Closed Beta 1

The first Closed Beta was announced on (unknown date, approx. late sept 2021) and was to run from September 30 to November 1, 2021.

Official announcement notes
Greetings Prospectors, we have an important update for you!

Our Closed Alphas were very successful, and we are still taking to heart all the feedback you've provided us with during those weeks. Thanks again for your time and dedication!

In fact, we are now getting ready to move onto the next steps, as you will see below.

UPCOMING CLOSED BETA
We are proud and ready to announce our first Closed Beta for The Cycle!

This is the perfect opportunity to get a first taste of what the full game will have to offer. Starting September 30, 2021, get ready to drop on the surface alone or with friends, complete contracts for the factions, mine for rare resources, hunt bloodthirsty monsters and start building your new prospecting career.

Will you be a crafty scavenger or a ruthless hunter?

The Closed Beta will be available through Steam and the Epic Games Store. Make sure to wishlist the game on Steam and opt into the beta program directly on the platform or register directly through our website for the Epic Game Store.

STEAM PAGE: https://store.steampowered.com/app/868270/The_Cycle/

EGS REGISTRATION: https://thecycle.game/subscription/ClosedAlphaRegistration.html

Here's a sneak peek of what to expect: you'll get first-time access to our second map, Crescent Falls, which has been rebuilt to fit the new direction of the game. There's also a brand new and devastating enemy type waiting to crush unsuspecting Prospectors and you can expect more diverse loot, improved crafting and weapon modding, updates to the private quarters, and so much more.

If you've already taken part in our Closed Alphas then there's nothing to worry about, you will be able to access the Beta as soon as it's available!

SHOP CLOSURE & CURRENT VERSION
The arrival of the longer Closed Beta period also means we are now entering the transition phase to our reworked version of The Cycle at full speed. In order to make sure everyone will be fully focused on the revamp so we can deliver the best and optimal quality, we have decided to temporarily close the servers.

As such, access to the in-game shop will be disabled on October 6, 2021. Furthermore, access to the current version of the game will be disabled on October 13. Our public servers will open again once the full version of the game is ready to launch globally on both Steam and the Epic Games Store.

As a reminder, you don't have to worry about looking cool in the future: you will get to keep all the cosmetics you've purchased and acquired throughout your prospecting career. The only exception to this will be foam poses and bikes which won't be part of the new direction of the game. However, those will be fully refunded in Aurum for every existing account out there.

Since the server's closure will mean the shop won't be available anymore either, we are currently looking into offering refunds for more recent purchases. We will share more details and information on the process as soon as possible.

Finally, we already promised some special rewards for all you old-timers who have been with us these past couple of years. Today, we are happy to offer you a sneak peek of what goodies you will be able to expect and flaunt in your new career!

VETERAN REWARDS
As mentioned in a previous dev diary, several veteran rewards will be available to you as soon as the new version goes live. The specific rewards are depending on your Prospector level and how long you've been around, check the link above for the nitty-gritty, but in addition, we can share more detail on the most prestigious of those rewards:

MELEE WEAPON
This grizzly knife is a bit old by now but still reliable – and boy did it see a lot of action on the surface. The notches on its blade and grip can indicate many things: maybe you're keeping count of how many Alpha Wardens you've taken on, how many times you grabbed first place, or perhaps it's a humble reminder of how many times you ended up foamed on the surface of Fortuna III. In any case, this blade is here to stick with you to the very end, ready to deliver more handfuls of pain whenever necessary.

BANNER
What better way to show everyone what a refined Prospector you've become over time than with this snazzy banner? That cute little dancing robot remembers well when you crossed the door of the Lucky Leafman for the very first time as it opened on Prospect Station. It has seen you come, go and take numerous screenshots (don't lie), and will be glad to keep showing you its best moves for the years to come.

SPRAY
You've been around for a good while now and so far have managed to survive and tell the tale. Sure, you're one of the elders by now, one of the station's OGs. But by Fortuna, you've still got it! The future holds many more challenges as new blood keeps rushing into their drop pods, but they will learn to always fear the grizzled ones in a profession where people tend to die young.

TROPHY
Last but not least, what would bragging rights possibly be without pure, unadulterated swag? This lavish trophy is the best way to tell everyone “I’ve seen things you can’t possibly imagine in your wildest dreams”. Mounted on a shiny plaque made of the finest space wood, this piece is sure to inspire fear and respect in the heart of any Prospector. Something

And that concludes our post for today.

We remain open and available on Discord and social media for any questions you may have regarding these announcements. We will make sure to have more information to provide you all in the near future.

In the meantime, take care of yourselves Prospectors. We hope to see you all in our Closed Beta!

Make sure to also check all our previous entries about the rework if you haven't already!

* Part 1 – New experiences in The Cycle

* Part 2 – Everything about crafting

* Part 3 – Fortuna III and map design

* Part 4 – Impressions from Fortuna III

* Part 5 – Events, Current Season & Veteran Rewards

* Part 6 – User Interface

* Part 7 – Rework Roundtable – Part 1

* Part 8 – Rework Roundtable – Part 2

Don't hesitate to share any feedback directly with us on our Discord server! https://discordapp.com/invite/thecycle