Arkheron, an isometric action RPG that blends player-versus-player and player-versus-environment combat in a tower-climbing, battle-royale-esque format, will commence its closed beta phase on July 15 and run through July 26. The announcement comes from developer Bonfire Studios via the game's Steam page.
Gameplay in Arkheron is divided into two primary segments. Players form squads of three to navigate floors, engaging in combat and gathering loot. Successful encounters lead to showdown arenas, reminiscent of the arena brawler Battlerite. Progression involves defeating other players to ascend the tower. The game incorporates audio cues similar to extraction shooters, paired with a rotatable camera, a feature that evolved during development.
"As we iterated, that kind of that point and click style didn't really work as much as we wanted it to," stated Rob Pardo, CEO of Bonfire Studios, in an extended interview with the PC Gaming Show. "We kind of went through a few different prototypes until our game director, Jeremy, at one point kind of hacked the camera in a particular way and allowed us to swivel it." Game Director Jeremy Craig added that unlocking camera rotation significantly changed the game's feel.
This two-week closed beta aims to assess the game's performance with a larger player base and evaluate the effectiveness of changes implemented since the Next Fest event. Players can sign up for the beta through the game's Steam page. Those who receive an invitation will also be granted three Steam friend invites to share.
Arkheron will feature two game modes. The 'Spires' mode will be available for the duration of the beta. The competitive 'Ascension' mode, however, will only be accessible during limited testing sessions scheduled for Fridays and Sundays. A full schedule for these limited tests is available in the announcement post.