On December 11, 2025, Intrepid Studios finally launched the Early Access for Ashes of Creation on Steam. Eight years in the making, the "savior of the genre" has arrived with stunning visuals, but it puts a heavy strain on gaming hardware.
Beautiful but Demanding
Powered by Unreal Engine 5.4, the game sets a new visual standard for MMOs using Lumen and Nanite technologies. However, performance is the main talking point. Early benchmarks show that mid-range GPUs struggle to maintain stability in crowded cities. Even high-end setups with RTX 4090 or the new RTX 5080 cards see frame drops during massive Node sieges, making DLSS usage almost mandatory for 1440p gaming.
Gameplay First Impressions
- The World: The unique Node system is fully functional, allowing players to actively shape the world.
- Combat: The hybrid combat system has received mixed reactions, with some praising the tactics and others criticizing "stiff" animations.
- Stability: While server queues are long (up to 3 hours in EU), the client stability is surprisingly good with few crashes reported.
Currently, the game holds a "Mostly Positive" rating on Steam (71%), praised for its ambitious mechanics but criticized for optimization.
Conclusion from HYPERPC
"Ashes of Creation pushes the boundaries of what an MMORPG can look like, but it demands top-tier hardware in return. To experience the world of Verra without compromising on visual fidelity or frame rates during PvP, a robust system is essential. At HYPERPC, we build machines ready for the Unreal Engine 5 era, ensuring your rig handles the intense geometry and lighting of next-gen titles effortlessly."
Verified Sources
- Ashes of Creation Official Wiki (Nodes & Classes): ashes101.com — Detailed information about the mechanics of the game.
- Unreal Engine 5 Features (Official): unrealengine.com — Information about Nanite and Lumen technologies used in the game.
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