Century: Age of Ashes is a free-to-play game of multiplayer aerial arena battles where players select one of three classes with distinct abilities, each with their own unique dragon.

Customize your dragon, dive into the arena, and compete to become a legendary Dragoneer.

Compete as a team and rain fire down on your foes! 

Dragon riders return to the skies in the second Century: Age of Ashes closed beta taking flight on Steam this Friday. After a successful initial test, Playwing’s second closed beta is set to run March 12 to 21 with all player progress including experience, earned currency, and unlockables will carry onward to April’s Early Access launch. Player limit has also been increased drastically to test servers and get riders in on the action!

Over 100,000 players have signed up through the Century: Age of Ashes Steam page to join in the closed beta, and the Playwing team looks forward to player feedback in the official Discord server.

The development team at Playwing has spent the weeks after their first closed beta in February examining and addressing player feedback resulting in new quality of life features such as a rebalanced progression system, new matchmaking and game modes, and improved controls. A new free flight system has also been added to allow new players to get a feel for flight and combat before diving into battle against human opponents.

“After such a positive response from our first closed beta, we wanted to open up Century: Age of Ashes to more dragon riding fans. For this playtest, we’re inviting every single person who asked to join through the Steam page to this coming week’s closed beta.” said Pascal Barret, Playwing Bordeaux Art Director and Studio Manager. “We’re incredibly excited for the Early Access launch in April, and will be announcing a release date shortly after the closed beta. Watch out for that news and for Playwing team members flying alongside and against you in Century’s skies.”

Century: Age of Ashes’ cosmetic store will be open during the closed beta for players to spend earned currency on dragon skins, hatchable eggs, armor, weapons, and other items. Options to use real world currency will not be available during this period.

The Century: Age of Ashes second closed beta will launch with the following changes and improvements:

Matchmaking & Game modes

• Adding a MMR system to the queue to improve match balance and put same level players into the same games
• ROOKIE mode will be only accessible until level 10
• Adding a SKIRMISH mode: a best of 5, 3v3 game mode, that will replace the ROOKIE mode for level 10 players and above. All the controls will be available at the start of the first round.
• A FREE FLIGHT mode will be available. You’ll be able to familiarize yourself with the Dragon’s controls and play against an enemy bot.

Gates of Fire

• Changed the number of rounds to best of 3 and added an extra 4th round in case of a draw, in order to avoid a xp draw exploit 
• Reviewing the sound design in order to make the game mode more epic
• Improved the balancing by adding more spawn placements for the flag
• General UI/FX  improvements to make the objectives clearer

Other Improvements

• Adding a penalty system for players who leave rounds early 
• The shop will be open! You’ll be able to spend your earned currencies, but won’t be able to pay with real money
• Leaderboard will be available 
• Global ping improvement
• Improved Mouse / Keyboard controls
• General sound design improvements to improve the sensation when players hit an enemy
• The progression system has been rebalanced. We want the level up system to feel more of an accomplishment

Century: Age of Ashes will be arriving in Early Access on Steam this April. Excited future dragon riders can sign up now on the Century: Age of Ashes Steam page for the Closed Beta sessions. Microsoft Store and Epic Games Store versions will be released at a later date.

Key Features:

• INTENSE ARENA BATTLES: Compete in intense multiplayer arena battles, master your dragon, and show enemies your power in high speed dogfights. The arena is unforgiving and you must be as well if you want to survive! Triumph with your team in 3 game modes: Carnage (Team Deathmatch), Survival (6v6v6 - Last Team Standing), and Raid (Capture the Flag)! 
  • Carnage: A 6v6 killing spree with special power ups appearing in the arena to unleash hell on your opponents. It’s Team Deathmatch, Dragon riders style!
  • Survival: A Last Team Standing mode where up to 18 players divide into 3 teams (6v6v6). Respawn is limited and can only be done through ally rescue!
  • Raid: A unique mode in which two teams clash over possession of the flag. Gain points by flying through special gates around the arena while holding the flag!
• CHOOSE YOUR PLAYSTYLE: Experience different play styles with 3 unique classes, each with their own abilities! Shield and disorient as the Windguard, track and destroy as the Marauder, or stealth and trap as the Phantom. How will you choose your path to victory? New classes will be added to the game regularly. 
• FULL CUSTOMISATION: Stand out on the battlefield with prestigious gear and legendary dragons that only true dragoneers can possess! As you progress, every level gained opens up opportunities to make your class characters and dragons look unique with new customization options. Gain experience in battle to hatch new dragons to ride. As mighty as you may look riding into battle, Century: Age of Ashes is a game of skill where all customisation options are solely cosmetic.
• Century: Age of Ashes is completely free-to-play. In order to keep the experience fair and equitable, in-game purchases are purely cosmetic. Battles are won by skill and teamwork alone.

Century: Age of Ashes will be arriving in Early Access on Steam in February 2021.