ArcheAge Chronicles network test announced for 12–13 September

The next announced opportunity to try ArcheAge Chronicles is a limited network test, not a worldwide opening. XLGAMES’ 3 September Steam notice sets a six-hour session for players in the United States and Canada and makes admission a random selection from access requests.

The date and eligibility are now explicit

The session runs from 12 September 2026 at 19:00 to 13 September at 01:00 EDT. The notice limits participation to Steam users located in the United States and Canada. It does not announce console access or an equivalent session for other regions.

For an eligible player, the practical step is to request Playtest access on the official Steam store page. A request does not guarantee admission. The developer says participants will be selected at random, and it does not publish the notification deadline or number of places.

What an admitted player should expect

This session is designed to assess server performance and network stability under heavy load. The available content is limited, mainly to the early areas, and the notice warns that the development build may contain bugs and restricted features.

The studio plans to make the build available for pre-download before the test and recommends downloading in advance. The notice gives no pre-download opening time. It asks players to refrain from live streaming where possible; anyone who streams is asked to explain that this is a network-stability test.

What the announcement does not change

A dated test does not supply the commercial release date. Steam still displays To be announced for the game, while the separately reported early-access plan concerns Q4 2026. The notice also does not specify the full class roster, complete activity list, price or final progression rules.

Source date and editorial record