In a new developer update from Ashes of Creation, the MMORPG showcases not only new graphic details and a fresh biome but also its entire world map for the first time, which is so large that Skyrim can fit in it a whopping 32 times. We at MeinMMO summarize.
What did the developers show? On August 27, the developers of Ashes of Creation shared a new update with their community. In the 1 hour and 40 minutes long video, there are various smaller pieces of information as well as major highlights.
Most of the update, however, refers to the art style of Ashes of Creation. Especially in this field, one could easily show progress without having to go through elaborate playtests or similar, as Community Marketing Lead Margaret Krohn states in the video.
The biggest eye-catcher is likely the new forest biome. Recently, the creators of AoC showcased their desert, and the forest builds upon this graphical splendor. Especially paired with the realistic weather effects, it looks really fantastic.
You can even observe a light breeze rustling through the leaves. Aside from the new biome, there were some updates regarding characters and mounts, and of course, a particularly large highlight: the gigantic world map of Ashes of Creation.
From 1:29:33, you can catch glimpses of the forest in the video:
Ashes of Creation has a gigantic world and fills it with water
How big will the world actually be? The developers also granted a first look at the new world map in the video. Some continents have shifted, and a trained eye even recognizes new names on the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the world was revealed as well. Ashes of Creation is said to be a massive 1,200 km² in the end. That’s 32 times Skyrim, or at least 3 times Black Desert Online.
However, the developers face criticism for this statement, as around 750 km² of the world is said to be open sea. Although Ashes of Creation aims to offer content with and on ships, this translates to “only” 480 km² of land area. Which still equates to about 2x Cyberpunk 2077.
Furthermore, there should be around 100 km² of underground tunnels and cave systems. These are not included in any calculation and stand alone, according to the developers.
The world had to grow: The reason that the world of Verra in Ashes of Creation had to grow, according to the developers, is the content on the water. This needs more room to operate and simply requires more space.
Spread across this massive map, there are said to be a total of 85 so-called “nodes.” From these, player cities can emerge, and thus hub areas can grow if the nodes are indeed engaged.
The weather effects of AoC can be seen in this video:
“A beautiful atmosphere without Copy&Paste – I love it”
How does the community react? Extremely positively. Fans are celebrating the new video and the forest as a biome. Especially the details are praised by commentators. Additionally, there is excitement about exploring the vast world of Ashes of Creation.
Many fans see the MMORPG as a fresh wind for the entire genre and place a lot of hope in Ashes of Creation, while others are afraid that the game will break under exactly that expectation. However, the overall sentiment under the developer update is very positive.
What do the fans say? Some of the comments we would like to share with you at this point to give you an idea of the mood. They all come from the comment section under the developer update (via YouTube):
- Just Gaming Podcast writes: ‘The more I see of the game, the more hype I get. The genre desperately needs a fresh wind, and I hope so much that the game can live up to its expectations.’
- V RIP says: ‘Just look at all the different trees in the forest. It’s really hard to find two that look the same. A beautiful atmosphere, completely without Copy&Paste. I love it.’
- Andrew Baki writes: ‘The more I learn about the core systems of AoC and the philosophy of the developers, the more perfect the game becomes for me. Plus, the fantastic work of the whole team. I truly want to support the game personally for a long time.’
What do you think about the new developer update? Is the new biome or the gigantic map your personal highlight, or is it something entirely different? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
Millionaire says his new MMORPG will be one of the ‘largest and most successful MMOs’
