ArcheAge, the MMO with sandbox elements, has announced the date for the next beta weekend. It is set to be three times larger than the last one.
Normally, there was always about an hour of advance notice when it became clear that an additional server would need to be brought online, but this time the first one was full after just 18 minutes, according to Trion Worlds CEO Scott Hartsman regarding the success of the last beta weekend. The last test showed that the servers could withstand such a surge. Furthermore, it was valuable training in server management. While players explored the world of ArcheAge, Trion Worlds was already considering what adjustments could be made to make the experience even more engaging.
The second beta weekend is set to begin on July 30 at 7:00 PM and run until August 4 at 7:00 PM. This time, they want to bring in three times as many players through giveaways. Additionally, there will be a sailing event. Well, not a real one: players are encouraged to show their artistic side and design a motif for a sail (but no inappropriate content, it should remain family-friendly; perhaps it will even be implemented in the game later). The three best sail designs will be rewarded with delicious keys. That’s something.
The rush for ArcheAge seems non-stop; already in alpha, they had to significantly increase the servers. Before the start of the first beta test, Trion Worlds mentioned that over a million players had applied for the few spots available.
While the numbers look good and Trion Worlds is brimming with excitement, dark clouds are gathering from another direction. Game journalists are wondering, whether the entry into ArcheAge truly does justice to the game and whether the sandbox elements and the open world should be prioritized. Otherwise, there is a risk that players may get the impression that ArcheAge is just another MMO.
