Hello Daevas,
Syd here, your Product Manager for Aion Classic at Gameforge. I wanted to take a minute to share what's going on behind scenes, what we're planning, and how we're responding to your feedback for the rest of the year.
First, let's dive into the roadmap.
We'll be bringing Update 4.0 hopefully by late October/early November. This significant update will introduce a range of fresh content and features, such as the Luminess class, two new PvE instances, a PvP instance, and an entirely new map that'll act as the core action hub. There will also be a bunch of QoL improvements across the board. To enhance your experience with this update, we’re directly pairing it with Update 4.0 Part 2, which includes essential class balancing changes, largely inspired by your feedback on Luminess and general balance in Part 1. This joint release should feel more polished and engaging right from the start.
Also, we're developing a special, limited-time event server planned to go live in late Q4. This server will be based on the Wind Server you might be familiar with from other Aion Classic regions. The regional settings for this are still being finalized, but we'll give more details as soon as they're ready.
Let's tackle some ongoing issues you've mentioned:
We've begun hosting regular meetings with our game ambassadors, and they're quite effective. These discussions have offered us valuable insights into your concerns and priorities and serve as an added source of input alongside feedback gathered by our Community Managers. As a direct outcome, we've already filed several regional change requests to NC. These encompass tweaks to item and kinah drop rates and modifications to make certain tough encounters more manageable. Once these changes are locked, implemented, and tested, we’ll share all the details with you. This is part of our ongoing effort to make your daily adventures in Atreia feel more rewarding and to act on your feedback whenever possible.
Faction balance remains a priority for us too. We recognize the challenges, particularly for our Asmodian players. To address faction imbalances, in early August we're rolling out catch-up mechanisms explicitly designed to help them gear up swiftly and compete more effectively in Balaurea sieges. We're also crafting targeted events, including special boss spawns that will make it easier to earn kinah and acquire competitive gear for the Asmos. As previously announced by NC, a Faction Change Ticket is under development and is slated for release with Update 4.0 Part3, which, in EU, is targeted for release in Q1-Q2 of next year.
Regarding game crashes, we understand your frustrations. NC is still probing into this problem. Similar issues were recently addressed in Aion Live, so we're hoping to report progress soon. Your patience is valued, and I assure you that the problem isn't ignored.
Cheating continues to be a pressing and sensitive issue for all of us. Since rolling out Update 3.0 in November, we've permanently banned over 5,000 accounts for straightforward cheating and botting. We know it can be disheartening seeing questionable activity persist despite our efforts, but trust us, your reports are truly a big help in combating cheaters. Please keep using our official Support Platform to report such activities, as this is the only accepted method. Discord, unfortunately, isn't fit for this. When you submit a ticket, please always include an unedited video or screenshot clearly showing the behavior, alongside the precise timeframe it happened. Please bear in mind that each ban needs clear, hard evidence as mandated by legal standards. This rigid process might sometimes make it seem like we're not doing anything, but each report you send is thoroughly evaluated. Your ongoing support and vigilance are vital to this ongoing fight, and we wholeheartedly appreciate your patience and cooperation.
Your feedback really matters, and we’re continually striving to improve Aion Classic for us all. Thank you for your ongoing support of the game. We’re eager for you to try all the new goodies we’re cooking up and look forward to the adventures ahead.
Until next time,
Syd
Product Manager, Aion Classic