Alpha Two Phase III Testing Schedule

Greetings, glorious adventurers!

As we continue pushing forward in the development of Ashes of Creation, we’d like to provide an update on our Alpha Two testing schedule, including details on the extension of Phase II with merge system testing, realm stress testing, and the upcoming launch of Phase III. Your feedback, bug reports, and continued participation have been instrumental in helping us shape the world of Verra, and we’re incredibly grateful for your support.

Phase II Extension - Now Through August 4, 2025

We’ve made the decision to extend Alpha Two Phase II through August 4, 2025. This extension allows our team to make meaningful progress on several key initiatives for the launch of Alpha Two Phase III, including:

• Implementing and testing dynamic gridding, which is critical for improving gameplay performance in densely populated areas.
• The introduction of our second starting area in The Anvils, and a revamp of our questing and first time user experience systems.
• Ongoing server worker and realm performance improvements, helping us lay a stronger foundation for scalability.
• Our transition to Unreal Engine 5.5 brings major improvements to tools, performance, and development flexibility.
• Significant economy and stat balancing efforts over the next 3 months, in preparation for a solid Phase III start.
• The introduction of the Py’rai, Ren’Kai and Niküan races with all armor sets along with our last Archetype, the Summoner.

This additional time will result in a smoother, more robust experience as we transition into Phase III.

Alpha Two Phase III - Begins August 4, 2025

Following the conclusion of Phase II, Alpha Two Phase III will begin on August 4, 2025. In this next phase, we will continue testing and iterating on core systems, add new content, and implement performance enhancements as we work toward refining the full Alpha experience.

Testing Access

All users with Alpha Two access will be able to participate in Phase III. This includes:

• Alpha Two Kickstarter, Pre-Order Backers, and Alpha Two First and Second Wave Bundle holders.
• Alpha Two Third Wave Bundle holders, who will now gain Alpha access to the extended Phase II period beginning on May 1, 2025 as well. 

Testing Schedule

• Now through August 4, 2025: Testing will continue on a 5+ day per week schedule.
• Starting August 4, 2025: Testing will move to a 24/7 live schedule, with downtime for maintenance and scheduled updates.
• During the extended Phase II period, we will have intermittent periods of full week testing where our servers are kept live through extended periods. Stay tuned for those updates to the schedule.

We are not currently announcing an end date for Alpha Two, as it is expected to last until the start of Beta, when it will become the new PTR. We’ll share additional details on our long-term goals and timelines as we move closer to that date.

Merge, Fresh Start, & Wipe Notice

A New Challenge Awaits

A new dawn rises over Verra, and with it - a challenge worthy of legends. As two realms merge into one, the battlefield resets, the nodes lie unclaimed, and the world holds its breath. This is your moment to carve your name into the stone of the final months of Phase II. Bring your hard-earned strength, your forged steel, and your sharpened will - for what lies ahead is a thunderdome of ambition, alliance, and unrelenting conquest. The path to Phase III begins here, and only the bold shall shape the future. Glory is calling.

April 30 - Merge System Test

On April 30, 2025, we will merge the Vyra and Lyneth realms into a single realm named Resna (US East). Lotharia will not be merged. During this test, Resna will be the only realm available. This critical test will validate our realm merge process, and we encourage all testers to fully participate to help us assess system performance and stability.

As part of the merge, certain systems—including nodes, mayorships, freeholds, vehicles, cargo, and other realm-based systems—will be reset. However, key player progress will be preserved. Character levels, experience, skill trees, artisan progression, and inventory will carry over. Warehouse items will remain available once their respective nodes reach level one, and items held in citizenship warehouses can be accessed again if the player regains citizenship in that node. Additionally, the Resna realm character slot limit will increase to ten, and in cases of name conflicts, character names will be adjusted with suffixes such as -Vyr or -Lyn.

May 1 - Transition to Realm Stress Testing

Beginning May 1, 2025, we will shift to focused realm stress testing for the remainder of Phase II. A Fresh Start Realm, Shol (US East), will become available for all testers, with access expected to open around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Shol will follow our normal 5+ day testing schedule. With this transition, Resna and Lotharia will be taken offline to concentrate efforts on stress testing Shol, and all users will need to create new characters. While additional realms may be added later if needed, there are currently no plans to bring others online during this period.

August 4 - Potential Wipe for Phase III

To support meaningful testing and ensure the integrity of data collection, a full character and progression wipe may occur at the start of Phase III on August 4, 2025. If needed, this wipe would apply to all active realms to ensure testing accurately reflects updates to systems, balance, and optimizations. A final decision is still under evaluation based on testing data and upcoming system changes, but we want to provide early notice so players are aware of the possibility.

Realm Status Updates

For ongoing updates and further testing information, please follow our Alpha-Two-News channel on Discord.

How You Can Help - Bug Reports & Feedback

Your participation and feedback are a vital part of the development process. Here's how you can contribute:

• Bug Reporting: Use the /bug command in-game to report issues directly. These reports go straight to our QA team for investigation, along with additional information that helps us fix the reported issues.
• Feedback Channels: Share your thoughts in our official Forums, Discord threads, and survey responses. This feedback helps our team evaluate gameplay balance, system clarity, and user experience across a wide range of playstyles.

Thank You!

We want to extend our sincere thanks to every tester who’s joined us so far. Your time, insights, and dedication are helping us shape the world of Verra into something truly special.

Stay tuned to our official social channels and community platforms for ongoing updates. We’re excited for what’s ahead and can’t wait to see you in Phase III!