So Corepunk studio Artificial Core put out a press release this morning, and I think most of our readers already know the main content here. Yes, it’s still hitting early access on November 26th, as it announced back in July, never mind that we think it needs more time to bake. Yes, you knew the game was billed as an MMORPG/MOBA hybrid but actually plays more like a PvP MMOARPG. And yes, it has a new trailer, the same one you saw on Friday when the team reopened preorders.
What we do want to draw your attention toward is what precisely will be in the game as of early access, since people are paying for this and all.
“When Early Access begins on November 26, Corepunk will feature three fully voiced story episodes, a robust crafting and gathering system, six diverse character classes, 15 challenging world bosses, and much more,” Artificial Core says. According to the PR, this version of the game will include the forest, swamp, and steppe biomes; 350 quests; three tiers of itemization; four faction cultures; and “eight passive talent branches with 120 unique mechanics and 22 weapon specialization talents for each class.”
We point all this out because just a few weeks ago, Artificial Core admitted that it was a month and a half behind its schedule in terms of getting content and features into the early access, as the team was (rightly) focusing on shoring up its technical foundation instead. That won’t really surprise anyone, given that this game has already delayed at least half a dozen times during its long development, but it does mean that what’s launching with the build isn’t as much as originally hoped and teased.
“All the content we planned but didn’t have time for at the start will be released sequentially over 1-2 months after launch,” AC wrote at the end of October, arguing that delaying content will actually improve the game. “Most players in early access will be trying the game for the first time, and with the new side quests, Episode 3, and the new Steppes location, we anticipate that by November 26, the game will offer at least 300 hours of quality content—not counting the huge potential for replayability.”
The press release also appears to be heralding streams from paid gaming celebrities starting this weekend. The full launch is scheduled “by the end of 2025.”
