Bonfire Studios announced an open demo for the studio’s debut title Arkheron, a fast-paced, competitive player-versus-player action game, coming to Steam on PC beginning on February 20.
In Arkheron, 15 teams of three battle their way up a mysterious and surreal Tower, fighting monsters and eliminating rival teams to ascend to the next floor. There are no fixed heroes or roles, instead players define their builds in every match on the fly by looting items that unlock powerful abilities and unique playstyles that evolve floor-to-floor. By combining high-precision combat skills and team coordination, the final two teams will meet at the top of the Tower in a winner-takes-all showdown.
Bonfire CEO Rob Pardo spoke to us about Arkheron, which has been in the works for eight years, in this exclusive interview as the company revealed the game. The journey to the market is a fascinating story of sticking to your guns and persevering through tough challenges.
This is the first time Bonfire is opening up Arkheron to all players, giving everyone a chance to discover, play and master this new, battle royale-inspired game mode, where every victory is truly earned. The Arkheron demo will be live and open 24/7 through the duration of Steam Next Fest, ending March 2.
The Next Fest demo will introduce a slew of new features, game changes, content and updates from Arkheron’s previous alpha tests, including two new Eternal Item Sets that expand on the range of viable builds and playstyles. Full patch notes are available at arkheron.com.
Following Steam Next Fest, Bonfire Studios will share details about Arkheron’s upcoming Closed Beta on PC, which will introduce Ranked Play. Players interested in continuing their journey after Steam Next Fest can find more information and sign up for the closed beta at arkheron.com.
Headquartered in Orange County, California, Bonfire Studios is an independent video game developer focused on crafting games that weave pulse-pounding thrill with the warmth of belonging. The company was founded on the belief that great games are born from lean teams of talented craftspeople who dream big and build with passion.
Bonfire’s design philosophy centers on fun and deeply rewarding gameplay, imaginary worlds that inspire self-expression, welcoming, long-lasting communities and experiences that become a meaningful part of players’ lives.