Former Blizzard Veterans Unveil Arkheron, A New Fantasy PvP Action Game
Bonfire Studios, a development team boasting a roster of former Blizzard Entertainment veterans, has officially announced its debut project: Arkheron. This new fantasy-themed team PvP action game, published in partnership with DRIMAGE, aims to bring a fresh take to the battle royale genre with a focus on strategic combat and deep hero customization.
The studio is helmed by industry luminaries including Rob Pardo, former Creative Director and Lead Designer for World of Warcraft, who co-founded Bonfire Studios in 2016. He is joined by Nick Carpenter, former Art Director at Blizzard, and Min Kim, former CEO of Nexon America. To support their vision and the development of Arkheron, Bonfire Studios secured significant funding, receiving 25 million dollars from major industry players Riot Games and Andreessen Horowitz.
Ascend the Tower of Memories in Team Combat
At its core, Arkheron plunges players into dynamic team-based PvP battles. Matches feature up to 15 teams, each consisting of three players, vying for supremacy in a unique battle royale format. The ultimate objective is to conquer rival teams and ascend a mysterious tower, which is said to be composed of fragments of heroes' memories, adding a rich thematic layer to the gameplay.
Breaking away from traditional class systems, Arkheron empowers players to define their hero's potential through individual builds. Every hero's abilities can be enhanced and modified using a wide array of equipment and, crucially, powerful artifacts known as Relics.
Strategic Relics and the "Ascension" Game Mode
The primary game mode, "Ascension," challenges teams to fight their way to the top of the tower. Players will engage in combat against monsters and rival teams, capturing floor after floor within a time limit. With each successful ascent, the number of competing teams dwindles, creating an intense, escalating experience until only the final three teams remain to battle for victory before the tower resets for a new cycle.
Relics are central to Arkheron's gameplay. Described as memories taking form as potent weapons and abilities, each relic collected can dramatically alter a player's combat style, allowing for on-the-fly strategy adjustments. Players can choose to assemble a full set of four identical relics to achieve an "Eternal" state, unlocking a powerful fifth ability that can turn the tide of battle. Alternatively, players can mix and match relics from different sets, constantly adapting their loadout to create unique builds and synergistic effects, ensuring that strategic choices are always fluid and impactful.
Alpha Test and System Requirements Revealed
Beyond the "Ascension" mode, Arkheron will offer two training modes at launch: one for practicing against other players and another for honing skills against bots.
Interested players won't have to wait long to get a taste of the action. An alpha test for Arkheron is scheduled from September 19th to 21st. Gamers can request access through the game's Steam page for a chance to participate.
The developers have also provided preliminary system requirements:
- Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: 64-bit Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core i5-7600K
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
RAM: 16 GB
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 25 GB - Recommended Requirements:
Operating System: 64-bit Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core i5-9600K
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070
RAM: 16 GB
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 25 GB
Arkheron is currently in development for PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. While a release date has not yet been announced, the upcoming alpha test offers an early opportunity for players to experience this ambitious title.
What This Means for Players
For gamers eager for a fresh take on team-based PvP action, Arkheron presents an exciting prospect. The game's emphasis on dynamic relic-based builds and the unique tower ascent mechanic suggests a high degree of strategic depth and replayability. With former Blizzard talent at the helm and significant backing, there's considerable anticipation for Bonfire Studios' debut. Participating in the alpha test will be the first chance for players to see if Arkheron lives up to its promise of innovative fantasy combat.
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