Cross The Ages (CTA), the web3 trading card game, has officially announced the launch of its Blast Closed Playtest Phase 1. This phase will run from April 23 to May 7 and introduces a series of major changes to the game's mechanics. The purpose of this limited test is to gather feedback from eligible players while they experience a simplified version of the updated gameplay. Players who participate will also receive an exclusive test reward card.

About Cross The Ages

The Blast Closed Playtest Phase 1 brings several core updates to the Cross The Ages tactical card game experience. One of the most significant changes is the introduction of health points (HP) for players, replacing the previous win condition that relied on scoring 65 points through the Trinity system. Matches are now won by reducing the opponent’s HP to zero, which shifts the focus toward direct damage strategies.

A new energy bar mechanic has also been added, allowing players to play multiple cards per turn depending on the energy they have available. This replaces the earlier rule that limited turns to one card. Special abilities are no longer part of the gameplay and are now replaced by new special attacks called Blasts. These Blasts are divided into three levels, each with different energy costs and cooldown periods. In this test phase, players can use two types of Blasts—Arkhante and Mantris—with two additional ones, Rift and Watch Dogs, planned for future phases.

Cross The Ages Reveals Closed Playtest

New Heptagram System and Web3 Mechanics

Other changes include modifications to the Heptagram system. Each element now has one advantage and one weakness, down from the previous two, and the order of these interactions has been updated to simplify the learning curve for new players. Extended capture mechanics through the Leader role have been removed, with a single chain capture mechanic taking their place. Players will also be limited to a six-card hand, with any seventh card being destroyed, a change from the previously unlimited hand size.

The primary goal of this closed playtest is to focus on the essential gameplay systems and gather structured feedback from the community. The current build includes only the core features, excluding visual effects, animations, and other non-essential menus. These features are expected to return in upcoming phases of testing. The streamlined nature of this build is intended to help the development team refine the foundational aspects of the game’s web3 mechanics.

Cross The Ages Reveals Closed Playtest

Blast Closed Playtest Phase 1 Participation

To take part in the Blast Closed Playtest Phase 1, players must meet specific eligibility criteria. Participants are required to own a Mint Pass stored in either their CTA Wallet or Custom Wallet. Additionally, players must have completed Know Your Customer (KYC) verification and logged in to the game between April 1 at 8 AM UTC and April 16 at 8 AM UTC. A snapshot taken on April 16 at 8 AM UTC will determine eligibility. Each user will have only one account selected for participation, with priority given to the highest-level account.

Players who qualify will receive an email on April 23 with an access code to redeem the test build through the Epic Games Store. Whitelisted players will also receive download links for mobile versions on Android and iOS via the Play Store and App Store, respectively. The CTA launcher is no longer supported, and all future playtest phases will be conducted through the Epic Games Store and mobile platforms.

Cross The Ages Reveals Closed Playtest

Final Thoughts

Every eligible player who completes at least one match during the test period will receive an exclusive standard version of the Palmer – Cult Leader card. This version is uniquely associated with this phase of testing. A different version of the card is planned for distribution in a future playtest phase.

Mint Passes needed for eligibility are available in the marketplace on the official Cross The Ages website. At the time of writing, the lowest-priced option, the Red Mint Pass, is listed at $42.4 USDC on Immutable X. Cross The Ages aims to use feedback from this closed playtest to refine its evolving gameplay mechanics. The development team continues to prioritize community input as it works toward building a more engaging and balanced web3 card game experience.