In an exciting start to the New Year, the Wayfinder team has energized its player base with the live launch of the Job Board Preview and an extensive update on the Q1 Roadmap for 2024.

Job Board Preview Now Live:

The eagerly anticipated Job Board Preview offers Wayfinder players a fresh source of XP for their characters and weapons, alongside their Reward Tower. This new feature is more than just a progress booster; it’s a treasure trove of memory fragments, gloomstone shards, dyes, cosmetics, and more.

The Wayfinder team encourages players to dive into these jobs and share their experiences, be it the enjoyment of the tasks, innovative ideas for future jobs, or reporting any encountered bugs. Players can share their feedback on a dedicated Feature Upvote Board at https://jobboardpreview.featureupvote.com/.

In light of this new feature, the team has slightly adjusted the Reward Tower XP rates, a move that will be closely monitored for both short-term and long-term effects.

Q1 Roadmap Reveals Major Developments:

Wayfinder’s Q1 of 2024 is set to be a monumental period, filled with significant updates and new features. The roadmap, discussed in detail in their final 2023 dev stream, includes:

1. Job Board: A foundational system offering daily and weekly rewards, including exclusive items and cosmetics in the future.
2. Armory Rank: A new progression mechanic where leveling a weapon to 30 gains an armory rank, leading to bonuses like base weapon stat increases and more echo sockets. The initial max rank is set at 20.
3. Archetype System: Introducing the Archetype Accolade track, this system will reward players with bonuses like increased equipment level and archetype-specific passives. A subsequent version will feature an Archetype Talent Tree for deeper customization.
4. Mythic Hunts: Designed to challenge veterans, these hunts offer increased accessory and crafting component drop rates, along with new items and Black Gloomstone drops.
5. Frostmarch Expansion: This expansion doubles the size of the current playable area, filled with challenges, quests, events, world bosses, and secrets.
6. Mounts: Enhancing mobility, mounts will enable players to traverse the new expansive zones with ease.
7. Grendel + New Reward Tower: Inclusion of Grendel and an associated Reward Tower, available to all players with the FS2 Reward Tower in their founder’s pack.

The climax of these updates will be the launch of Wayfinder’s first 6-player Raid in early Q2, allowing players to gear up for this highly anticipated end-game content.

Other Notable Updates:

In addition to these major features, the team remains committed to hotfixing for improved performance, server optimizations, balance adjustments, and bug fixes.

Patch Notes Highlights:

• Daily and Weekly Jobs are accessible after completing specific quests, with Job Boards located in key locations.
• Performance has been enhanced with mouse smoothing now OFF by default.
• Various bug fixes, including issues with the Gloom Collapse mutator and the Mines crash, have been addressed.

Airship Syndicate has provided fans with a riveting look into the combat mechanics of its highly anticipated MMO, Wayfinder. The company released an in-depth gameplay showcase video during the OTK Games Expo 2023, focusing on a challenging boss encounter.

The three-minute video, aptly titled “Wayfinder Gameplay Showcase | OTK Games Expo 2023,” premiered on the official Wayfinder YouTube channel. It offered players a tantalizing glimpse into what they can expect from the game’s combat system and immersive world.

Following a series of successful technical tests and previous closed betas, the team at Digital Extremes has revealed the launch date for Wayfinder’s eagerly anticipated Global Closed Beta. The closed beta testing period will commence on Wednesday, May 24, at 10 a.m. CT and conclude on Monday, May 29, at 10 a.m. CT. The test will be available on Steam, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.

Open to players worldwide, the Wayfinder team is particularly excited to show off some of the top community-requested features for this new game iteration. Among the updates are an all-new jump dash, movement speed increases, a camera system overhaul, and much more. Further details about these new implementations can be found on the official website.

Players who have participated in previous technical tests or closed betas will automatically gain access to the Global Closed Beta without needing to sign up again. For newcomers, there’s still time to sign up on the website to join the beta testing and help shape Wayfinder before Early Access.

Returning testers will have the opportunity to explore the characters Kyros and Senja, their Signature Weapons, two new boss Hunts, and many new performance optimizations. Additionally, testers will also note significant changes to the user interface. It’s important to note that account progress from previous tests has been reset, and any progress made during this Global Closed Beta will not carry over to Early Access, scheduled for later this summer.

As the Wayfinder team takes a crucial step in development, they encourage testers to follow their Twitter page and join the Private Discord Server for updates and to engage with the community. However, they emphasize that the Global Closed Beta remains under a strict Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA). Experiences and feedback should be shared only within the private testing Discord channel provided in the invite email.

With the community’s feedback having proved invaluable to date, the Wayfinder team is eager to continue listening to users throughout this Global Closed Beta. The ultimate goal: to create a game that meets, and surpasses, the expectations of players worldwide. The world of Evenor awaits its new adventurers on May 24.

Wayfinder, a highly-anticipated free-to-play Massive Multiplayer Online (MMO) game, is about to make a grand entrance into the gaming landscape. As we inch closer to the release of the Closed Beta on PlayStation® and PC, the excitement among the gaming community continues to grow. But what can we expect from this innovative game? Let’s dive into the latest information provided by the official site to get a glimpse of what’s to come.

Wayfinder wasn’t designed to be a MMO from the start, but turned into one during development by “mistake”. The game is being developed by Airship Syndicate with the assistance of Digital Extremes, the makers of Warframe. The business model will be inspired by Warframes free-to-play model.

The inspiration behind Wayfinder is a creative amalgamation of various elements from classic MMOs and fantasy franchises, with a sprinkle of modern gaming innovations. The developers have taken cues from renowned titles such as World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy, borrowing the concepts of expansive world-building, team-focused quests, and deep character customization.

They were also heavily inspired by action-adventure games like The Legend of Zelda, which is evident in the game’s action-driven combat and exploration aspects.

Furthermore, the narrative of battling a sinister force that has claimed the world draws parallels with a wide range of epic fantasy literature, adding a rich storytelling layer to the game

Gameplay

In Wayfinder, players take on the role of a Wayfinder – a warrior equipped with unique powers that can be tailored according to one’s preferred path and playstyle. Wayfinders are charged with the monumental task of repelling a sinister force that has claimed your world. To achieve this, you’ll need to channel your abilities, strength, and strategic acumen, but you won’t be doing it alone. The game emphasizes collaboration, urging you to shape and customize adventures with friends, reinforcing the mantra that ‘Wayfinders are stronger together.’

At the heart of Wayfinder’s gameplay is an electrifying, fast-paced action system. As a Wayfinder, you have the power to explore new terrains, hunt formidable beasts, and embark on dangerous expeditions to combat the looming evil. Each hunt and expedition into the Gloom – the mysterious and hostile territories within the game – presents the opportunity to discover fresh locations, face off against new beasts, and acquire novel materials.

These materials are crucial for your progression as a Wayfinder. Use them to craft potent weapons and equipment to awaken latent powers and potential within you and your fellow Wayfinders. The game also incorporates elements of collection and discovery. To elevate your mastery, you’ll need to gather every weapon and housing item, pore through every book, and explore every location to complete your Atlas.

A key feature of Wayfinder is the player’s ability to control the chaos. With the assistance of a mystical device called a Gloom Dagger, you can customize every play experience, directing your adventures through a myriad of unique challenges and modifiers. This customization extends to your targets and the items you wish to gather, further enhancing the personalized feel of the game.

Your journey as a Wayfinder, born from the Gloom and pledged to eradicate it, is bolstered by a wide array of weapons and gear, as well as a diverse range of magical and technological powers. Customization is, again, at the forefront, as you have the freedom to decide your fighting style, selecting from the equipment and powers that best match your approach to combat. Each fallen foe presents an opportunity to augment your abilities, adding yet another layer of strategic depth.

In Wayfinder, every season brings a new wave of hunts, expeditions, and events, presenting endless exploration opportunities. Each new discovery, whether it’s a location, beast, or material, contributes to the creation of weapons and gear that will awaken new Wayfinders’ powers. The game emphasizes social interaction, tying character and housing progression together through a common thread – other players. The tagline ‘Stronger Together’ truly encapsulates the communal essence of Wayfinder, as you adventure with friends and create powerful buffs within your neighborhood.

Beta, Early Access and Release

The Early Access phase, scheduled to start in May, offers an exclusive sneak peek at what’s to come later in the year. Exclusive to PC and PlayStation 4 and 5 consoles, the Early Access phase allows players to experience the latest builds, become part of the Wayfinder community, and have a hand in shaping the game before its full release.

Access to the Early Access phase comes with the Founders Pack Program. Purchasing a Founders Pack not only grants you early access but also provides unique and valuable items, including cosmetics, pets, mounts, and more. It’s important to note that there will be no pay-to-win mechanics; all items in the Founders Pack are either cosmetic or come with a convenience factor, ensuring a balanced and fair gaming experience.

While the game was originally set to launch the Global Closed Beta on May 10th, due to last-minute connection and matchmaking issues, it has been postponed to May 24. Despite this minor hiccup, the developers are confident that they will deliver a smooth and stable gaming experience, ensuring the wait will be worth it.

As we look forward to the full release of Wayfinder in Fall 2023, we can only expect the anticipation to surge. The promise of an original game inspired by MMO classics that foster community building, shared adventures, and an evolving world is indeed a tantalizing prospect. The complete cross-play and cross-save compatibility upon full release only adds to the appeal, reflecting the collaborative nature of the game.

Wayfinder has faced unexpected server issues, causing a delay in its launch. The Wayfinder team sincerely apologizes to all the eager players who had rearranged their schedules and were looking forward to participating in the beta. The revised launch date for the Global Closed Beta is now set for May 24.

The decision to postpone the beta was made after a thorough evaluation of the situation. The team acknowledged the immense task of expanding the test from North America to a global scale. As they worked towards ensuring a seamless experience for players and gathering crucial data, they also had to simultaneously prepare the game for Early Access. This presented a significant challenge for the relatively small team working on a game of this magnitude.

During the final preparations, the team encountered significant connection and matchmaking issues. Faced with the choice of launching the beta with the possibility of disconnects and matchmaking errors or addressing these issues beforehand, the team opted to delay the launch. They are committed to delivering a stable and smooth experience for players while gathering accurate and usable data during the testing phase.

The Wayfinder team wants to emphasize that these tests and betas are not mere marketing events but genuine learning opportunities for them. This is why a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is in place. Once the game reaches a state where both gameplay and server stability are excellent, the NDA will be lifted, allowing players to share their experiences on platforms such as YouTube and Twitch, and discuss the game with their friends.

Stay tuned for further updates regarding the Global Closed Beta launch of Wayfinder.