Ashes of Creation has announced a delay for its upcoming alpha phase, now scheduled to launch on August 26.

Alpha Two Phase III, the much-anticipated next stage for Ashes of Creation‘s PvP sandbox development, has hit a minor snag. Originally slated for August 4th, Intrepid Studios announced a delay, pushing the update to August 26th. The studio emphasized the extra time will allow for polishing core features like the Anvils starting zone, refining level-four node progression, enhancing the tutorial experience, and tuning the game’s economy based on ongoing player feedback. “Delays are part of the process,” the team acknowledged, reaffirming their commitment to delivering a polished build.

A recent July livestream shed light on the decision, with Creative Director Steven Sharif explaining that certain development tasks required deeper iterations than initially planned. He reassured players that the delay isn’t due to scope creep, and no further postponements are expected. The stream also provided fresh glimpses of gameplay mechanics, including towns—the mid-tier node level between villages and cities—which will occupy four map cells (expandable later) and host advanced structures like alchemy labs tied to higher-tier crafting.

Additionally, the team unveiled the new crates system, a resource transport mechanic inspired by ArcheAge’s bundle system. Players can carry crates individually or load them onto caravans to contribute to node construction or trade for profit. Material-specific crates will play a key role in shaping the game’s player-driven economy and territorial development.