The Watch, a free to play futuristic PvP action RTS mixed with MOBA elements and backed by gaming giant Ubisoft, is getting updated this July 5th to Alpha Version 2, reopening the Immutable-powered Web3 title once again following the success of the initial private release.

What’s New In Alpha v0.2?

For this second closed build, the developers have introduced a variety of new units, abilities and features that help deliver a better blockchain gaming experience.

The new units introduced to the competitive top-down title include the Sniper, Pyramid and Tank units. While the first and last are fairly self-explanatory – one is for dealing long-range damage and the other for soaking enemy shots and inflicting deadly hammer blows – the Pyramid’s style might not be as obvious. The Pyramid units are floating pyramid-shaped high-tech robots that basically have a laser eye at the center of their body, unleashing devastating beams of damage on opposing units.

Next to the 3 new units that enable further tactical depth, players will also be able to spice up their strategies with 3 new abilities: Bad Ping, Smoke and Runtime. Bad Ping lets you teleport not just one, but multiple units to another part of the map at the same time. While the teleportation range is currently unclear from the footage shown, it is definitely a useful trick to have up your sleeve if you’re looking to ambush your opponent or set up a tactical escape. Another new ability potentially useful for escaping the heat of battle is Smoke, as it creates a large smoke sphere on the map that can likely conceal your army from enemy attacks. Speaking of spheres, the Runtime ability lets you place a forcefield over your units that shields them from the opponent’s attacks while letting your units fire away in temporary safety. The forcefield even prevents enemies from entering it, making this a highly effective ability if used right.

Alongside these awesome new units and abilities, the developers are adding in a couple of varied features that enhance various aspects of the game. Among them are new in-game bonuses you can collect on the battlefield during a match, as well as an improved loadout UI, new customization interface and a new profile page. Personally though, the most significant new addition is the keybinding feature, allowing you to customize controls to your liking so you can more easily take advantage of various hotkeys in order to take your strategic gameplay skills up to the next level.

You can check out all of these new updates in action through this official overview video.

How to Participate

If you want to play this early alpha version this Friday, you will need to be a Data Keyholder who has received an Alpha Pass, the latter which seems to be automatically sent in each wave of new participants through a dedicated hub page. A Data Key is one of the game’s collectibles players can own in order to unlock premium benefits that include alpha access, merch, free game items and more. Holders can upgrade this asset to the Stellar Key to gain annual game rewards. The only way to get a Data Key is by purchasing it from other players on OpenSea, with the same collection also featuring various other types of collectibles, including Zero Special Units, in-game cosmetic Skins, Flash Blocks for in-game special abilities, Glitch Blocks for ultimate abilities, utility items called Drives to increase earnings, and E.A.P.

Short for Early Access Pass, the E.A.P NFT is another way to gain access to this second alpha version, though you will need to be part of a snapshot it seems. According to the co-creator's July 1st message in the game’s official Discord server, E.A.P. holders who are part of the snapshot taking place this week will gain access shortly after the first wave of Data Key holders.

If none of these are viable options, then good news: the developers recently teased that the public alpha is coming soon to the Epic Games Store for Windows PCs, so you may want to wishlist the game there to get easily notified of when it’s open for everyone as a free to play title to enjoy and playtest in early access.