Ashes Of Creation Backpedals & Reveals Alpha Length?

Following some angry responses from Asmongold and many others. Intrepid have clarified some Alpha 2 key sales information!

#ashesofcreation #mmo

[AshesOfOddity]

They just announced further changes, including 1 month sub for every purchase:

First, Second, and Third Wave have now been changed into Bundles which include Alpha Two, Beta One, and Beta Two access, a 1 Month of Subscription Time ($15 value), and $15 in Embers (in-game marketplace credits, NO P2W!).

[jaffrojones]

You can get a lien placed on you for almost anything, and they are generally easy to fix, but while you have the lien placed, the company is kind of in limbo. You can't make any changes to the company, from something as simple as hiring new people to something as big as changing banking information. So it can be a big deal.

[QuibbleTrouble]

Alpha 2 is lasting all the way to the release of the game. Beta 1/2 are going to be very short polish tests right before launch (likely a week or two each), and alpha 2 will still be running while the beta tests happen. Also phase 3 is the rest of alpha 2, the features listed for phase 3 were stated to be for the first few months of phase 3, but phase 3 is the 24/7 period, so that's the entirety of alpha 2 until launch.

[Torchlight_Studios]

I don't see beta being 4 years since beta1/2 are expected to be for polish. Hopeful but i see it being 2 1/2 to 3 years until release.

[h.jonasrhynedahll]

It is well known in the veteran AoC community that Intrepid will understate any figure that might have a negative impact on potential sales. Saying that they have "over 100k A2s" when they had "100k" back in March of 2023 is disingenuous. Anything from 100, 001 to infinity is "over 100, 000". Based on the average rate of previous pre-order sales and completely disregarding the accelerating effects of FOMO that kicked in towards the end of 2024, the actual number (which Intrepid knows exactly) is realistically closer to or above 200k. That higher figure, however, would undermine their "need more testers" argument. Likewise, "as least a year" is technically accurate in respect to the general expectation of 2 to 3 years of additional development after Real Alpha Two starts next Summer or Fall.

[Pompelipom]

They need money to being able to finish the game, the project is so huge. But it's good Alpha 2 also can play in beta. It was a little to expensive with only Alpha 2.

[DoctorEviloply]

Here's the thing, I'm aware it's an alpha. I'm aware it's a game in development. But I can't help but feel that Steven is being more than a bit disingenuous here. What has been announced essentially is that Alpha 2 has been delayed into May of next year. On it's own, I'd be fine with Stephen just saying that. "We were overconfident in our estimates for dates and we apologize. Alpha 2 is coming in May now.". Some people would moan. But most would understand. These weird spot tests with a third of the alpha just reek of desperation and rushing to meet untenable deadlines instead of admitting the truth. So we can't say that Alpha 2 has been properly delayed because we're getting something on the date that was promised. Very dishonest behaviour for something that the majority of people know is unfinished and would've been delayed.

[wildyoda]

I dont think beta would be two years i think alpha two will be the longest testing phase simply because they have more things they need to test in this phase once they're done with that beta 1 and beta 2 will just be polishing

[ChillGamer]

Sadly this has become more and more of a trend in gaming, see how much your community allows you to get away with until the backlash becomes detrimental and then backpedal while pretending that you are sorry after listening to community feedback.

[TheRealTrucido]

Ive heard figures that they're like 40M in debt, so hopefully that isnt true and the game doesnt fizzle out and die before release.

[PaulSmith-fdgy]

i also think they are putting on a display their tech for other game developers like getting deep into how they are gonna make these servers work with large amounts of people and how they are solving problems other mmorpgs have. Remember when desert storm was going on and they kept showing the prices of missiles and helicopter capabilities and a list of prices? They were literally having a yard sale for other countries to buy our outdated equipment right in from of our eyes and using the news to do it.

[WasabithePom]

I think pricing is fair and now it is even better for those who want to test and did not buy an Alpha 2 package before. If you still do not like the pricing, don't purchase. You can watch others test it once the NDA drops and A2 testing begins.

[sliceofheaven]

Phase 3 will last for a year? That is one long alpha 2. I think the alpha keys should earn the access to betas also. There is really no defense in separating the alphas from the betas and trying to gouge money out of the players that way. It would be definately much better if they just come out and say that they need money to develope the game instead of presenting this paid alpha as something extraordinary to the people who follow the development of the game.

[picknroll]

This game LMAO.. Alpha test is more expensive than the newest triple A game.. This type of behavior makes me think they don't have enough money to finish the game. They should just make new Alpha every 2 or 3 years and charge $120 on every one of them.. I heard GTA 6 is $60.. 😂😂😂

[PaulSmith-fdgy]

i am excited for this game i hope its everything they say it is but a part of me believes every time steven talks he is setting up a fall for later so when the "game goes under" he can run off with the money and be like you didnt pay for a game you paid for testing. Saying things like "do not give us money unless you support our vision" So when their vision doesnt work out they can just go live and say "we tried to give you the best game ever but it didnt work out." I feel there is so much to learn from other scammers in the past and the first thing the others never did was have a game to present before they took every ones money. Ashes has a "game" to present and at this point they can be in development for 40 years and nothing says they have to give us a game they can just go bankrupt in 10 years and run off to the bank. Thats the scary part so buying this is a huge gamble for people that want this game but really cant afford to buy into it. thats why he is trying to be clear because if poor people lose $500 to a game that goes under those are the people who will sue. People that are loaded might just be like ah fuck it just a bad investment. So this all feels like damage control incase they have no intention of releasing an actual game.

[JimDean]

"A2 phase 3, is expected to last at least 1 year" I'm excited to see what Narc has to say about it xD
I think phase 3 will last about two years. Narc thinks 6+ years
Let's see who is right in the end

[klm]

phase 1 going to be so insanely cheeks

[ashesofcreachawn]

Fast forward to phase 3…

Wow! The game is looking great! What were we mad about again!?

I don’t like this either but I’m going to put faith in the studio. I railed against AoC since 2015, up until a few years ago. Progress, expansion, and communication is why I decided to put my faith into Intrepid. We are all treading new waters by following a open development process. Healthy skepticism is a good thing IMO.

But let’s be honest with ourselves. At some point we payed money for New World…. Soooo…I’ll see you in Vera lol

[konkats-tgpf]

you know it, i know it, steven will deliver the best ue6 game

[SenZenZero]

Well maybe if players didn't hype the fuck out of this game, they would think twice about charging for an alpha test... truth is they know this game is in high demand and people will pay to test,