Arkheron is in closed beta on Steam through July 27, 2026, with a final weekend update adding new Eternals and easing permanent rewards. The game is planned for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, with early access planned for 2026.
Arkheron is a team-based PvP battle royale from developer Bonfire Studios and publisher DRIMAGE JAPAN. The game casts up to 45 players, split into teams of three, as memory-less beings called Echoes who climb a tower and compete to be the last team standing. The core mode is Ascension, a battle royale that runs only on weekends and holidays during the closed beta.
The closed beta, which began July 16, 2026, on Steam, introduced two new modes aimed at easing new players into the game. Learning Spires is a beginner-friendly mode that teaches item builds and Eternal transformations in a best-of-three format, while Spires is a fast-paced 3v3 mode where matches last minutes and players start with full gear. These modes directly address a skill gap identified in earlier tests between the tutorial and the competitive Ascension mode. The beta also added a collection system where players earn Pages to unlock permanent rewards like a player skin and profile banner.
During the test, DRIMAGE JAPAN partnered with esports organizer FENNEL for daily custom matches and a prize tournament called First Ascent, which awarded Amazon gift cards to winning teams. A separate community tournament, the Uwinks Cup, limited participation to streamers and streamer-viewer teams. A late-beta update on July 24 added two new Eternals, Grimwald and Tsubo, expanded Spires from 5 to 10 floors, and adjusted Pages earned to make permanent rewards easier to obtain before the test ends July 27.
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Publisher DRIMAGE JAPAN announced a sudden update for the Arkheron closed beta test on July 24. The update adds two new Eternals, Grimwald and Tsubo, replacing Leodin and Lava. It also expands the maximum floors climbed in Spires mode from 5 to 10 and adjusts Pages earned, making permanent rewards easier to obtain. The final weekend of the test runs July 25-26.
The closed beta for Arkheron adds Spires, a mode where three-player teams fight one rival team with full gear from the start. Matches last minutes, letting players test builds and roles repeatedly. The mode functions as a practical tutorial for the main Ascension battle royale, broadening the game's appeal.
The closed beta test for Arkheron, currently running on Steam until July 27, 2026, now allows registered players to grant up to three friends access to the test via Steam's friend invite feature. The invite requires being Steam friends for at least 30 days.
Publisher DRIMAGE JAPAN and developer Bonfire Studios have launched a closed beta test for Arkheron, a top-down PvP game where up to 45 players in teams of three climb a tower. The beta runs July 16-27 on Steam, featuring multiple modes including Ascension, Spires, and Learning Spires. Improvements from earlier tests include enhanced matchmaking, new player modes, and performance optimizations. A Discord campaign offers Amazon gift card prizes.
DRIMAGE JAPAN and esports organizer FENNEL are partnering to run daily custom matches and a prize mini-tournament during the closed beta test of the team-based PvP game Arkheron. The beta runs July 16-27 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The FFL Arkheronβ event will offer daily matches from July 17-24, and the First Ascent tournament will award Amazon gift cards to winners on July 25-26. Participation is limited to Japan residents.
DRIMAGE and DRIMAGE JAPAN started the closed beta test for the team-based battle royale game Arkheron on PC (Steam) on July 16, 2026. The CBT runs until July 27 at 16:00 JST. The test introduces two new modes: Learning Spires, a beginner-friendly mode that teaches item builds and Eternal transformations in a best-of-three format, and Spires, a fast-paced 3v3 mode with a run system ending after three losses or ten wins. The main Ascension mode, where up to 45 players compete to reach the top of a tower, is available only on weekends and holidays from 21:00 to 24:00. The CBT version 0.21.0 also adds a collection system where players earn in-game currency Pages to unlock visual items, with permanent rewards such as a player skin and profile banner for those who collect enough. Multiple events are planned, including the FFL Arkheronβ custom event in collaboration with esports team FENNEL (July 17-24), a prize tournament First Ascent (July 25-26) with 15,000 yen Amazon gift cards for winning teams, beginner exchange matches, and a Discord community campaign. Pre-registration remains open during the test period. The game is also planned for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with no release date announced.
DRIMAGE JAPAN announced the Arkheron Uwinks Cup, a community tournament for the upcoming team-based PvP game Arkheron, to be held on July 20, 2026. The first event limits participation to streamers or joint streamer-viewer teams, with 15 teams competing in a points-based format. Commentator Fumiell and caster Daruma Otoshi will host. Prizes include song cover production and illustrations. Future tournaments are planned in an open format.
DRIMAGE and DRIMAGE JAPAN announced on July 9 that the worldwide simultaneous closed beta test for the team-based PvP game Arkheron will run on Steam from July 16 at 10:00 a.m. to July 27 at 4:00 p.m. JST. Developed by Bonfire Studios, Arkheron is a battle royale where up to 45 players (15 teams) climb a tower as memory-less beings called Echoes, competing to be the last team standing. The CBT uses version 0.21.0, which incorporates feedback from the September 2025 alpha test and the February 2026 demo. New player-friendly modes are introduced: Learning Spires, a practice mode for learning item selection and build crafting after the tutorial, and Spires, a 3v3 arena mode for honing combat skills. These modes address a skill gap identified in earlier tests between the tutorial and the main Ascension mode. During the test, Ascension is available only on weekends and holidays from 9:00 p.m. to midnight, while Learning Spires, Spires, tutorials, training, bots, and custom games are always open. The update also includes performance improvements such as reduced crashes, lower ping, shorter load times, and optimized CPU/GPU usage, plus new progression and collection systems to encourage repeated play. Arkheron is in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Bonfire Studios released a developer commentary video for the online competitive action game Arkheron during PC Gaming Show 2026. The game features a 45-player battle royale mode called Ascension and a 2-team Arena mode. Early access is planned for 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox with Japanese support.