Warborne Above Ashes News

Driftmaster:
Long time no see! We’ve heard your calls and urgency about the Six-Faction Test in April—and here it is! No more suspense: Let’s dive straight into the details!

The Total War Test kicks off on April 24 and will run for a full month! We'll announce the exact end date at a later time.

[h2]How to Participate:[/h2]
Same as always! Just visit our store page and click [Request Access]—that's all there is to it! Oh, and don't forget to Wishlist us to stay updated on test qualifications!

You will receive an email from Steam containing the next steps once you've been granted access to the test. Keep an eye on your inbox—it may end up in your spam or promotional folder!
Driftmaster who have previously obtained qualifications do not need to click again.

[h2]Server Launch Schedule:[/h2]
Sec Astracinder (Recommended : UTC+5 to UTC+10)
Wrath's Nest – April 24, 2:00 (UTC+0)
Eclipsis – April 24, 2:00 (UTC+0)

Sec Sunder (Recommended : UTC-1 to UTC+5)
Starmarrow – April 24, 10:00 (UTC+0)
Silentium – April 24, 10:00 (UTC+0)

Sec Darktide (Recommended : UTC-10 to UTC-4)
Ashvara – April 24, 14:00 (UTC+0)
Chronos Scar – April 24, 14:00 (UTC+0)

We're working hard to prepare for this test, especially after seeing how packed the servers were last time! We'll be closely monitoring server performance and may even add additional servers if needed to ensure everyone gets a chance to play.

[h2]Available Languages:[/h2]
We're committed to making this initial PvP experience available around the clock, worldwide—and this time, we're adding even more languages! Just a heads-up: these language additions are for the test phase only and don't necessarily reflect our localization plans for full release. We'll be tracking which regions and countries our [Wishlisters] come from, and that data will help us decide on expanding language support in the future!
Languages included in this test:
● English
● Spanish (Spain)
● Portuguese (Brazil)
● Russian
● Korean
● German
● French
● Polish
● Simplified Chinese
● Traditional Chinese

[h2]Test Purpose:[/h2]
We're incredibly grateful for the support and enthusiasm from all of you. As always, before each test, we want to share its purpose and significance with you.
In previous tests, we emphasized key features like [24/7 Non-stop PVP], [Diverse tactical strategies] and [Seamless 100 V 100 massive battlefield]. Many of you resonated with these aspects, and while we encountered some hiccups along the way, the core PvP thrill was undeniable! However, we know that's just the beginning.
This time, we're introducing [Epic full-map warfare] and [Six factions] for you to experience! This will be our first time testing this large-scale battle framework, and it's also a great opportunity to welcome more players onto our massive planetary battlefield. And the timing couldn't be better—our test aligns with Steam's Wargames Fest in April! This is the perfect chance to connect with even more PvP and strategy enthusiasts. We're also hoping to use this momentum to fine-tune our game design and expand our Wishlist numbers!



[h2]What Have We Been Working On?[/h2]
Many of you have been eager for updates on our development progress. Here's a quick sneak peek—if you want to stay in the loop, don't forget to Wishlist us for the latest news!

● The Six Factions Are Here! Each faction comes with its own distinct traits—you'll inherit their unique [war genes] and fight with everything you've got! This time, you're no longer limited to the Ashen or Sirius—Warbands will have more starting selections, larger battlefields, and even greater wars to wage! Faction balance is key—their power dynamics shape the quality of warfare across the galaxies!

Ashen:
Demolition Expertise – Increases the Demolition Power of Demolishers and Siege Weapons.
Extreme Physique – Increases maximum HP.

Sirius:
Loot Boost – Generates additional Loot Reward Tokens over time.
Hunting Mastery – Increases damage dealt to mobs.

Emberwild:
Mounted Warfare – Increases the Movement Speed of mounts.
Creature Extraction – Increases yields when gathering from animals.

Shroud:
Skill Mastery – Increases Skill Cooldown Speed.
Night Vision – Reduces vision penalty at night.

Magnates:
Money Mogul – Increases Starfall Token gains from Trading House sales.
Rising Hunter – Increases experience gained from mobs.

Ironcreed:
Tech Research – Increases the research speed of Driftmark technologies.
Industrialization – Increases yields from tech wreckages and trees.

Note: These are not final and may be subject to change! Stay tuned for future announcements for detailed updates.



"We want more small-scale PvP content!" – A brand-new large-scale open-world rift mode is coming, bringing more opportunities for small-scale PvP battles!
"We'd love more activities beyond PvP warfare!" – Expect greater logistics cooperation between Warbands! No matter your Warband's size, you'll have ways to impact the warfront!
"Have you revised the hub conquest rules, map queueing, and Driftmark relocation mechanics?" – Absolutely! We're working hard to create a more dynamic system that ensures everyone can jump into battle as quickly as possible.
"Travel times are too long!" – We're making every effort to reduce unnecessary travel time, including optimized troop deployment and lowering the usage threshold for Nomad Posts!

[h2]Events & Rewards[/h2]
You know us—launching a test without some exciting events and rewards just isn't our style! This time, we've got plenty lined up to make sure you can go all in and enjoy the action!

● Warband Pre-Assembly Event:
That's right! Before the test begins, we're rolling out an event to help you rally your guild members early—and yes, there are cash prizes up for grabs!
During the event period, achieve Warband member milestones to unlock perks like reserving Warband/character names and earning Eclipsium!
The more players who participate, the bigger the cash prize pool for the Warband Pre-Assembly Event!
The race for dominance starts now—rally your crew and get in!
[h3]Click here to join the event now![/h3]



● Test-Exclusive Rewards
Driftmaster, the exclusive rewards for this test are locked and loaded—ready for you to claim in April's Total War!
Limited-edition mounts and Driftmark decorations are up for grabs—will you answer the call?


But that's not all! This time, we're offering custom Warband Emblems and even the ability to personalize item descriptions as rewards! Want to leave your mark on Warborne Above Ashes and make your Warband's legacy known? This Total War Test is the perfect chance!
And that's just the tip of the iceberg—there are more mounts, emotes, avatars, and other rewards waiting to be claimed!
Stay tuned for a future announcement detailing the full reward list and how to earn the rewards!

Enough talk—why not watch the trailer and get a feel for the action? The rest? Well, that's up to you on April 24!
[h3]Click here to view Video[/h3]

Driftmaster:

The first playtest for Warborne Above Ashes has concluded. After a brief respite, our team is already back to the grind — but during these short eight days, your passion for battle has ignited us all. Before we continue the march forward, let's look back on this momentous Playtest together — and, of course, address some of your burning questions!

[h2]Playtest Data Recap[/h2]

Over 52,883 Driftmasters hailing from 128 regions, joined us in this first Playtest — thank you for making this playtest a true success!

You didn’t just wage war — you lit Twitch up, pushing Warborne Above Ashes past 17,000 hours of total watch time, with up to 62 simultaneous streams. Your support was far beyond what we'd dared imagine!

And just when we thought we'd seen it all.. when we noticed our Steam Wishlist soaring by nearly 2,000 at late night 3am.. there was only one thought on our minds: “OMG… this is completely beyond our wildest expectations...”

Thank you so much, Driftmasters. Your passion is the fuel that drives us forward. We'll keep pushing to make Warborne Above Ashes even better.

Of course, since we're on the topic of improvements, let's address the issues we've encountered so far:

[h2]Feedback and Key Concerns:[/h2]
We've picked several questions that everyone is particularly concerned about during this Playtest—do note that we are also closely monitoring the various other issues you've raised and are actively working to address them.

• “"Faction is full, unable to create character", "Unable to deploy Driftmark"
  We are aware of this issue and are implementing measures to ensure that all Driftmasters will be able to join the battlefield. This is our number one priority.
  
  There will be 6 factions available this time in the upcoming Playtest in April, which provides for further options and territories to conquer!
  
  Additionally, we will closely monitor the number of players in each server and faction, and will be actively clearing out inactive accounts and AFK players to make space for those who are looking to join the fight for ATHAS!
  
  We acknowledge that there is a physical cap to a planet's capacity, but the fires of War have never been confined to just a single planet in Warborne Above Ashes —we will consider adding new servers should the need arise.
  
  
• Balance issues regarding some Drifters and weapons
  
  We've heard the feedback from the community loud and clear—"Shadowseer OP", "Healers are too weak". We've already added them into our to-do list. We will be analyzing the data we've obtained from the Playtest and will be using that to make the necessary balance adjustments.
  
  Do note that this is an ongoing process, we appreciate your patience on this matter: We believe you won't be disappointed with the final results!
  
  
• Map Queue Optimization
  “Abruptly kicked out mid-game?!” “I really want to join the fight on this map!” These are serious issues repeatedly raised by players during this test. We are still exploring ways to improve the Map Queue system within server capacity constraints, to ensure every player is able to experience the thrill of battle. We humbly welcome your suggestions on Discord and will be taking inspiration from your ideas to find the best possible solutions—no time to waste on the way to the frontlines!
  
  
• Harvester Hub Occupation Rules
  We’ve always believed that every deserving effort deserves a corresponding reward. Going forward, Harvester Hub ownership will be determined by Warband contribution. Let each interwoven hub cumulate into a symphony of iron and blood — forged by the struggles of every Warband!
  

[h2]Words of Encouragement[/h2]

Despite the issues that surfaced during the test, the positive feedback and encouragement received from all of you is the best possible fuel for our team’s “War Engine”. Every word drives us forward!

Marobi: As a MMO player, the thing that we are looking for in this game is 24/7 small/mid/large scale battles all the time without spending to much time gathering resources to be able to max everything out.

Shadeless: I think the Faction & Warband parts are fantastic, the competitive nature of the game starts from the first kill and doesn't stop. The Social aspect is enjoyable as well, randomly finding people in Zones who assist you or vice versa.

Yes! This is Warborne — 24/7, non-stop battles that you just can’t stop!

ABigBanana：The game has high potential for growth and is easy to pick up. Its blend of MOBA, PVP, and SLG elements forges a brand-new path — bringing a unique and innovative experience!

Prexualsedator: Core mecahnics look fun. I like to flex into every role if that means I can make group content work.

Driftmasters, thank you for defining Warborne with us: land and fight — and most importantly, take charge and lead the war!

Syndic: The game is amazing and everyone in my community loves it out of it and we're super sad the playtest is over.

Shukakah: Thank you for a good gaming experience till now, i have enjoyed playing the play test alot, i do wish to see more, and hopefully this becomes a good game.

Still itching for more action? Fret not — we’ll be bringing you new maps for six factions to explore in April! Stay alert, Driftmaster — the next battle is just around the corner!

Lastly, we believe it’s time to reward your passion for battle with a glimpse of what’s to come — the next call to war!

[h2]Battle Preview: April Faction Test Incoming[/h2]

Many of you may have already heard the rumors, but let's make it official — we are preparing a full-scale Six-Faction Map Test at the end of April. Expect larger, fiercer wars than ever before!

• The six factions are far more than simple copies — each is truly unique: Ashen, Sirius, Emberwild, Magnates, Ironcreed and Shroud.
  You’ll gain exclusive Traits from your chosen faction and enter the battlefield carrying its legacy into every fight.
  Here’s what you might need to know:
  Trust me — they’ll create far more fascinating experiences than you could ever imagine! But stay focused on your ultimate objective: no matter which faction you fight for, all will devote everything they have to the battle for supremacy over The Forgeheart!
  
  
• Full-Scale Upgrades
  Driftmasters, the battlefield is no longer a mere skirmish — expect larger battlefields, more allies and enemies, and deeper strategic choices.
  By the end of April, you’ll step onto Warborne Above Ashes’s true stage: epic wars with thousands of other players, diplomatic engagements and struggles, and a sophisticated faction ecosystem.
  The grand theater of the path to planetary domination is about to unfold before your very eyes!
  
  
• I think this is a common consensus among Driftmasters this past Playtest: way too short of a time to get my fill of the action.
  
  However, this time..! There'll be 30 days and nights of battle to set the planet ablaze in the war for supremacy and dominance!
  
  Still, this is merely the beginning. This one month is just the first act of this epic War Saga. With each passing cycle, new chapters will unfold, adding to the War Saga that shall echo across the Ages. Diverse content and stories await your discovery as the War Saga progresses!
  
  
  
• We have consistently heard your feedback for expanded language support beyond what was offered for the playtest. We feel that support for additional languages is a prerequisite for this war! Thus, for the upcoming April playtest, we will be providing additional language support, allowing even more players from all over the world to immerse themselves in this massive battlefield "meat grinder"! (Specific language support details will be announced in subsequent updates!)
  

We've heard your feedback regarding small-scale PvP content and new player tutorial optimization, and have added these and other issues into our dev schedule! We are also in the midst of preparing more new gameplay and content for everyone to experience. Please stay tuned for what's coming!

The March Playtest has come to a close, but this is not the end; it's not even the beginning of the end. It's merely the end of the beginning—our journey on the path of war has only taken a small step so far.

However, your praise and support mean the world to us! We sincerely thank everyone for your participation! Let's meet again on the battlefield at the end of April!


Do remember to add Warborne Above Ashes to your wishlist to ensure you don't miss out on the latest updates for this test!

Driftmasters, please check out the data summary in this Playtest!


Please add Warborne to your wishlist and don't miss the test of the six factions in April!

Thank you! Driftmaster:

This 8-day Playtest has been like an epic battle filled with passion, with the shouts of every Driftmaster still echoing in our ears!
The flames of war ignited on March 15 will temporarily come to a close at 16:00 on March 22, UTC+0. We extend our most heartfelt gratitude to every Driftmaster who participated in our testing!

When the Playtest opened on March 15, we encountered many unexpected challenges. The enthusiasm displayed by everyone exceeded our expectations—Faction slots were fully booked, and character creation faced obstacles. Additionally, the sudden DDoS attacks cast a shadow over the experience for some Driftmaster.

We apologize for the lack of smoothness in gameplay due to some inadequate preparations. This has also provided our team with a valuable lesson, and we must be fully prepared for everyone’s arrival in the future testing plans!
Although there were some unexpected issues, we are excited to see that many players still experienced the passion and fun of Warborne's battles, especially with the love you have provided to us:

The game is banger ngl
im playing from SA
and 0 lag —— Love from itszny

Downloaded the game unpretentiously and it's 4:30 in the morning lol very enjoyable game both in progression and in PvP... There's PvP for all tastes, large scale, small scale, medium scale (open world and arenas).
Everything you do on the map, which opens up the chance of a drop or chest, signals that there is someone doing it for you to go there and kill (or die 😅). ——Love from nelinhooBoss

In general, I really like the project, I like smooth battles and a dynamic map.
For my part, I would like to thank the administration for your responsiveness and the way you treat your project.——Love from Uk1o(Артур)

This has always been our original intention: to allow players around the world to experience the joy of PVP and to engage in battles smoothly until the very end!

Of course, many players have provided us with a wealth of feedback and suggestions! These include, but are not limited to, optimizations for the queue system, balancing adjustments for the Drifters, adjustments to camp capacity, more language support, and much more. We have noted all of these in our notebook! We are currently organizing and planning these changes systematically. For detailed adjustment plans, please pay attention to our upcoming announcements. Trust us, we will serve you a great dish!

Many players have told us: "The testing is almost over. Can’t we give the brothers some resources to enjoy?"
I want to say, of course we can! We will be distributing resources to everyone at 16:00 on March 21,UTC+0

• Eclipsium × 50,000
  
• Optional · Golden Blueprints × 30
  
• Optional · Purple Blueprints × 30
  
• Data Fragments × 3,000
  
• MOD Core × 30
  
• T11 Drifter XP Imprints × 30
  
• T11 Equip XP Imprints × 30
  
• Exergy × 3,000,000
  
• Starfall Tokens × 30,000,000
  

Let’s have an incredibly lavish battle: no worries about drops, endless combination possibilities—everything is up to you!

Thank you once again for your support of our Playtest, Driftmasters!

[h2]ːsteamthisːWe will conduct a large-scale testing of all 6 factions across the entire map in April! Before that, please make sure you add Warborne to your "Wishlist" so you can receive the battle instructions as soon as possible—this massive war feast has limited slots, so be sure to add it to your "Wishlist" to avoid missing out![/h2]

FAQ

● When will the rewards for this testing event be settled, and when will I receive them?The testing event will be settled at 16:00 on March 21,UTC+0. The rewards will be distributed to the same Steam account you used to participate in this test. We will inform you of the specific method and conditions for claiming them in the future!

● Will the data from this test be wiped?Yes, we will delete the data records from this testing session.