Arkheron, Bonfire Studios’ unique take on isometric RPGs and battle royales, officially enters closed beta this month, bringing with it a new game mode and substantial changes.
Last year, we had the opportunity to go hands-on with Bonfire Studios’ first title, Arkheron. A unique blend of isometric RPG, shooter, and battle royale helped the game stand out and impress us. Now, many months later, Bonfire Studios is ready to open the game up to additional betas as part of a closed beta. Of course, a lot has changed since we last played the game with Bonfire working tirelssly on making updates to gameplay clarity, UI, performance, and onboarding.
As players enter the closed beta, they’ll be able to not only enjoy these quality-of-life updates, but also new content. Arkheron’s closed beta begins July 15, welcoming players who’ve been along for the journey, and all new ones looking to try something wholly unique.
When to Play, How to Get In
Arkheron’s closed beta runs from July 15-26. According to Bonfire Studios, this two-week period will help the studio understand how the game holds up when larger groups of players join the battle. During the test, you’ll be able to partake in Spires, the game’s take on the traditional “Arena” mode. Be sure to check out our preview for more details on how a typical Arkheron match plays. Those looking for a more competitive challenge, Ascension (the game’s competitive mode), will be made playable Friday-Sunday both weekends.
As for participating, there are a few ways to get into the beta. First off, those who’ve participated in the studio’s weekly Friday and Saturday playtests automatically get in. Secondly, the studio will begin inviting players in waves from both their Steam and FirstLook waitlists. If you’re not already on the waitlist, you can sign up here. Those who do get an invite automatically get three Steam friend invites to distribute. Finally, for those who don’t get in, Bonfire intends on holding additional playtests in the near future ahead of the game’s Early Access launch.
What’s New?
The closed beta coincides with Arkheron’s .21 release. Full patch notes drop on July 14, but some notable highlights include Learning Spires and a new Cosmetic Progression test. Learning Spires is a new mode that takes the normal Spires mode and simplifies it. Built specifically for newer players, Learning Spires should make the onboarding process much easier for newer players. Instead of fighting players, you’ll be pitted against bots as you learn how to play and how the various mechanics work together. Considering the closed beta will likely introduce a lot of new players, this will be a great way for them to get their feet wet.
During the test, you’ll be able to partake in Spires, the game’s take on the traditional “Arena” mode. Those looking for a more competitive challenge, Ascension (the game’s competitive mode), will be made playable Friday-Sunday both weekends.
The closed beta also serves as a testing ground for the game’s cosmetic progression system. As you play the game, you’ll earn Pages that can then be spent to unlock cosmetics. The studio will be watching how players move through the system, the kinds of items they mostly go for, and how it feels to progress. All this will help tune the progression system for future playtests, Early Access, and, eventually, the full launch.
Arkheron is currently scheduled to launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. However, the closed beta will predominantly be held on PC with only a limited group of console players from the Xbox Insiders Program being able to join. Console testing will take place in the future.
Arkheron
- ESRB
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Teen / Violence, Mild Blood, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
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Bonfire Studios
- Publisher(s)
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Bonfire Studios, DRIMAGE
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
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Yes
- Number of Players
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Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
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Unknown
