Bonfire Studios has opened Arkheron's Crossplay Beta, a three-day test that brings Steam, Xbox and PlayStation players into the same matches for the first time. The test began on September 25 and runs until September 27 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
The weekend is split between several ways to play. Tutorial, training-room and bot modes remain available throughout the test, while Endless Spires runs continuously. Ascension opens during a nightly three-hour window in Europe, South America and North America, then can stay open longer when the regional player population is large enough to support its matches.
That distinction matters because Arkheron's modes serve different purposes. The official game overview describes Ascension as a team climb through a surreal Tower, with players fighting monsters and rivals while competing for the beacons that let them reach the next floor. The field keeps shrinking until the final two teams meet in a 3v3 fight at the summit. Relics collected along the way supply weapons and abilities, and four matching pieces can transform a build into an Eternal with an additional ability.
Access comes in waves
Players who participated in an earlier Closed Beta or Tech Test can update their existing build. New players can register through Bonfire's FirstLook service, Steam Playtest or the Xbox Insider Hub when the preview appears there. Invitations are distributed in waves, so signing up does not guarantee immediate entry. Once admitted, players retain access for future playtests and may receive extra invitations for friends.
Bonfire is also allowing players to stream or share footage from the test, with no content NDA or embargo.
The beta uses a revised build
The studio's 0.23.0 patch notes say the Crossplay Beta includes an overhauled first-run tutorial, a five-floor Learning Spires sequence and a new endless Bot Spires mode. The update also revises the Spires economy so players can keep familiar loadouts longer before costs climb.
Console and technical work is part of the same build. Bonfire lists controller-interface changes, console display fixes, Adaptive VSync on Xbox and PlayStation 5, and continued graphics and loading optimization. Those notes describe what the studio changed for the test, not a guarantee that the beta will run without problems. Players can submit bug reports from the game menu or through Arkheron's forums.
