The team behind Cross The Ages, a blockchain-powered transmedia ecosystem, has confirmed that the first Closed Alpha playtest for its upcoming cooperative action RPG, Arise, will begin on May 28 at 8 AM UTC. The test phase will run until June 2 at 8 AM UTC and marks the initial opportunity for members of the web3 gaming community to experience gameplay from this new title. Access is limited to holders of the Mint Pass, with eligibility determined by a snapshot that will take place on May 26 at 8 AM UTC.
Cross The Ages' New Game Arise Closed Alpha
Arise Closed Alpha Playtest
This first Closed Alpha phase provides early access to Arise's core mechanics, set within the same universe as Cross The Ages' trading card game. Players will explore a single dungeon while controlling one character and wielding one weapon. The phase prioritizes gameplay feedback over narrative content, testing combat mechanics, movement systems, visual clarity during combat, and the overall dungeon experience.
Participants start with a brief tutorial covering controls and core mechanics. Once finished, players can tackle the dungeon solo or team up with up to four others. A starting hub precedes dungeon entry, housing four accessible buildings: a leaderboard, a talent board, a crystal opening station, and the Artellium map. Character customization remains limited but includes options for hairstyle and eye color. Daily quests are not part of this testing phase.
Cross The Ages' New Game Arise Closed Alpha
Dungeon Runs, Earning Crystals and Keys
The core gameplay loop centers on dungeon runs where players earn crystals and keys. Dungeon difficulty determines crystal rarity, which can be opened for potentially stronger weapons. Players equip new weapons and adjust skill configurations before attempting further runs. Completion speed affects key levels: faster clears upgrade keys, while slower completions downgrade them.
A primary goal is unlocking the Tier 7 Mythical Fire Weapon, currently the most powerful item available. Players reaching level 10 before the playtest ends receive an exclusive in-game currency called the Founder's Coin. This currency cannot be used during the Closed Alpha but becomes redeemable in the Founder's Shop once Early Access launches.
Closed Alpha, Mint Passes, and Epic Games
Participation requires holding a Mint Pass in a wallet address linked to an active email account. Only one account per user gains access, selected based on the highest-level account. Emails tied to eligible wallet addresses receive playtest invitations after the May 26 snapshot. The Mint Pass can be purchased through Cross The Ages' official marketplace, with the Red Mint Pass floor price currently at $40.24 USDC.
The playtest runs exclusively on Windows through the Epic Games Store. The development team recommends systems with at least an RTX 3070 graphics card and 32 GB of RAM for optimal performance at high graphics settings. Test servers are located in Central Europe, with access restricted in Australia, Brazil, China, and South Korea.
Cross The Ages' New Game Arise Closed Alpha
Upcoming Test Phases and Future Availability
Future closed playtest phases are already planned. The second phase expands gameplay to include a complete dungeon, two playable characters, and five weapons. This stage introduces crafting and fishing systems, broadening the mechanical scope. A third test is scheduled featuring a new dungeon. Arise is being developed in Unreal Engine 5 and will launch as a free-to-play title.
While the current alpha supports only Windows, the developers plan Mac and additional platform support for future releases. Closed Alpha Phase 1 represents a significant development milestone for Arise and reflects Cross The Ages' ongoing expansion within the web3 gaming sector. This early access phase aims to gather meaningful feedback shaping subsequent development stages.
