This week is a major week in the ongoing development of Ashes of Creation, as this Thursday (May 1, 2025) marks the beginning of testing for all Alpha Two Third Wave Bundle holders. These new testers will also be welcomed with a new, fresh server known as Shol.
This new server will be heavily populated, with not only these new testers, but all other testers due to the pre-existing servers (Resna and Lotharia) being permanently taken down. More specifics on why this is happening can be found below.
The Status of Existing Servers
Intrepid Studios recently announced that the pre-existing servers of Vyra and Lyneth will be merged into a single realm known as Resna on April 30, 2025. This will allow the team to test merging mechanics and ensure that everything works for potential future merges down the road. As part of the merge, certain systems, including nodes, mayorships, freeholds, vehicles, cargo, and other real-based systems, will be completely reset once the two servers become one. However, key player progress will be preserved, including character levels, experience, skill trees, artisan progression, and all items will carry over. Additionally, the new Resna realm character slot limit will increase to ten.
This all sounds great, but the last (and most important) note is that this server’s lifespan is essentially 24 hours. All characters and data on this merged server will be wiped on May 1, 2025, which marks the fresh start of every Ashes of Creation player as they make their way to the new server, Shol.
Why Only One Server?
Players around the globe are asking many questions about why there will only be one new server that everyone has to fit in. When it comes down to it, the primary answer for all of these questions comes down to one thing – testing.
Starting May 1, 2025, the team will shift to focused realm stress testing for the remainder of Phase Two. This new server (Shol) will become available for all testers, with access expected to be open around 10:00 AM Pacific Time. While additional realms may be added later if needed, there are currently no plans to bring others online until the official start of Phase Three (which is currently scheduled for August 4, 2025.
This new server may be a bit crowded, but it will be a great opportunity for new players to get a closer look at Verra, and all of the many social interactions that come to play in Ashes of Creation. Regarding potential queue times – we won’t know how long of a wait players will have to experience when joining this server, but time will tell.
Will There Be More Wipes?
Although it is not final, there is a strong chance that another full character and progression wipe may occur at the start of Phase Three on August 4, 2025. If needed, this wipe would apply to all active realms to ensure that the Phase Three testing period accurately reflects updates to systems, balance, and optimizations. The final decision on whether or not there will be more wipes is still under evaluation and will be based on testing data and upcoming system changes.
How to Play Ashes of Creation
If you are interested in joining in on the fun and playing Ashes of Creation Alpha Two, then create an account here and visit the “shop” section of the Ashes of Creation website to purchase your key. Upon purchase, you will receive access to play the rest of Alpha Two, along with a key for Beta 1 and Beta 2. Additionally, you will receive your one month of gameplay for Ashes of Creation upon launch, and $15 worth of embers (in-game marketplace credits). We hope to see you in Verra!