Cross The Ages (CTA) has opened the next stage of testing for Arise, Playtest 3, which is live from November 26 to December 10 and marks the most accessible version yet, as this build is actually free to play. This phase removes all access requirements, allowing anyone to download Arise, explore its world, test new features, and earn an exclusive Founder's Coin for Early Access. With expanded systems, a new dungeon, new combat content, and deeper economic testing, this playtest represents the largest step forward for the action RPG so far.

What Is Cross The Ages?

Cross The Ages is a blockchain gaming ecosystem and a transmedia world that began as a series of interconnected novels combining fantasy and science fiction. Supported by Animoca Brands, the project has expanded into multiple games and linked experiences. Its flagship release is a free to play trading card game available on PC and mobile, which has more than 400k+ downloads and allows players to collect and own digital cards as NFTs while earning Trisel through gameplay. Trisel can be exchanged for the $CTA token within the broader ecosystem.

Arise is the next major title in development within this universe. Both games take place in the same world of Artellium. Characters, factions, and lore are shared as well, creating continuity between games and narrative content. Players can begin engaging with Cross The Ages for free and can join the community through the Epic Games Store, Google Play, and the Apple App Store.

What Is Arise?

Arise is an in-development multiplayer action RPG set in the world of Artellium. It is built around fast-paced combat, dungeon exploration, and a classless system that lets players shape their build freely. Combat involves a mix of melee attacks, spells, and weapon-based abilities. Each weapon line offers its own style and encourages experimentation.

The game features both PvE and PvP activities. Players can explore dungeons, fight bosses, gather materials, craft weapons and gear, and compete against others in different challenge formats. Arise is cross-platform, supporting both Windows and Mac, and it uses Immutable for blockchain-based asset ownership. The official launch should allow weapons and resources to be turned into NFTs and traded through the marketplace, although all blockchain features remain optional.

The game world is built around 3 factions, a player-driven economy, and a growing set of social activities. Arise is designed as a free to play experience, and players can progress without purchases while being able to choose whether to play solo or with others. During the upcoming Early Access, players will be able to acquire founder packs that provide optional cosmetics, currency bundles, exclusive events, and temporary boosts.

What’s New in Arise Playtest 3?

Playtest 3 runs from November 26 to December 10 and makes the Arise fully open to all players, meaning a Mint Pass or access key is no longer required like in previous test phases. The development team is focusing this phase on the economic loop that supports the long-term gameplay, enhancing gathering, crafting, player trading.

Gathering is now a more important part of progression. Players can harvest different materials across the zones included in this test. These materials feed into crafting or can be sold to other players. Their rarity, generation rates, and uses will be evaluated and adjusted after the playtest.

Crafting has been expanded so that weapon creation, tool upgrades, equipment crafting, and resource refining are all functional. The team is using this phase to test material costs and the balance between farming effort and power progression.

Player trading is one of the central objectives of Playtest 3. The team is gathering data on how frequently players trade, the usefulness of the marketplace across multiple sessions, and how well trading supports the value of crafted items and gathered materials.

Land-linked energy is also said to add another economic element, as this resource influences gathering efficiency and contributes to the loop of collecting and refining materials.

Next to improved systems, several new features are also included, such as a new dungeon, new PvP challenge, a new advanced challenge mode, The Shadow Weapon, Challenges, and an exclusive reward.

Arkhante is a new dungeon available during the 2nd week of this playtest. It includes new enemies, new level design, new environmental themes, and different challenges. A new PvP challenge has also been added to the test. This PvP chalenge is a 4v4 mode that can be accessed with Challenge Tickets and emphasizes competitive team play.

Ascension is the new advanced challenge mode that introduces a progressive challenge tower with floors of increasing difficulty for 8 players to race through. The top 3 players that reach the highest levels can obtain rare rewards.

The Shadow Weapon is a new weapon type built around stealth, misdirection, and fast attacks. It introduces a different combat style into the game.

Challenge Tickets are distributed daily. Each account receives 1 ticket per day, and players can earn more in dungeons. Tickets allow access to various challenges, and these activities grant Challenge Crystals, increasing the chance of obtaining mythic weapons.

The goal of this playtest is not only combat evaluation. It is also aimed at testing performance, optimization, player flow, and marketplace functionality. Arise remains in pre-alpha, and bugs are expected, so the team encourages players to report issues directly in-game. Here’s how you can join and attempt to earn an exclusive reward that will be useful for the upcoming Early Access phase.

How to Earn Exclusive Reward in Arise Playtest 3

Arise Playtest 3 offers a single exclusive reward for participating. Every player who joins during this period and completes the beginner guide receives a Founder's Coin. This coin is exclusive to Early Access and will be usable only in the Founders Shop of that phase. It does not function during pre-alpha playtests.

To earn this reward, players must download Arise on the Epic Games Store for free, create an account, play during the test window, and complete the beginner guide. There are no additional requirements and no restrictions on who can participate. The test is open to all players for its full duration.

The Founder's Coin is intended as a limited currency for early supporters. The team has confirmed that it will be used to purchase exclusive items once Early Access begins. If you think this could be useful, jump into Cross The Ages' 3rd playtest for their latest web3 game and complete the beginner guide before December 10 to secure this exclusive reward.