The team behind Cross The Ages, a blockchain-powered transmedia ecosystem, has confirmed that the first Closed Alpha playtest for its upcoming cooperative action RPG, Arise, will begin on May 28 at 8 AM UTC. The test phase will run until June 2 at 8 AM UTC and marks the initial opportunity for members of the web3 gaming community to experience gameplay from this new title. Access is limited to holders of the Mint Pass, with eligibility determined by a snapshot that will take place on May 26 at 8 AM UTC.

Cross The Ages' New Game Arise Closed Alpha

Arise Closed Alpha Playtest

This initial Closed Alpha phase will offer early insight into the core mechanics of Arise, which is set within the same universe as Cross The Ages' trading card game. Players will be able to explore a single dungeon while controlling one character and using one weapon. The focus of this phase is not on story progression or lore but on gathering gameplay feedback from participants. This includes testing elements such as combat mechanics, movement controls, visual clarity during action sequences, and the overall player experience within the dungeon environment.

Participants will begin with a short tutorial to introduce the controls and mechanics. After completing the tutorial, players will be able to enter the dungeon either solo or in a group of up to four players. A starting hub will be available before entering the dungeon, containing four accessible buildings: a leaderboard, a talent board, a crystal opening station, and the Artellium map. While the character creation options will be limited, players will be able to customize features such as hairstyle and eye color. There will be no daily quests included in this phase of the playtest.

Cross The Ages' New Game Arise Closed Alpha

Dungeon Runs, Earning Crystals and Keys

The core gameplay loop in this phase will revolve around dungeon runs, during which players can earn crystals and keys. The difficulty of the dungeon impacts the rarity of the crystals, which can be opened to potentially obtain stronger weapons. Players may then equip new weapons and adjust their skill setup before attempting additional dungeon runs. The speed at which dungeons are completed influences the level of the keys earned. Faster completions will result in key upgrades, while slower runs may lead to a decrease in key levels.

One of the main objectives for players in this phase is to unlock the Tier 7 Mythical Fire Weapon, which is currently the most powerful item available. Additionally, players who reach level 10 before the end of the playtest will receive an exclusive in-game currency called the Founder’s Coin. Although this currency cannot be used during the Closed Alpha, it will be redeemable in the Founder’s Shop when Early Access becomes available.

Closed Alpha, Mint Passes, and Epic Games

To participate in the Closed Alpha, players must hold a Mint Pass in a wallet address linked to an active email account. Only one account per user will be selected for access, based on the account with the highest level. Emails associated with eligible wallet addresses will receive playtest invitations following the snapshot on May 26. The Mint Pass can be acquired through Cross The Ages’ official marketplace, with the Red Mint Pass currently listed at a floor price of $40.24 USDC.

The playtest is limited to Windows users and will be conducted through the Epic Games Store. The development team recommends having a system equipped with at least an RTX 3070 graphics card and 32 GB of RAM to ensure optimal performance at high graphics settings. Servers used for the test are located in Central Europe, and access is restricted in several regions, including Australia, Brazil, China, and South Korea.

Cross The Ages' New Game Arise Closed Alpha

Upcoming Test Phases and Future Availability

According to the official announcement, future closed playtest phases are already in planning. The second phase will expand the scope of gameplay to include a complete dungeon, two playable characters, and five weapons. This next stage will also introduce crafting and fishing systems, offering a broader view of the game’s mechanics. A third test is also scheduled, which will feature a new dungeon. Arise is being developed using Unreal Engine 5 and is intended to be a free-to-play title at launch.

While the current alpha is only available on Windows, the developers plan to support Mac and additional platforms in the future. The Closed Alpha Phase 1 marks a significant milestone in the development of Arise and reflects Cross The Ages’ continued expansion within the web3 gaming sector. Through this early access opportunity, the development team aims to collect meaningful feedback that will shape the next stages of development.