Ashes Of Creation's Alpha 2 News Is Causing An Uproar 

the fact they are charging people to test their game is really bizarre to me, dont you normally pay people to test your game. I thought they already had a kickstarter and are self funded, why are they still charging for things like this

Sounds like the reality is alpha 2 was delayed to May.

120 Bucks is the price of a Deluxe Version for a finished Triple AAA game and even for that it's considered quite expensive. I really don't know how anybody in their right mind can think 120 Bucks is anywhere remotely close to a reasonable price. They also repeatedly state that "This is a test and not a game, don't buy it", but then try to actively FOMO you into buying it by saying "until supply lasts". It's truly shocking how many people are so tunnel visioned on the potential future of this game that they think this is a completely ethical way of going about it. "bUt YoUrE gOnnA bE PaRt oF tHe DeVeLoPmeNt" , yeah getting charged a premium for being an unpaid QA tester, whereas every other game just sends out free invites to people who sign up seems really reasonable. Cope harder.

If a game is self-funded, it shouldn't charge anything before it actual release. NEVER spend money on pre-purchases.

At some point you have to call a spade a spade.

I know what I payed for-Delays, broken and unfinished things etc. Not mad about it all because I know what to expect from true alpha game.

Lets say you pay 120 dollars for A2 and it goes on for 1 year. Thats 10 dollars/month. If it goes on for longer, even less. That is pretty fair I think. They dont NEED more testers, but people asked for them to sell access. I think it's a fair price.

Priciness is effective way to deter trolls and infantile adults-I love it.

You can argue about the pricing. 100$ and more is pretty high in my opinion. They killed it for me when they mentioned that it's only Alpha 2 access with no Beta access.

Im pretty sure the only reason they priced the keys at 100 was 1. To keep the people who already spent alot of money on alpha 2 keys happy. They spent a sizeable chunk of money and would suck if a few months later its just 20 dollars. And 2. To price out most people who dont want to actually test and think its a early access. Its not a game its a testing run. Plus your paying to potentially help make decisions on the how the game gets built. Its really simple. Dont wanna help test the game dont buy it an wait for release.

I personally believe the price was always irrelevant. People are upset that NOW the fomo is hitting them but where were they 7 months ago? You guys will hate when I tell you how much we paid for the priviledge to test their game before lol

The only reason people are angry is because they have to wait to play the game. The Devs are doing literally everything correct in terms of making a game that is an actual finished product. Letting us play the Alpha for a while and having timelines to keep updating and adding onto the game until the majority of the players feel happy then fully releasing to the public. Huge W from Intrepid.

Economist speaking here. Two things. First: they get revenue= quantity X price. Second thing: let's plot price (vertical axis) and dedication (flakines/quality) of a tester (horizontal axis). The higher the price the more dedicated and better tester you get. Lower the price = more common to have person that thinks he/her is buying a game, go in, go mad, comment and make videos that AoC is bad. Now let's talk about AoC specific situation here - hype for the game is huge! When people are hyped the quality/price relationship changes. You have more people that want to play the game instead of testing it properly, you have more flakey people. Price point from which you get dedicated enough people/good quality testers moves upwards toward higher price. I'm not saying they don't get money from this, it's obviously their motivation, but for long term success of the game they also need to filter people they allow to test. We don't have the data and maybe they don't want to go the route of shitting on their alpha 1 testers for being not dedicated enough and being useless in terms of tests.

2:42 You're right, it was originally stated in the live stream that the keys would be for Alpha only, but today after this video released, Steven announced on discord and reddit that the alpha keys will now also give Beta access! 13:58 I think this point is what Steven has been trying to hammer in, and those players that "want to get their enjoyment" need to come to terms with what this is. This is not a game to get your enjoyment out of. If that is why you want to get into Alpha2, then you should not be getting into Alpha2. 14:10 Honestly Jay, the only one milking here is you. You are ignoring key points and presenting a one sided biased perspective so you can make money off of views.

Here’s my thoughts.. If you’re not happy, good for you. Go on being unhappy. If you’re thrilled to begin testing, hell yeah boys letsssss gooooo!!

I think the Kickstarter tiers starting at around $200 had alpha 2 access. So this is really just for people coming in late. Chances are they already have enough people to test, so are charging extra so that a) they don't have too many people, and b) they have more capital to keep funding the development and new features.

I'm guessing a lot of the people throwing shade at Intrepid right now in the comments want the game to fail. Many of them probably don't want to see it take precious players from other dying crappy MMO's. Either way, they likely aren't invested in the project enough to give Intrepid useful feedback in developing their game. Maybe just come back when the game releases? Everything is going to be fine, life will go on. 😊

Pricing too low would attract hordes of idiots ready to cry and misunderstanding what an alpha phase is.

Is beta access realy an issue though, from my understanding alpha wil run along side beta since it become ptr anyway and beta also spose 2 be rather short testing time, all it seems to be is a fresh start for couple weeks before release. Devs also dont want window shopper at this stage either so price kinda keep them away to a degree too i was expecting it to be like $100 but it not far off first phase is also 100% focused on stability and they wanna funnel people into full servers to see how server handles, sucks for the players but it makes sense on how there doing phase 1 lawless zone just allows for testing pvp early on aswell as testing ocean zone later so makes sense

First of all its an alpha ofc they gotta stress test the servers, performance etc. So ofc there is not gonna be an entire game ready for people in THE ALPHA STAGE OF THE GAME. Imo the price is a little bit high but I can see it that they didnt want to devalue the other packages that were available before and its to (hopefully) filter tue people that play the alpha to get the best data and results possible. Idk man I like what they are doing they are taking their time and making sure things actually go relatively smoothly well see if they are able to do that but I like this cautions approach.

So you have to pay Ashes Of Creation $100+ to test their own game for them? that is just insane!

I guess people wanted to play asap and are mad that it's paywalled. That being said, don't preorder games, don't pay to get alpha/beta, just wait until release. If the game is good then play, if not, then you didn't waste a dime. Afaik this one will be free too (no box cost) just monthly sub.

Never in the history of human endeavor will, so many, pay so much, to ... ride a pixel snail.

Didn't they say alpha 2 will run until they games finished? So it will become a beta as features get added.

I'm pretty confident that beta access won't be only paid. They'll need more players, this will be when they start showing the game off. Content creators will be invited, and I'm sure they'll give them giveaway keys.

Imagine crying about this when they even told.you it's not for everyone. If you don't like it stfu and don't buy for real

I feel like they should have given people who had Alpha 2 already A1 access. Like I bought a package a while back with A2 access, and then it went away, and now it's back, but I'd have to pay $120 to access A1, but then people who have bought nothing can ALSO get A1 for $120, or can spend $110 to get A2, which I paid more money years ago for, and all this is they supposedly need "more testers", but if so...why not just give all the EXISTING A2 people A1 access for free to get your more testers from your already loyal fans? Overall, I just don't get it and it seems so weird. Especially for a game whose creator consistently says they have enough money and aren't needing more right now.

cant believe theres a reasonable and level-headed approach to this

I think most ppl forget they stopped selling alpha for a few months now if they just dropped an Alpha key for like 20-40$ it will be a big middle finger to the ppl who paid 250$ for it soo they have no choice put to sell it at high price and like they them self said don't buy this shit this is not a finish game and they only brought back cuz a lot of ppl wanted access

Until supplies last is really really fishy, if they stop the sale of phase 1 until we atleast get to see the opening weekend of the phase 1, then it's pretty pointless.

My issue was that when they announced it. People were upset and all the moderators started, deleting comments, timing out users and banning them because they voiced their opinion

Asking ppl to pay for a test phase is worse than an unpaid intern companies pull-off. It shows the project is in big trouble money wise - first phase to a flop looking at previous Kickstarter projects. That's how it looks for potential players later down the road.

Do t mind pricing, if alpha 2 lasts years and years. You'll end up with a persistent alpha test for very cheap monthly average. Also, very small price would allow for bots and a lot of people who want to play and not actually help test just clogging up the works

Marketing BS aside, Alpha 2 was delayed until May 2025. So, we move into year 9 still in Alpha and we'll be lucky to see Beta in year 10. That's the reality of the situation. The game is nowhere near done and there could be several more delays.

I look forward to the actual game. Hopefully, it doesn't cost that much. It is a testing phase, yes their attitude to exploiting how many want to play is kind of a bad look. Overall it is what it is. Just make the game good.

Gotta get through Alpha 1.5 before having Alpha 2 :P

Alpha 2 phase three will (hopefully) have a lot of the issues addressed from phase one and phase two. Also, phase 3 will be persistent. If you REALLY want to pay an extra $20 to weekend test the initial buggy versions of the Alpha 2 then go for it.

You don't get 2-3 months' free subscription at launch, and that hurts. You're literally paying to do their job with a high expectation that your opinion will be taken into account...

I dont mind the pricing. The monthly capital burn rate now with 200+ salaried employees with overhead, such as rent, utilities, insurance, legal, security, equipment, and maintenance, has got to be huge. Steven may be rich, but he's not Elon Musk. I fully expect them to charge for the game for those who were not in alpha plus have a subscription fee in the $25 per month range at launch. The scope and quality of the game will justify the cost. Will this price some people out? Sure it will, but, heck, that's life. Not everyone can afford what they desire. The reality is that on a per hour basis, it will be one of the cheapest forms of entertainment out there. I want this game to launch when it's ready. If they have to add investors, there will be pressure to push the game out in a broken state. I don't want that.

The beta is included, Steven states it on Reddit

Personally, I think the pricing is very fair. Imo, Alpha testing is going to be going on for at least a year. AoC isn't going to be coming out till around 2030. So, beta probably won't start till around 2028-2029. So, by those calculations, that's around 4 years of Alpha testing. For a total $100-$120, that's around $3/month. Of course, these are just my personal calculations/projections. I could be totally off. But, even if Alpha lasts for just a year, that comes out to $10-$12/month. Nothing punitive, even taking into account that it won't be till phase 3 for persistent access. Also, this purely optional testing. As I'm sure others have said, by pricing it as they did, it respects those who paid more for the earlier packages. While, at the same time, making sure that the testing isn't easily accessible to those who aren't serious about testing. If you pay a fair amount, it makes you more invested. Make it dirt cheap, or free, and people will usually treat it as such. And, that would not help the development process.

I think the pricing is fair, I mean it’s going to give you access for years of alpha , the game isn’t coming out until like 2028+ . However I’m disappointed about the testing , all they’ve confirmed is a phase 1 A2 date and calling a spade a spade , it’s A1 spot testing , nothing A2 about it apart from backend networking, the project has barely advanced. Phase 3 won’t happen in may as they’ve stated. IMO with his site they should have NDAed all of A1 and made A2 the initial release rather than stringing people along for years far too early imo, it was a mistake. No one wants to follow open development for a decade, 3-4 years is more reasonable.

Many people suffering because people who believe in the project want to invest their money to play the alpha. So much concern, so much altruism... It's ridiculous to argue with strangers about what you should do with your money. Anyway, another day dealing with Internet losers.

It doesn't make sense to be angry about an alpha unless you're an idiot. Alpha is a test period, not a soft launch, it is not about pleasing its fans, it's about testing the game - which is why it's broken into phases. Seems like a logical and great idea to me. It's not a players right to be disappointed by the alpha, its more intepids right to be disappointed by players entering it, expecting a finished product.

Ahhahaha pay 100 for a test and no game ?? You guys have lost ur mind.

I don't know why anyone is upset. I guarantee you, if they had to choose between this pricing or not having any access to A2, they'd choose the current pricing. I would have loved to be able to upgrade to Phoenix Initiative but I never got that option. It is what it is. Don't like the pricing, then don't buy the access ffs.

well NO ONE EVER forced you to buy a Aplha Key if you dont like it then dont get it.... quit whining about it

If they don't do the Phase 1 with stability test. People would complain at A2 launch because servers are crap. It's their time to shine and test with lots of people.

The price is a big issue, for someone like me who doesnt have 100 pound to just throw away on a temporary access to a game i really want to try. Thats more expensive than 90% of games today and we dont even get to keep the game. Intop of that, you can spend 100 pound to get stuck in hours long queues and not even play... 😆🤣 its a scam.

5:50 "60 million" ...but Steven promised he has fully funded the game himself and every kickstarter and website sale is just extra. Could it be that... that isn't true?

350 bucks to test an alpha. Naw I am good.

Gotta keep in mind that A2 access was something like $250 on Kickstarter and as mentioned, there is alot of players with A2 access already, you could back their kickstarter with something like $45 to get Beta access, so there is probably ALOT of players that already have Beta access, which is probably a big reason why they arent including Beta access in the alpha key sales next week.

This has made me want to pass on touching this game until it launches if at all. Everything they have shown so far has been average at best, and I still think it will be forced to end the subscription model within 12 months of release.

its disappointing but understandable. i was hoping for a 24/7 test from the start but new server tech so i understand. and phase 2 will probably wipe every 6 weeks for database optimization then it should be mostly stable for no wipes in phase 3.

Yes, the two empty biomes will be nothing more than zerg fest gank boxes. Don't go there unless you want to be steamrolled constantly.

100 for no beta, no thanks. Do you pay your employer.😅

Damn people are really desperate for a good MMO... imagine paying that much for testing.. but its their money so who am I to judge.. though be prepared for the worst case scenario like getting scammed.. that said best of luck to yall who funded and have high hopes for this game.

If they have to charge money like this, than they have 0% confidence that this game is good. Also if u think they wont add a micro transaction shop in this game near or after release, keep smoking that weed.

LOL this game is sounding more and more like a scam, if don't think so just ask yourself thy are they reselling something that was supposed to be exclusive access to people who funded the game (again btw), "oh they need testers" if they need testers then contract a testing team because the vast majority of people who are going to buy this keys just want to play the game, they are not going to bother if the game is too broken and they are not going to report the bugs. This is nothing more then another away to milk the community with endless betas and early access (there is no such thing as an open alpha btw), and they still have the audacity to claim the game is self funded, seems to me that this will be the new star citizen.

Its fine bcs its ok not give a chance to everyone gonna play alpha for enough good reason!First this is unfinished project,you are there to report bugs,gliches,test features!this is not cbt or obt,so if you want you gonna buy it and support game,nobody ask you to buy it and test it!

250 dollars? bro you got ripped off lol just buy the released game and stop wining

A little bit to high? They should be paying me to test this game.

I think complaining about a game that doesnt exist yet is childish. When the time comes, It will be here to stay. In the mean time go and do something else!

wow more greedy than star citizen

If we look at it in terms of competition between mmorpgs, AoC is at a crazy disadvantage, better mmorpgs will come out in a few years and more modern ones with better combat mechanics etc. If we look at it in other terms, it will be a niche game, for older casual players, novices in general, no experienced player will play this game.

I think this game as a project bit more than they can chew. And by the time it might come out it'll be old news. Potentinally one more half dead mmo on the wall along with other hundreds.

Queues for alpha is so lame. It’s not like anyone cares about realm mergers, we just wanna test the game.

Sounds like Beta is included. Steven made a post on reddit.

Its not reaaonabt to criticize monetization when they told you.dont buy this grow up man

lol that's insane. shouldn't they be paying people to test the games for bugs Jesus that's so fucking backwards. plus if they only needed testers then not charging would get them more testers. btw testers don't get to choose how a game is built only how something that is already there is improved( fixed if bugged). sad they will also have to buy the game when it comes out. literally paying to help them. so stupid.

As someone who strongly considered getting a package with an alpha 2 and beta keys and ultimately decided not to I honestly don't mind the pricing they have to put it somewhere like you say somebody like me who might be enticed to purchase it where it doesn't upset somebody who spent considerably more on the very last package even if they didn't like the cosmetics thinking this might be their last opportunity. My question is if I purchase an alpha 2 key now am I part of alpha 2 forever including when it becomes the testing realm? Personally I see no point in purchasing access to phase one or two I'm more interested in phase 3 and beyond. $100 for what should more closely resemble what ashes will be and having access for 2 plus years seems very reasonable.

Me eating popcorn watching the usual crowd rage and cry over the new twist in thier panties. Nom-nom-nom.

Charging people a bunch of money to test your game with no carryover to the launch of the game or even in the beta test is just absolutely scammy and they've been doing this for many many years when are people going to wake up and stop throwing money at this piece of garbage project

Always something with this company. Good luck for you that want to play but I feel you'll be in for a shock.

Well thats Bad.... i would like to get atleast something out of the 100 bucks... I mean if its an monthly payment model why u cant atleast 3 month free playtime... That rly piss me off, i will not play anything untill release...

Great video. I have no idea what proper chockered means.

Jay keep it real and talk about how shariff aaid on stream.dont buy this key. They even said its for a super small minority. You dont mentioned any if that. Thata why i hate this video. You just talk about feelings from people notnthe truth. Your doing a one sided video. Shariff said perfectly who this is for. Yet you dont mention thT at all shame

$120 for some unfinished ue5 project is hilarious, you gamers really do deserve to be robbed.

I’ll see you guys at actual release 😅😅😊

If you purchase any of these packs do they include the base version of the game on launch? Or is it strictly just for access? Im not seeing anything that says that it contains the base game or anything else thats included?

I'm just done with how long it's taking and how much it costs for testing 😂

Pay to work next level scam

Everybody stop crying ether pay or don't.... its a alpha get a life

So many white knights for this game it's wild.

Wow! Such an entitlement driven world we live in. The people pissed are prolly people 25 and younger that don't so shit all week except live off mommy and daddy and all they want is EVERYTHING!! Gimme gimme gimme! I need some more!

Alpha 2 got delayed to October, thats fine but at the end of the month is BS. It was supposed to be already going by now!!! Steven might as well said NOVEMBER!.They have 250 employees what the fuck are they doing all day...taking a break!!!???

buying alpha access, will it alsp provide gametime or anything else when the game is released? any info on that?

People are just mad they can't afford the money to "play" the game. Which is dumb cus you can't play the game yet. You only pay to financially support, test, and give your feedback. People need to stop being around fueling negativity and come back when the game is actually playable.

this has legit made it a scam up there with star citizen.

😂😂😂 The tears from this game before pvp has even started is amazing. So many children or brain rotted adults losing their minds cuz the cant test a game. The keys should be expensive for numerous reasons if you just sit and think ablut it. This isnt the launch of the game go find another game to play.

is not high. 9 month of game..like what? 13 dollars?

100+ dollars needs to come with 1 year free subscription on launch

why are you waiting for this? you haven’t played enough of WO, archeage, lineage2, and everything else that came after them. Go now to the game throne and liberty if you like this concept so much. I'm waiting for the development of New world mechanics in other games, such as the combat system and more content, sailing, large-scale pvp, but it looks like I'll be waiting for such a game for at least 10 years

Hard to see this as anything but a delay in all but name and a desperate money grab.

"Uproar"??? haven't heard any of it in my shared AOC communities. With that said, you can't please all people all the time...shrug. $120 seems like a very reasonable price to me. If you don't like it, don't pay to test and wait for the game to go live.

i will play alpha 2 even when it costs 300$

wtf is an alpha 2? when does it stop alpha 46? alpha 102? paying $120 to be a tester for a game that will be perpetually in "alpha"

Sounds like they are running out of money. I wonder if the game will actually be released.

Steven spent 60 million of his own personal money on this project. I bought the alpha 2 package for $375. $120 for access is fair. If Alpha 2 goes 2 years you are paying $5 a month for entertainment. People need to stop overthinking things.

You payed 250$ for this? Why?