Publisher (and developer) Astrum Oyun has announced the second alpha test for its PvPvE shooter NCORE has begun on Steam.
Running from today (October 2nd) until October 8th, the week-long test follows on from the first alpha test which took place six months ago. The developer says it has ” been actively polishing the game based on community feedback. Core gameplay flow and overall performance have been improved, and the shooting system has been completely overhauled to become ballistic.”
The second test, however, will add new content in the form of weapons: Katana, and Thunder. There’s also a new enemy called “Screamer”, and a new hex arena, Liberty Island.
“The community feedback during the first alpha test strongly influenced our further development plans. We’ve done our best to listen to every single comment. That’s why it’s crucial for us to hear what players think about the improvements and new content in the game”, says the NCORE dev team.
Players will join gladiator fights in the reworked Drop’n’Roll mode, where three-player squads must collect and deposit as many tokens as possible. On their way to victory, they will have to face arena guardians, powerful bosses, and rival teams waiting for the perfect ambush. NCORE tests not only players’ reflexes but also their tactical skills.
To thank the participants of the second alpha test, the team is running a special in-game event — Path of the Gladiator — with unique rewards that will carry over to the actual release.
The heart of NCORE is its transformable multi-arena, where no two matches are alike. Weapons transform on the fly: a rifle morphs into a katana, an SMG into a sword, a pistol into claws. Each weapon has a melee form that lets you instantly swap up your combat style and strategy. Higher-level arenas throw gladiators into fights against massive bosses — fights that can completely flip the outcome of a match.
In NCORE, players take on the role of gladiators in the world of a distant future ruled by corporations and torn apart by crises. To ease the rising tension, an ancient pastime is brought back — gladiator battles where age-old traditions collide with cutting-edge technology. Fights unfold on a multi-arena split into shifting hexes that vanish, transform, and transport players into different settings — all within a single match. The team is currently working on new locations and will be ready to reveal them soon.