Annulus News

[p]Commanders, [/p][p][/p][p]The cycle begins anew. The battlefield awakens once more.[/p][p]The dark fantasy tactical game Annulus is launching a limited-time Demo test on Steam, available to all strategy players as part of Steam Next Fest.[/p][p]This is a wipe test, and more importantly, an invitation— An invitation to step into the lands of Novicesse ahead of time, and to test the weight of every decision through judgment, positioning, and battle.[/p][hr][/hr][h3]⏰ Test Schedule[/h3]

• [p]Pacific Time (PT): February 22, 6:00 PM – March 3, 6:00 PM[/p]
• [p]China Standard Time (CST): February 23, 10:00 AM – March 4, 10:00 AM[/p]

[hr][/hr][h3]🧩 Test Details[/h3]

• [p]Test Type: Wipe Test，progress will be wiped[/p]
• [p]Platform: Steam[/p]
• [p]During the test period, all players can freely download and play the Demo[/p]

[hr][/hr][h3]🎯 Test Objectives[/h3][p]This Demo test aims to:[/p]

• [p]Allow players to experience the strategic depth of Annulus during Steam Next Fest[/p]
• [p]Gather authentic feedback on combat pacing, system design, and overall difficulty[/p]
• [p]Continuously refine and optimize the game based on player input[/p]

[p]Every defeat and every victory will become a vital reference as we continue to shape Annulus.[/p][hr][/hr][h3]🔗 Official Links[/h3]

• [p]official website: [/p]

[p] www.annulus.game[/p]

• [p]Official Discord (Discussion / Feedback / Updates): [/p]

[p] https://discord.gg/HWR7ktBnEQ[/p][hr][/hr][h3]📣 A Message from the Developers[/h3][p]Annulus does not pursue a “safe” or “fixed” strategic experience.[/p][p]We want players to weigh the cost of every action, to feel pressure and uncertainty before victory is secured.[/p][p] If you love tactical RPGs and thrive on high-risk, high-reward decision-making, we welcome you to join this Demo test.[/p][p]The cycle has begun.[/p][p] The battlefield awaits your choice.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]— The Annulus Development Team[/p]

[p]In a world bound by war and decay,[/p][p]only those who dare to challenge fate will endure.[/p][p]Command your mercenary company.Rewrite fate through strategy and steel.[/p][p][/p][p]Annulus arrives at Steam Next Fest.[/p][p]🗓 Feb 23 – Mar 2, 2026 (PT)[/p][p]Wishlist & Play during Steam Next Fest[/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p]Dear Commanders,[/p][p][/p][p] The limited-time playtest for Annulus will officially end soon. Our servers will be shut down on January 30th, 2026 at 2:00 AM Pacific Time (PT), and all playtest data will be wiped. Please refer to the following times based on your time zone:[/p]

• [p]Eastern Time (ET): 5:00 AM on January 30th[/p]
• [p]Central European Time (CET): 11:00 AM on January 30th[/p]
• [p]China Standard Time (CST): 6:00 PM on January 30th[/p]

[p][/p][p] We want to thank players from all over the world for the invaluable feedback and constructive suggestions we've received during the playtest. Every comment, whether related to combat mechanics, system features, pacing, or visuals, has been carefully considered and will guide our future development efforts.[/p][p] But this isn't the end—it's just the beginning of our next chapter. We’re excited to announce that Annulus will be part of Steam’s New Games Festival in late February 2026! Expect a revamped version with optimizations and new features. We can’t wait to see you back on the battlefield.[/p][p][/p][p] For details on the updated version and exact launch times, stay tuned to our official social media and Steam page.[/p][p] Thank you again for your support, and we look forward to seeing you soon in the improved Annulus world![/p][p][/p][p] Annulus Development Team[/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p]On the battlefields of the Novicesse Continent, beyond the influence of terrain, true command lies in sound strategy, proper mercenary deployment, and the full utilization of each unit’s abilities. These commanding techniques are collectively known as the “Art of Battle.” Among its fundamental principles, the most important is Weapon Advantage.[/p][p]Melee Weapon Advantage Rules[/p][p]There are three types of melee weapons, each countering another in a cyclical relationship: Swords counter Axes, Axes counter Spears, and Spears counter Swords.[/p][p]Units that hold the advantage deal bonus damage when attacking. Units that are at a disadvantage deal reduced damage when attacking.[/p][h3]Weapon Advantage Explained[/h3][p]When facing axe-wielding enemies, deploying sword units allows you to exploit the weapon advantage and deal bonus damage on top of the unit’s base attack.[/p][p]Proper use of weapon advantage can weaken enemy forces and significantly reduce the damage your army takes.[/p][p][/p][h2]Ranged Weapon Overwhelm Rules[/h2][p]Ranged weapons such as bows and staves follow a more specialized mechanic known as “Overwhelm.” Compared to standard weapon advantage, Overwhelm often inflicts even greater bonus damage.[/p][h3]Overwhelm Explained[/h3][p]Bow-wielding mercenaries can deal massive damage to flying units.[/p][p]In battle, enemies may mutate from their normal state into powerful Decayed Ones, gaining increased HP, attack power, and physical damage reduction. In such cases, staff-wielding mercenaries can wield elemental magic to trigger an Overwhelm effect against Decayed Ones.[/p][p][/p][p]Weapon advantage and overwhelm mechanics form a direct path to victory. If commanders can accurately assess the situation and flexibly deploy different mercenaries, they will gain decisive control over the battlefield.[/p][p][/p][p]Starting from weapon interactions and expanding into elements, skills, classes, and movement tactics, countless strategic possibilities emerge.[/p][p] This ever-changing depth of the Art of Battle is a vast treasure—one that awaits every commander to explore.[/p][p][/p]

[p]Dear Commanders,[/p][p][/p][p]After countless days and nights of development, Annulus is finally ready to meet you. The Playtest is about to begin, and we sincerely invite you to become one of our first “Vanguard Testers”—to step onto the continent of Annulus, experience its strategies and challenges firsthand, and help shape its future.[/p][p]Your experience and feedback will become the foundation that makes Annulus better.[/p][p][/p][h2]🎯 Core Test Information[/h2]

• [p]Platform: Steam[/p]
• [p]Test Duration: 7 days[/p]
• [p]Start Time: January 23, 2026, Friday, 2:00 AM (PT) (5:00 AM ET / 11:00 AM CET / 6:00 PM CST)[/p]
• [p]End Time: January 30, 2026, Friday, 2:00 AM (PT) (5:00 AM ET / 11:00 AM CET / 6:00 PM CST)[/p]
• [p]Test Type: Limited access, progress will be wiped[/p]
• [p]Test Goals: Server stability, core gameplay validation, overall experience testing, and feedback collection.[/p]
• [p]How to Join: Visit the Annulus Steam store page and click “Request Access” under Playtest to apply.[/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][h2]❓ FAQ[/h2]

1. [p]Will this test wipe progress?[/p]

[p]Yes. This is a wipe test. All characters and progress will be deleted after the test ends. The goal is to find issues and improve the game, not early progression.[/p][hr][/hr][p] 2.Will there be rewards for participating?[/p][p]Yes! All players who participate in this test will receive a “Vanguard Tester” in-game reward pack after the official launch, including:[/p]

• [p]Mysterious Alchemy Brew ×10[/p]
• [p]Dragon Scales ×200[/p]
• [p]Book of Discipline II ×20[/p]

[hr][/hr][p] 3.Will the game be updated during the test?[/p][p]Possibly. To quickly fix issues, we may release 1–2 small patches during the test. Updates will be delivered automatically via Steam.[/p][hr][/hr][p] 4.What are the minimum system requirements?[/p]

• [p]OS: Windows 10 64-bit[/p]
• [p]CPU: Intel i5-4460 or AMD equivalent[/p]
• [p]Memory: 8 GB RAM[/p]
• [p]GPU: NVIDIA GTX 750 Ti 2GB / AMD R7 360 2GB[/p]
• [p]DirectX: Version 11[/p]
• [p]Storage: 13 GB available space or more[/p]

[hr][/hr][p] 5.How do I report bugs or give feedback?[/p][p]We strongly recommend joining our official Discord. We’ve set up dedicated channels #test-bug-report and #test-feedback, where the dev team will be actively present. You can also complete the in-game feedback survey.[/p][p]> > > https://discord.com/invite/HWR7ktBnEQ < < [/p][p][/p][h2]📥 Download & Play Guide[/h2][p]The Playtest will be conducted on Steam. Please follow these steps:[/p]

1. [p]Request Access: Click “Request Access” on the Annulus Steam store page.[/p]
2. [p]Download the Game: Preload opens on January 22, 2026, Thursday, 2:00 AM (PT). You can download the game once preload starts or after the servers open.[/p]
3. [p]Enter the World: After the servers go live (January 23, 2026,Friday，2:00 AM PT), click “Play” to begin your journey in Annulus.[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][h2]📝Final Words[/h2][p]During the test, you may encounter bugs, balance issues, or other rough edges. Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts—your reports and suggestions are our most valuable treasure. We will continue to polish and improve the game.[/p][p]Are you ready? Annulus awaits your first battle report.[/p][p]— The Annulus Development Team[/p][p][/p]