Hey friends! Got some pretty exciting news for all you gamers out there who love a good adventure. Remember how we’ve been hearing whispers about Crosswind, that new survival game with a pirate twist? Well, the wait is almost over! The team behind Crosswind has just announced that their Alpha playtest is launched on June 25th, and it sounds like a real blast.
We’ve seen the gameplay trailer, and it really kicks off what looks like an awesome journey into a detailed pirate world. This isn’t just a quick peek either; it’s a solid chunk of what’s to come in this pirate survival game.
What’s Included in This First Build?
So, what can you expect if you get into this early test? If you’re into the classic “build, craft, and survive” loop – you know, gathering resources, making stuff, and trying not to get eaten by… well, whatever dangers lurk in the game – then you’re in for a treat. But Crosswind is adding quite a bit more to that proven formula:
- Three Unique Biomes: You’ll get to explore three distinct areas, each with its own unique resources to find, different enemies to fight, and even environmental challenges that’ll keep you on your toes.
- Three Bosses: Get ready for some epic battles! There are three bosses to take on, and each comes in multiple difficulty tiers. So, whether you’re a casual player or someone looking for a serious challenge, there’s something for everyone.
- Playable Ships & Merchant Vessels: You’ll be able to get behind the helm of three different playable ships, plus there’s an NPC merchant vessel you might encounter. This means plenty of naval combat opportunities and a chance to feel like a true pirate captain.
- Ground Combat & Boarding Actions: It’s not just about cannon fire on the high seas. You’ll also engage in ground combat, and for the first time, they’re introducing boarding actions. Imagine leaping onto an enemy ship to take down its crew!
- Over 30 Hours of Content: This is a big one. The developers say there’s roughly 30+ hours of content if you really take your time and explore everything. That’s a huge amount for an Alpha, showing just how much they’ve already put into the game.
Get a Glimpse of the Gameplay!
Want to see Crosswind in action before you jump in? The developers have just released a full 1-hour gameplay video that showcases the Alpha build without any commentary. It’s a great way to get a feel for the environments, the combat, and how the survival mechanics work in real-time. Seriously, if you’re on the fence, this video should give you a really good idea of what the game is all about.
CROSSWIND First 1 Hour Gameplay Alpha Test – No Commentry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz8RVcUHXXw
Playtest Length and How to Get In
The Alpha playtest is planned to run for at least four weeks, which should give participants plenty of time to explore and get a feel for the game at their own pace.
Now, for the important part: this first round is intentionally small. The developers want to make sure everything runs smoothly and their server coverage is still growing. This means that playtesting slots are pretty limited for now.
But don’t worry too much if you don’t get in this time! If you’ve signed up, your application stays in the pool for all future tests. And here’s a cool bonus: this Alpha is non-NDA. That means you’ll probably see lots of content creators, streamers, and perhaps even us sharing insights and gameplay from Crosswind. Keep an eye out for videos and streams!
Why Call it “Alpha”? Being Upfront About Development
The team is being very open about the “Alpha” label. It means Crosswind is still very much a work in progress. Think of it like a really good first draft.
- Many game systems are still being developed and might change quite a bit over time.
- You might run into some bugs, performance issues, or just a few rough edges. That’s totally normal for an Alpha, and it’s why these tests are so important.
- Server infrastructure is still limited, so your connection quality might vary depending on where you are in the world.
They could have kept testing internally for longer, but getting feedback directly from players, even at this early stage, is super valuable for making the game better. Your feedback won’t just be appreciated; it will actively help shape what comes next for Crosswind. How cool is that?
If you’re one of the lucky few to get access, the Crosswind team really wants to hear from you. The best way to share your thoughts and report any bugs you find is by joining their Discord server (we’ll share the link as soon as it’s widely available) and using the #feedback and #bugs channels. Adding logs and screenshots really helps them fix things faster.
Every bit of feedback is helpful, and they’re genuinely grateful for the time players take to share it. This is your chance to contribute to the development of what looks like a really promising free-to-play pirate MMO. We’ll be keeping you updated here at MetaForge.app as more news drops!
