Sign-ups are now open for a pre-alpha playtest of the upcoming sci-fi MMO Cinder City, offering a chance to experience the game before its official release. The playtest is scheduled to run from August 14th to August 16th, but is restricted to players located in the United States who are at least 16 years old. A definitive release date for Cinder City has not yet been announced.
The game is set in a near-future Seoul where players assume the role of "Cinderknights," described as exceptionally skilled sci-fi soldiers. These characters are tasked with confronting Resident Evil-esque monsters and other super-soldier opponents that have appeared following a mysterious incident. Cinder City features an open-world environment and supports multiplayer, focusing on Player versus Environment (PvE) content such as dungeons and raids.
Cinder City previously garnered attention for its substantial RAM requirements. Initial specifications suggested a need for 64GB of RAM for recommended settings, which was later revised down to 32GB. This figure remains high, indicating the game's potentially demanding hardware needs.
While the visual style of Cinder City is comparable to other sci-fi shooters, its gameplay mechanics, particularly the shooting and character movement, will be a key factor in its reception. The game incorporates a futuristic HUD which appears to be diegetic, meaning it is integrated into the game's world. The actual feel of the gameplay, however, remains to be seen. Due to the pre-alpha nature of the playtest, participants may be subject to Non-Disclosure Agreements, further limiting immediate public impressions of the game's performance and feel.