Greetings, Scavengers!
Before we dive into the details of our testing strategy, we want to share a personal note from our two creators. When Tom and Ben began working on Persist Online in their spare time – shortly before the pandemic – they had a simple vision: create a game inspired by the spirit of early MMORPGs, where players make meaningful decisions and truly explore a vibrant world.
They set aside the notion that cutting-edge visuals were the ultimate goal, focusing instead on building engaging, fun mechanics driven by passion. Their dream was always to welcome early feedback and build a genuine community around the game. When the first players discovered the game and started playing it Tom and Ben were excited and thrilled to receive real player feedback on the game. Now it’s time to open up the game to more dedicted players.
Ben aka Balinor (left) and Tom aka Shintao (right) at the CipSoft offices
Signup for Playtests
This is an important moment for us. Although we’re supported by a well-established organization, Persist Online has been built with an independent, bootstrapped mindset. We’re a lean, dedicated team of 14 full-time members, supported by our internal art, tech, testing, and marketing teams – and aided by several trusted external partners. In a global industry where many projects have access to much larger budgets, we take pride in our indie spirit and commitment to quality, driven by passion rather than deep pockets.
We’re excited to share our testing strategy – a plan that reflects our transparent, community-driven approach to development. Your feedback is absolutely essential, even if some aspects are still evolving. Our aim is to refine and balance Persist Online before a broader release by listening carefully to a range of player experiences. Here’s how we’re organizing our playtests:
1. The Pre-Alpha Survivor Group
Our Pre-Alpha Survivors are the players who have been with us from the very beginning. Their ongoing support has been instrumental, and we truly appreciate the commitment. This group will have full, unrestricted access to Persist Online, allowing us to gather continuous, in-depth feedback on everything – from gameplay mechanics to the overall experience. Their insights help us catch issues early and guide our development decisions as we work to create a balanced and engaging world – even as some features are still under refinement.
2. Limited Access Group
Our second group consists of players who register to participate in scheduled playtests. You can sign up for upcoming Playtests via this link. These testers will have access to the game during specific sessions – like a certain weekend of a month. We’ll start small and gradually expand this group over time, so don’t be too dissapointed if you are not chosen straight away.
During these scheduled sessions, when many players are online at once, we’ll be focusing on key areas such as PvP, guild activities, and overall performance under real-world conditions. In these concentrated playtests, we’ll conduct surveys and host discussions on Discord to capture your detailed feedback. Your honest input is crucial for helping us fine-tune the game.
3. Marketing Group
The final group brings in fresh perspectives from players acquired through marketing efforts. These new players are essential for helping us understand the broader appeal of Persist Online. Their experiences are particularly valuable for testing player retention and guiding long-term balancing decisions.
Feedback from this group will also inform us about when we’re ready to take the next steps toward alpha, beta, and eventually early access. By closely monitoring how these newcomers engage with the game, we can ensure that Persist Online remains accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Surveys and Big Data Analytics
In addition to direct feedback from surveys and community discussions, we also rely on big data analytics to see how Persist Online is really being played. We use tools like heatmaps and event tracking to assess important aspects such as the in-game economy, balancing, and pacing. This data-driven approach enables us to design new features, validate our decisions, and quickly pinpoint any issues with game mechanics. By blending your qualitative feedback with quantitative data, we’re able to make informed decisions that enhance the overall experience.
Player death events, incl. reason
Regional Server Infrastructure
To ensure a smooth testing experience for everyone, we’ve set up game worlds in Europe, South America, and North America. While multiple servers are standard in MMORPGs, this setup helps us maintain stable performance and keeps ping times reasonable, especially during busy testing sessions.
Important Note: Character Wipes
We believe in being transparent about our development process. During playtests, there will be times when we reset your character progress. This is necessary to implement balancing adjustments, feature updates, and other essential changes. We understand that losing progress can be frustrating, and we’re working to keep these interruptions to a minimum. However, occasional wipes are an important part of speeding up development since they allow us to avoid the complications of migrating old data to new systems. Your understanding and feedback during these updates are greatly appreciated.
Looking Ahead
We know many of you are eager to try out Persist Online—and we share your excitement! While not everyone can join the playtests just yet, rest assured that we’re committed to expanding participation. Over the coming month, we will gradually increase both the number of testers and the duration of our playtest sessions, so that more of you can experience the game and provide your invaluable feedback.
Our three-pillar testing strategy is designed to capture insights from our long-time supporters and new players alike, allowing us to make thoughtful, well-informed decisions as we continue to balance and enhance the game. Transparency is at the heart of what we do, and we’re always here to listen.
Thank you for your ongoing support and for being part of this journey. Together, we’re building a game that truly reflects the spirit and needs of our community.
~ The Persist Online Development & Community Team