Bluehole Studios, which most recently published PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, has announced a new project called Ascent: Infinite Realm. The upcoming MMORPG is a mixture of high fantasy and steampunk, in “an epic journey where machines meet magic.”
In a press release, publisher Kakao Games offered a summary of the game and some gameplay details, writing, “Ascent: Infinite Realm takes place in a high fantasy steampunk world where machines and magic rule and everyone is dependent on flight to explore, travel, and conquer. In search of a new home, adventurers take to the skies using a wide selection of airships, vehicles, and flying mounts to traverse A:IR’s open, highly vertical world.”
Expanding upon the player’s ability to operate airborn vehicles, Kakao continued, “Vehicles and mounts in A:IR serve more than just the purpose of transportation; they will also provide adventurers with the ultimate battle experience: A:IR’s Realm vs Realm PvP mode. In RvR, factions fight for fame and glory, taking turns to lead offensive and defensive efforts using all kinds of fantastical flying vehicles. Players can also join the fight from the ground with mechs and the use of anti-air artillery to fight airborne threats―or initiate ground based aerial attacks depending on the map and strategy. Various strategic weapons such as cannons, mines and attack buffs are at each faction’s disposal to tip the balance in their favor. The combination of ground-based and aerial combat makes each fight strategically challenging and dynamic.”
Part of the game will also involve cultivating your own estate, and you can “explore the surrounding areas, grow your estate, and customize its components to make it all your own. You can also work with your neighboring estates to build a community and explore more of the game.” Ascent‘s character classes have also been unveiled, of which there are five: Warlord, Sorceress, Gunslinger, Assassin, and Mystic. Each class will also have two subclasses, which have yet to be announced.
An initial reveal trailer has also been posted, which you can watch below. Ascent: Infinite Realm is expected to get a beta sometime in the first half of 2018. You can learn more on Ascent‘s website, here.