Ashes of Creation Tackles Phase Three Challenges and Previews Major November Patch

If you thought Ashes of Creation’s Alpha Two Phase III would launch flawlessly, you’re either new to MMO alphas or blessed with optimism. The update’s rocky start, marked by progression complaints and technical hiccups, is thoroughly dissected in the August developer livestream—along with a glimpse at upcoming content.

Creative Director Steven Sharif openly addressed issues like Unreal Engine’s Lumen lighting system “underperforming” in new zones and pledged ongoing adjustments to XP pacing. “We’re gathering extensive player data on progression pacing,” he noted, “and will refine these systems through iterative updates.”

The stream also unveiled a roadmap for late 2025, anchored by November 18th’s “Harbinger” milestone. Starting September 2nd, this phased update will introduce corrupted zones—dynamic PvPvE regions where players battle environmental threats and rival factions. These areas will feature rare corrupted resources and shifting objectives to cleanse or exploit corruption. Additional highlights include open-sea fishing, the Summoner class debut, world bosses, and expanded economics.

Other announcements included weekly Tuesday maintenance windows, Public Test Realm (PTR) rollout plans, and a Q&A session during a hands-on demo of the Anvils starting zone. Catch the full two-hour deep dive below: