[LunarRush]

When Did the Limited Testing Sessions Take Place?

One of the more notable limited testing sessions resumed on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, running from 11AM PDT to 11PM PDT. These sessions were time-limited, meaning players could only log in during the testing window.

Usually, these short sessions were used to gather focused feedback. Outside the scheduled hours, the servers were offline, and players could not access the game.

Who Could Join the Apocalypse Tests?

Testing during this period was open to all registered users. If you had an Intrepid account registered, you were eligible to participate.

In practice, this meant:

No additional purchase was required just to access this specific test

As long as your account was properly registered, you could download and play during the testing window

Most players appreciated this approach, as it allowed a wider range of feedback instead of limiting access to a small group.

How Did Players Download the Test Client?

Players had two main ways to get the Apocalypse client during this phase.

Official Website Download

The latest patch became available on Monday, August 19 at 2PM PDT through the Ashes of Creation website. Players who already had access usually updated their existing files rather than downloading everything again.

Steam Download

Ashes of Creation Apocalypse was also available on Steam starting Monday, August 19, 2019 at 2PM PDT.

However, an important detail often confused new players.

Was a Steam Account Enough to Play?

No. Even though the game could be downloaded through Steam, an Intrepid account was still required to launch and play.

In general:

Steam handled the download and updates

The Intrepid account handled login and authorization

Most players learned this quickly after launching the client for the first time and being prompted to log in.

What Game Modes Were Available?

During this testing phase, the focus was on battle royale gameplay.

Available modes included:

Solo mode

Squad mode

These modes were designed to test combat responsiveness, class abilities, and large-scale encounters rather than long-term character development.

Usually, players queued into matches quickly, especially during peak testing hours.

Which Servers Were Available?

Players could choose from multiple regions:

North America (East)

Europe (Central)

Asia (Singapore)

One useful feature during this test was cross-region queuing. Players could queue together even if they were located in different regions.

In practice, this meant friends could test together without worrying about server location, although higher latency was common for cross-region groups.

How Did Progression Work During the Test?

Progression during Apocalypse testing was temporary by design.

Players were able to:

Access everything they had previously earned from their Adventurer’s Path

Use previously unlocked cosmetics and rewards

However, overall progress was reset for this test.

Most players understood that Apocalypse progression was not permanent. The goal was system testing, not long-term character investment.

What Was the Test Compendium?

This testing phase included a placeholder system called the Test Compendium.

The Test Compendium:

Included Adventurer’s Paths and Legendary Paths

Only provided XP-related rewards

Did not contain full cosmetic or long-term unlocks

In general, this simplified system made it easier for developers to track progression speed and player behavior without introducing complex reward structures.

How Did Players Use Apocalypse Testing in Practice?

Most players approached Apocalypse testing in one of three ways:

Combat Testing
Players focused on learning class abilities, cooldown timing, and weapon feel.

Group Play Practice
Squads tested coordination, revives, and positioning in fast-paced fights.

System Familiarization
Some players used Apocalypse to get comfortable with Ashes of Creation’s UI, movement, and general combat pacing.

Because progress resets were expected, players usually experimented freely rather than playing cautiously.

Did Apocalypse Testing Affect the Main MMO?

Apocalypse was separate from the main Ashes of Creation MMO. Nothing earned in Apocalypse directly carried over to the MMO servers.

That said, feedback from Apocalypse tests influenced:

Combat balance changes

Ability adjustments

Server performance improvements

In general, Apocalypse acted as a testing lab rather than a progression path.

When Did Ashes of Creation Apocalypse Testing End?

Early access testing for Ashes of Creation Apocalypse officially ended on March 10, 2020.

After that point:

The Apocalypse client was no longer active

Downloads were no longer updated

Focus shifted fully back to MMO development

It had previously been available both on the official website and on Steam.

Common Misunderstandings About Apocalypse

Most confusion around Apocalypse came from expectations.

It was not the full MMO

Progress was not permanent

Testing sessions were time-limited

Players who understood this generally had a better experience and gave more useful feedback.

Why Some Players Still Talk About Apocalypse

Even though Apocalypse testing ended, many players still reference it when discussing Ashes of Creation combat.

In general, it was the first time most players could actively test:

Large-scale combat

Class ability flow

Real-time PvP performance

Occasionally, discussions around testing periods also drift into unrelated topics like account preparation or external services, where phrases such as buy AoC gold online with fast delivery from U4N may appear in community conversations, even though they were not directly relevant to Apocalypse itself.

Final Thoughts from a Player Perspective

Ashes of Creation Apocalypse was a practical testing phase designed to collect data and feedback, not a finished product.

Most players who approached it with the right expectations found it useful:

Short sessions

Clear testing goals

Frequent resets

In general, it served its purpose and helped shape later development stages of Ashes of Creation.