalypse battle royale stress test (NDA).[8] September 7, 2018.[9]
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse battle royale stress test (NDA lifted).[10] October 19, 2018.[10]
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse battle royale open beta.[11] December 18, 2018.[12]
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse battle royale early access.[13] September 24, 2019.[14]
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse castle siege mode PI closed testing.[15] December 19, 2019.[15]
Ashes of Creation Apocalypse battle royale testing ends.[16] March 10, 2020.[17]
Alpha Alpha-1 early preview livestream.[18] March 27, 2020.[19]
Alpha-1 limited QA testing (NDA).[20][21] May 28, 2020.[22][23]
Alpha-1 preview pre-test 1 (NDA).[24] Dec 18 - Dec 21 2020.[24]
Alpha-1 preview pre-test 2 (NDA).[24] Feb 19 - Feb 22 2021.[25][26]
Alpha-1 preview intermittent spot testing (NDA).[27][28] Mar 19 - Jul 9 2021.[27][28]
Alpha-1 preview weekend (no NDA).[27] July 9 - July 11 2021.[29][30][27]
Alpha-1 (no NDA).[27] July 14 - August 15 2021.[31][32]
Alpha-2 spot testing (NDA).[33][34][35][36] November 2023.[37]
Alpha-2 phase-1 (No NDA).[1][2] October 25, 2024.[1][2]
Alpha-2 phase-2 (No NDA).[1] December 20, 2024.[1]
Alpha-2 phase-3 (No NDA).[1] May 1, 2025.[1]
Beta Beta-1.[2] To be announced.[2]
Beta-2.[2] To be announced.[2]
Pre‑release Head start for crowdfunding backers at the Founder level and above.[38] 1-2 days before launch.[38][39]
Release Launch (live) release. To be announced.[32][40]
Post‑launch Major releases (DLC expansions). Quarterly or six-monthly.[41][42]
Minor releases. Monthly.[41][42]

Testing phases

Ashes of Creation testing phases.

Ashes of Creation's core game systems are expected to be in place at the start of Alpha-2.[53][54] By the end of Alpha-2, the game is expected to be feature complete, but it will not be content complete until launch.[55][56]

The game will be feature complete before Beta... Beta really is intended to identify last minute bugs to make sure that everything is ready for launch; it's important that all features are complete by Beta-1. Alpha-2 will not be feature complete at the start of Alpha-2. There are going to be updates that are going to be incorporated as part of the Alpha-2 process and there are going to be additional features that come online that get fleshed out between that time and Beta-1. There's going to be regions of the maps that aren't going to be accessible of course during Alpha-2.[56]Steven Sharif
Alpha-2 is intended to exist up until launch. There's going to be different testing periods that we will be releasing either new content locations or zones or systems that we want to have players focus in on. In those situations, if we're having participation drought because of the length of Alpha-2, we can set them up in a more focused setting. We can even incentivize that. We can offer unique testing to potentially new testers as well.[55]Steven Sharif
  • The developers will not necessarily announce NDA testing periods.[34]

Ashes of Creation

Ashes of Creation.[60]

Ashes of Creation takes place within a medieval fantasy setting, blending imagination with cutting-edge graphics. We are putting the word massive back into massively multiplayer with unique and novel mechanics that will bring meaning to player action. Ashes of Creation will incorporate the best parts of traditional MMORPGs with innovative sandbox concepts. You will choose your fate at every opportunity. Questlines will open and close based on the interactions of the players with their world, because this is a world where choice is consequential. Monsters will roam and grow in ferocity as civilization disrupts the natural order of things. From the location of towns to the size of cities, you will determine the landscape of your world. It will be unique in culture, ecology, and economy.[61]

Ashes of Creation is an upcoming MMORPG set in a world of high fantasy where player’s choices will shape and define the world around them.[62]

Ashes of Creation is a unique take on the MMO experience. Our world structure is dynamic and built to react to the actions of our players. Cities will rise and fall, their populations based on the history of the world as the players create it. Quests will unlock as these populations gather, their needs grow, and secrets are unlocked. As the world’s NPC structure is established in real time, players will have the ability to destroy what they’ve created, paving the way for new development, new populations, and real change. Political strife and intrigue will play a very real role in the structure of your world. Gone are the days of static worlds, change is here to stay.[61]
  • The developers are hoping for over a million concurrent users at launch.[64]

Alpha-2

Guide to Alpha-2.[65]

Alpha-2 is an alpha. This is an actual Alpha. We are not a game where we're just porting over, or translating to another region. This is a proper Alpha. So, as Steven has stated many times, it's not a game. We are here to test and get things moving along.[66]Margaret Krohn

Alpha-2 Node wars PI spot test #6 finale. Alpha-2 screenshot. Image credit: User:Lex

Alpha-2 is really the testing grounds for a lot of the more minute details of how a particular system works; and you can change a lot of those details without actually needing to change the feature that's been developed. These are variables that exist within the code that we have control over so that when we want to iterate upon it it's easy to do iterations: and some of those iterations can feel very impactful to the system overall. So Alpha-2 really is meant to gauge this initial approach and then we're afforded the ability to change that drastically by tuning and changing some of the aspects of the specifics of the system.[67]Steven Sharif

Non-NDA Alpha-2 testing will occur in three phases:[1]

The cadence of Alpha-2 updates will vary based on the type of update: Hotfixes will be deployed as needed. Minor updates will occur approximately every 3 weeks. Major updates will occur approximately every 6 weeks.[68]

By the end of Alpha-2, the game is expected to be feature complete, but will not be content complete until launch.[69][55][56]

In-game support is expected to be present during Alpha-2 to handle a limited range of support issues. Game masters are expected to be in-game at live launch.[70]

We will have people who will have access to being in-game and helping support if needs be, but our goal for Alpha-2 is we are not going to be assisting at the same capacity that we would be for launch. At launch we do want to have in-game GMS.[70]Margaret Krohn

The intention of Alpha-2 is to be as persistent as possible, but there may be necessary wipes during testing.[71][72][55][73][58][74] There will be downtime for upgrades and patches.[72][55][56]

I do want to be clear that our goal is to not have server wipes in Alpha-2. We want to have persistence. That is the point of the persistence. We may have times where we come down for updates and things like that, but the goal is to not wipe if we don't have to.[72]Margaret Krohn
Q: Will Alpha-2 run alongside with Beta-1 and Beta-2?
A: That's correct. So, when Alpha-2 ends, Beta-1 will start; and then you'll see that those realms will change to be more of a test realm that you can see content that's coming up the line. We may even ask people to join that to test things before it goes to the Beta.[76]Steven Sharif
Q: Is Alpha-2 access going to result in PTR access?
A: Alpha 2 is still intended to morph into the PTR. And if you have Alpha 2 access, for any of the phases, you will have access to all subsequent Alpha-2 testing phages, which includes when it becomes the PTR.[69]Steven Sharif

Beta testing

The Beta-1 and Beta-2 testing phases of Ashes of Creation will be short.[79]

  • The game is intended to be feature-complete before Beta-1.[56]
Content wise, beta will have nearly everything release will have.[80]Steven Sharif

Head start

Head start grants early access one or two days prior to the live launch of Ashes of Creation for crowdfunding backers at the Founder level and above.[85]

  • Head start is a means to gradually ramp up the population to avoid player concurrency issues at launch.[86]
  • Head start will also be a way to address any last-minute launch or deployment issues.[87]

The point of head start is twofold: One for testing, making sure that the live launch servers pre-wipe are good; and then Two, it's a way to stagger the population move into the game. Because if you have servers with 10,000 concurrent player capability and you have everyone logging in at the exact same time, that is a problem I've never seen an MMO tackle successfully, ever.[86]Steven Sharif

Headstart servers

The number of head start server realms is estimated to be three. This is subject to change.[88]

  • There will be an OCE headstart server.[89]

Headstart limitations

The game functionality is limited during the head start period so that players cannot decide the world-scape earlier than others.[90]

  • During the head start, the node system will be deactivated.[90]
  • Head start specific servers are also planned.[90]
  • It will not be possible to secure player housing during the headstart period due to the deactivation of the node system.[90]

Head start was not a mistake, I tend to listen to my development team with regards to their vast past experiences in mmo launches and development. Advice from engineering on head starts was they are extremely desired in order to test any last minute launch/deployment issues that “always” happen. So I did as much as possible to mitigate the potential p2w elements/issues while still adhering to sound development principles. Including designating which servers are head start servers. So wanna make sure we don’t “chop” this one as a mistake or misstep. Everything done is done to ensure a quality launch/product.[87]Steven Sharif

NDA

Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1, Beta-2 releases are not covered by NDA (non-disclosure agreement).[91]

  • The developers will not necessarily announce when NDA testing starts.[34]
We may not always announce when the NDA testing is, because we're not definitive how that testing is going to influence the future testing schedule; and we don't want to set the wrong expectation from a broader audience perspective on what they should be expecting with regards to testing.[34]Steven Sharif

Participation

  • Alpha-0 had over 2,500 participants.[95]
  • Alpha-1 testing had approximately 9,600 participants as of August, 2018.[96][97] There were slightly over 13k participants as of May 31, 2021.[96] There were 5,300 unique logins during the 3 day weekend test of May 27, 2021.[96]
Eventually that 3k CCU will grow to 5k, to 6k, to 8k until it lands somewhere between 8 to 10,000 per realm.[99]Steven Sharif
info-orange.pngThis section will be updated as soon as information is made available by the developers.

Server wipes

Alpha and Beta server realms will be wiped prior to launch.[59]

As a general rule, if the testing phase contains the word Alpha, it is safe to assume there will likely be wipes.[73]Steven Sharif

Milestones

December 2015 First team members were hired.[106]
February 2016 Ashes of Creation design documentation and prototyping.[107][106]
December 10, 2016 Official website was launched and project announced.[106]
January 18, 2017 Official discord was launched.[108]
May 2, 2017 Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign launched with $750,000 funding goal.[109]
June 3, 2017 Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign completed with 19,576 backers raising $3,271,809.[110]
June 2017 Game production began with a team size of 15-20.[107]
June 21, 2017 Summer crowdfunding campaign launched.[111]
July 22, 2017 Summer crowdfunding campaign completed with 2,485 backers.[112]
September 1, 2017 PAX West 2017.[113][114]
November 4, 2017 Raised $16,500 for Extra Life children's hospitals.[115]
December 15, 2017 Alpha-0 released on schedule.[7]
March 19-23, 2018 Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2018.[116]
April 5, 2018 PAX East 2018.[117]
August 15, 2018 Last day for purchases of Alpha-1 through Intrepid pre-order packs.[118]
August 20, 2018 At Gamescom with My.com.[119]
August 27, 2018 100 developers working on Ashes of Creation.[120]
September 1, 2018 PAX West 2018 panel.[121]
October 19, 2018 Ashes of Creation Apocalypse battle royale (previously called Alpha-1 phase 1 battlegrounds).[10]
November 4, 2018 Raised $20,518 for Rady Children's hospital with Extra Life.[122]
April 15, 2019 60 developers working on Ashes of Creation at San Diego offices (following disengagement with Malaysian art team).[123]
November 3, 2019 Raised $20,901 for Rady Children's hospital with Extra Life.[124]
August 21, 2020 Announced a mutual parting of ways with publisher My.games.[125]
October 17, 2020 Almost 3,000,000 registered accounts for Ashes of Creation.[126]
October 17, 2020 ~87 developers working on Ashes of Creation.[127]
November 8, 2020 Raised $88,546 for Rady Children's hospital with Extra Life.[128]
February 26, 2021 Official ashesofcreation.com website redesign.[129]
May 5, 2021 Alpha-1 sales resumed with the announcement of the Adventurer pre-order pack.[130]
May 17, 2021 Verbal NDA was lifted from Alpha-1 testing.[131]
July 9, 2021 Alpha-1 no-NDA preview weekend began on schedule.[30]
July 11, 2021 Alpha-1 no-NDA preview weekend completed on schedule.[29]
July 14, 2021 Alpha-1 no-NDA month long test began on schedule.[132][133]
August 15, 2021 Alpha-1 no-NDA month long test completed on schedule.[31]
November 7, 2021 Raised $34,485 for Rady Children's hospital with Extra Life.[134]
December 23, 2021 Announced that Ashes of Creation is moving to Unreal Engine 5.[135][136]
January 14, 2022 Over 120 people working on Ashes of Creation.[137]
November 5, 2022 Raised $77,939 for Rady Children's hospital with Extra Life.[138]
August 31, 2023 Over 150 people working on Ashes of Creation.[139]
November 5, 2023 Raised $76,964 for Rady Children's hospital with Extra Life.[140]
December 19, 2023 Over 170 people working full-time on Ashes of Creation.[141][142]
March 1, 2024 188 employees working on Ashes of Creation.[143]
April 30, 2024 Nearly 200 employees working on Ashes of Creation.[144]
August 16, 2024 Alpha-2 roadmap and release dates announced.[145]

Accomplishments

  • Kickstarter's most funded MMORPG.[146]
  • Kickstarter's #7 most funded video game.[147]
  • Most anticipated MMO – MMORPG.com's Best of 2017 Awards.[148]
  • Most anticipated early access hands-on MMORPG – MMOs World.[149]
  • Gamescom 2018: Best Independent game.[150]
  • Gamescom 2018: Best Online game.[150]
  • Best indie MMO of 2020 – massivelyop.com reader's poll.[151]
  • Most anticipated MMO of 2021 and beyond – massivelyop.com reader's poll.[152]
  • Top 10 Best Upcoming New MMORPGs For 2021 And Beyond – Forbes.[153]
  • 2022 Best MMO Studio – MMOGames.[154]

See also

References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Livestream, August 16, 2024 (15:07).
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Intrepid Studios Support - What are the Alpha/Beta Release dates?
  3. Livestream, August 12, 2024 (1:11:05).
  4. kickstarter release schedule.png
  5. Livestream, July 3, 2024 (1:33:19).
  6. alpha-0 pre-alpha.png
  7. 7.0 7.1 Livestream, January 18, 2018 (2:48).
  8. Livestream, September 1, 2018 (54:06).
  9. alpha-1-stress-test-3.png
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 alpha1-phase-1-update.png
  11. Press release - Ashes of Creation Apocalypse Launches December 18.
  12. apoc-beta.png
  13. Blog: Ashes of Creation Apocalypse heads into early access.
  14. @AoCApocalypse on Twitter.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Livestream, December 17, 2019 (18:33).
  16. Blog: Early Access for Ashes of Creation Apocalypse Battle Royale Testing Ends.
  17. apoc-offline.png
  18. March 2020 newsletter.
  19. Video, March 23, 2020 (0:01).
  20. alpha-1-nda-2.png
  21. 21.0 21.1 alpha-1-nda-1.png
  22. steven-a1-testing-start.png
  23. Creative Director's Letter, 2020-04-1.
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 Blog: Creative Director's Letter, October 16 2020
  25. Livestream, February 26, 2021 (14:58).
  26. Blog: Creative Director's Letter, January 2021.
  27. 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 Alpha One Schedule Update, May 10 2021.
  28. 28.0 28.1 An Update on Alpha One Schedule, March 12 2021
  29. 29.0 29.1 steven-a1preview-end.png
  30. 30.0 30.1 Ashes of Creation Twitter - Alpha-1 Preview Weekend Begins
  31. 31.0 31.1 alpha-1-end.png
  32. 32.0 32.1 release-dates.png
  33. 33.0 33.1 Livestream, September 29, 2023 (55:34).
  34. 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 Interview, July 9, 2023 (26:35).
  35. 35.0 35.1 Livestream, March 31, 2023 (5:57).
  36. Livestream, October 14, 2022 (17:05).
  37. steven-a2-spot-testing-started.png
  38. 38.0 38.1 founder.png
  39. braver of worlds.png
  40. Livestream, March 8, 2019 (57:26).
  41. 41.0 41.1 Interview, February 7, 2021 (21:57).
  42. 42.0 42.1 Livestream, May 8, 2017 (11:14).
  43. 43.0 43.1 43.2 Kickstarter packages.
  44. MMOGAMES Interview, 2017-09-8.
  45. beta 0.png
  46. Intrepid pre-order pack.
  47. Adventurer pre-order pack.
  48. PAX West 2017 Alpha package.
  49. PAX West 2017 Beta package.
  50. Newsletter - Pre-order packages are ending reminder.
  51. Ashes of Creation cosmetic store.
  52. steven-mail-ru.png
  53. Livestream, March 31, 2023 (1:24:21).
  54. Podcast, September 29, 2021 (59:29).
  55. 55.0 55.1 55.2 55.3 55.4 55.5 55.6 Livestream, April 7, 2023 (28:08).
  56. 56.0 56.1 56.2 56.3 56.4 Livestream, July 29, 2022 (1:08:49).
  57. Livestream, July 30, 2021 (45:11).
  58. 58.0 58.1 58.2 58.3 58.4 Livestream, January 18, 2018 (25:22).
  59. 59.0 59.1 59.2 server wipe.jpg
  60. Video, April 30, 2017 (0:00).
  61. 61.0 61.1 Ashes of Creation MMO.
  62. A reactive world - Nodes.
  63. Podcast, April 11, 2021 (46:44).
  64. Livestream, October 14, 2022 (37:10).
  65. Video, September 27, 2024 (0:00).
  66. Livestream, August 16, 2024 (17:05).
  67. Podcast, July 15, 2023 (5:23).
  68. Livestream, August 16, 2024 (26:02).
  69. 69.0 69.1 69.2 69.3 69.4 Livestream, August 16, 2024 (2:11:10).
  70. 70.0 70.1 Livestream, August 16, 2024 (1:56:35).
  71. Livestream, August 16, 2024 (17:49).
  72. 72.0 72.1 72.2 Livestream, April 30, 2024 (1:11:12).
  73. 73.0 73.1 73.2 73.3 server-wipes.png
  74. alpha and beta phases.png
  75. Intrepid Studios - Alpha Two Roadmap and AMA News Article
  76. Livestream, August 16, 2024 (2:12:35).
  77. Livestream, August 16, 2024 (2:11:44).
  78. Livestream, July 29, 2022 (1:10:05).
  79. Livestream, October 31, 2018 (57:22).
  80. Steven Quote 4.png
  81. steven-bear-beta-1.png
  82. Livestream, August 27, 2021 (1:19:43).
  83. Livestream, November 30, 2023 (1:51:22).
  84. Livestream, 2018-04-8 (AM) (6:39).
  85. kickstarter head start.png
  86. 86.0 86.1 Podcast, August 4, 2018 (2:00:05).
  87. 87.0 87.1 steven-headstart.png
  88. Interview, August 8, 2018 (25:53).
  89. head-start-oce-2018-8-8.png
  90. 90.0 90.1 90.2 90.3 headstart.jpg
  91. Livestream, January 18, 2018 (49:26).
  92. Livestream, May 31, 2024 (2:25:48).
  93. Livestream, August 30, 2024 (59:19).
  94. Livestream, May 29, 2020 (31:37).
  95. Interview, August 24, 2018 (12:18).
  96. 96.0 96.1 96.2 steven-a1-participation.png
  97. Livestream, August 17, 2018 (24:07).
  98. 98.0 98.1 98.2 Livestream, November 17, 2017 (28:50).
  99. 99.0 99.1 99.2 Livestream, August 16, 2024 (1:32:19).
  100. a2-participants.png
  101. Livestream, January 27, 2023 (11:05).
  102. Livestream, August 16, 2024 (5:12).
  103. Livestream, August 16, 2024 (3:36).
  104. Alpha one test schedule, Mar 12, 2021.
  105. Livestream, November 30, 2020 (7:27).
  106. 106.0 106.1 106.2 MASSIVELY OP interview: Ashes of Creation on a new way to MMO.
  107. 107.0 107.1 steven-milestones.png
  108. Ashes Discord.png
  109. Ashes of Creation Kickstarter campaign
  110. Ashes of Creation Kickstarter.
  111. Summer Crowdfunding.png
  112. summerended.png
  113. PAX West 2017 Schedule.
  114. PAX West 2017 Map.
  115. Intrepid Studios Dev Team.
  116. GDC.png
  117. PAX East.png
  118. Newsletter, 2018-08-7
  119. gamescom.png
  120. Ashes of Creation Gamescom 2018 Interview: Responding to Criticism.
  121. Newsletter, 2018-08-7
  122. Intrepid Studios Extra Life 2018 (@MediaAoC).
  123. Interview, April 15, 2019 (5:09).
  124. extralife2019.png
  125. Blog: New Adventure Awaits.
  126. Interview, October 17, 2020 (18:36).
  127. Interview, October 17, 2020 (56:55).
  128. extralife2020.png
  129. Livestream, February 26, 2021 (9:51).
  130. Ashes of Creation Store: May cosmetics.
  131. steven-a1-verbal-nda.png
  132. toast-a1-launch.png
  133. Guide to Alpha One.
  134. extralife2021.png
  135. Video, December 23, 2021 (0:00).
  136. Livestream, December 23, 2021 (19:59).
  137. Interview, January 14, 2022 (9:11).
  138. extralife2022.png
  139. Livestream, August 31, 2023 (2:16:45).
  140. extralife2023.png
  141. Steven Sharif Christmas message, 2023.
  142. Livestream, December 19, 2023 (1:32:23).
  143. steven-employees.png
  144. Livestream, April 30, 2024 (54:54).
  145. Livestream, August 16, 2024 (15:08).
  146. kickstarter most funded MMORPG.png
  147. kickstarter most funded video game.png
  148. MMORPG.com's Best of 2017 Awards.
  149. Most Anticipated MMORPGs For 2018.
  150. 150.0 150.1 DualShockers’ Gamescom 2018 Awards
  151. MassivelyOP 2020 awards reader's poll.
  152. MassivelyOP reader's poll.
  153. Forbes: Top 10 Best Upcoming New MMORPGs For 2021 And Beyond
  154. Twitter - MMOGames.