Upcoming futuristic free-to-play arena shooter NCORE from Astrum Oyun kicks off its second alpha test today, running through October 8 on PC via Steam.
The new alpha test invites players back into NCORE’s unique blend of PvP, PvE, and gladiatorial arena spectacle while showcasing major improvements and new content since its first outing earlier this year.
NCORE drops players into a bleak vision of the future, where corporations control a fractured world and gladiator battles have returned as the ultimate entertainment. Combat unfolds across a “multi-arena” made up of shifting hexes, each representing a different environment, such as from the trenches of World War I to medieval castles and even post-apocalyptic zombie settings. Matches constantly evolve as the battlefield transforms beneath players’ feet, forcing squads to adapt strategies on the fly.
One of NCORE’s other standout FPS features is its transformable weapon system. Every firearm doubles as a melee weapon: rifles morph into katanas, SMGs into swords, and pistols into claws. The system allows players to seamlessly switch combat styles mid-fight, rewarding creativity as much as precision.
According to Astrum Oyun, the development team has taken extensive community feedback from the first alpha and used it to refine NCORE. Gameplay flow and performance have been smoothed out, and the shooting system has been rebuilt as a full ballistic model for added realism.
The reworked Drop’n’Roll mode takes center stage in the alpha, tasking three-player squads with collecting and depositing tokens while fending off enemy teams, arena guardians, and giant bosses.
According to Fortune Business Insights, the global shooter game market is projected to grow from about $82 billion in 2025 to nearly $192 billion by 2032. Plus, the overall free-to-play model also holds major weight still, as free-to-play games accounted for 52% of the gaming market’s revenue in 2024, per Mordor Intelligence.
To thank players participating in the alpha, Astrum Oyun is running a special event called Path of the Gladiator. Rewards earned during the event will carry over to the full release, giving early adopters an incentive to test the game’s systems while leaving a permanent mark on their accounts.
With its mix of competitive PvP, cooperative PvE, and dynamic battlegrounds, NCORE is aiming to carve out a space in the crowded free-to-play shooter market. The alpha test is live now on Steam, and players interested in shaping the game’s future can jump in through October 8.