If you’re an Ashes of Creation fan then you are undoubtedly waiting on pins and needles for Alpha 2 to start. This past week, AoC Creative Director Steven Sharif uploaded a hefty video of more than 45 minutes of gameplay. Sharif also popped over after the video was live to answer some questions on the Ashes of Creation Reddit.
It has been 6 years since Ashes of Creation completed their Kickstarter campaign, and the game has been moving along the developmental stages from pre-alpha, to the impending Alpha 2 test slated for later this year. Throughout this time, the team at Intrepid Studios hasn’t been shy about showing off where the game is at. In the latest video, the team put together more than 45 minutes of gameplay, which showed off all the updates and nuances of the Tank archetype, as well as some changes made to loot, the UI, and the enemies players should expect to encounter in Alpha 2.
While the Tank archetype is much beloved, Sharif’s showcase of the class didn’t go over entirely well with fans of the game. Redditors complained about the lack of threat mechanics, the audio quality, and video effects, all of which culminated in Sharif himself re-recording the video to show off a better flow of combat and the threat mechanics which weren’t originally utilized with any frequency.
“In the original recording I was trying to slowly use each skill in separate engagements, to progress into the full swing by the end of it while emulating the discovery experience of a player for new viewers. Based on this feedback and other feedback I’ve decided to take a more definitive developer’s approach to the demonstrations, so let me know if this new recording is the preferred style for the future.”
-Steven Sharif, Creative Director, Ashes of Creation, Reddit
At this time Intrepid Studios has yet to determine an exact Alpha 2 release date, but some speculate that testing may happen by the Summer of 2023. The team is still requesting that gamers tune in to the monthly streams and provide feedback on the official forums where they can to help shape development for future tests.
