Arkheron Community Playtest Opens December 6: Bonfire Studios' 45-Player PvP Battle Royale

Bonfire Studios has announced that Arkheron, their ambitious team-based PvP game, will begin community playtesting on December 6, 2025. The game combines battle royale mechanics with MOBA-style combat in a dark fantasy setting where players battle to ascend a mysterious Tower.

A Dark Dimension of Memories

Arkheron takes place in a surreal dimension constructed from emotionally-charged memories of the living world. Players find themselves anchored to the Tower, driven by fragmented memories of their past and the desperate need to escape the destructive Abyss that threatens to consume everything.

The game features teams of three competing in "Ascension mode," where 45 players fight through increasingly intense battles as teams are eliminated. The shrinking player pool creates escalating tension, culminating in dramatic final showdowns.

Revolutionary Relic System

What sets Arkheron apart is its innovative item-based build system centered around "Relics." Players can collect matching sets of four Relics to transform into powerful beings called "Eternals," gaining access to a fifth ability. Alternatively, players can create "shattered" builds by mixing Relics from different sets, creating unique synergies and playstyles.

This system allows for on-the-fly adaptation during matches, letting players respond to enemy strategies and changing circumstances. The combination of strategic depth and fast-paced combat has already proven popular with testers.

Isometric Combat Excellence

The game utilizes an isometric free-aim camera system that allows 360-degree rotation, creating close-quarters, high-stakes combat encounters. Precise ability aiming and positional strategy are crucial, with audio cues playing a vital survival role. The development team refined this camera system through multiple iterations to achieve the current fast-paced experience.

Strong Alpha Response

September 2024 alpha testing showed impressive engagement metrics. Over 55% of participants played for more than five hours, and when surveyed about future participation, approximately 90% expressed strong interest in continuing—with 69.7% saying they were "very interested" and 20.4% "interested."

Playtest Schedule

The community playtest runs across three weekends starting December 6, with sessions from 9-11 PM JST. Players interested in participating must register through the official Discord server. The game will release on PC via Steam, with cross-platform multiplayer support and localization in 11 languages including Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.