The developers of Ashes of Creation take a look back at 2019 in a letter and present the plans for the new year. Much is also discussed about the upcoming Alpha 1.
What will happen in 2020 in Ashes of Creation? For the new year, the developers have set the launch of the first Alpha of the MMORPG. This is to be internally tested in January and presented to the public at the Game Developers Conference in March.
However, the developers have not disclosed exactly when the first Alpha will start. It is certain that there will be no NDA for it. Once the Alpha starts, you can expect video material and livestreams of the game.
Additionally, new blog posts about the classes, Nodes, Housing, and the equipment system are planned for 2020.
What will happen in Apocalypse? The PvP standalone Ashes of Creation Apocalypse is also set to be expanded in 2020. It revolves around the fortress sieges, where one faction of players attacks a castle defended by the other group.
The mode will also introduce the first classes and siege weapons.
2019 went differently than originally planned
How did 2019 go for Ashes of Creation? The past year did not go as the developers originally planned. The Alpha 1 was supposed to start in the first quarter of 2019. However, it was postponed indefinitely due to problems with Apocalypse.
Afterwards, there was little to see of the MMORPG, apart from a few blog posts by the developers and a new trailer.
In the developer letter, a positive conclusion for the year is drawn nonetheless. The expansions of the team and the current progress of Ashes of Creation are cited as reasons.
How did it go for Apocalypse? In September 2019, the standalone Apocalypse was released on Steam. This special and free version of Ashes of Creation serves to test servers, combat systems, and other technical aspects before the actual MMORPG launches.
Unfortunately, it fell significantly short of all expectations. According to Steamcharts, only about 7 players play Apocalypse on average. In the last 30 days, the peak was 20 concurrent players. Too few for a battle royale with up to 100 concurrent players.
Nevertheless, Intrepid Studios seems to be committed to the standalone game in 2020 as well. This is evidenced by the planned expansions for fortress sieges and a horde mode, where players can face PvE creatures cooperatively for the first time.
Will 2020 bring a turnaround for the MMORPG?
Where does the MMORPG stand at the beginning of 2020? Although there is still no playable version of Ashes of Creation, many players are nonetheless hopeful for the MMORPG. This is mainly due to the overall structure of the game:
- Areas can be conquered and then leveled up. Thus, small tent camps develop into villages and later even huge cities with housing
- Cities form alliances with each other and fight other cities together
- Social aspects and community ideas are in the foreground
Many players look forward to a huge sandbox world where they can interact and must interact with other players again.
The first Alpha, which is set to be released in 2020, will show whether Ashes of Creation can truly fulfill these wishes.
