Chrono Odyssey's first Closed Beta Test (CBT1) ran from June 20 to June 22, 2025 (72 hours) on PC via Steam. The test attracted over 1 million global sign-ups (400,000+ organically before the official announcement) and peaked at approximately 65,000 concurrent players on Steam. Community response was sharply divided, with some players drawing unfavorable comparisons to New World while others praised the time-manipulation mechanics and visual fidelity.
Available Content
CBT1 offered a vertical slice of the game, including:
Three of six classesSwordsmanRangerand Berserker were playable. PaladinSorcererand Assassin were confirmed but not available.
The prologue and early story content
Chrono GatesAll four solo boss encounters
Open-world exploration of the Western Continent portion of Setera
Chronotector abilities: All five time-manipulation abilities
Craftinggear progressionand the Matrix System
Eden (the PvPvE extraction mode) was not included in CBT1 and is planned for a later test phase.
Reception
Community response was mixed. The visuals, powered by Unreal Engine 5 with Nanite geometry and Lumen lighting, were widely praised. Combat feel and the Chronotector system generated positive discussion. The areas that drew criticism included:
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Story pacing | The narrative was criticized for weak character motivation and uneven pacing |
Combat responsiveness | Input delay between actions was noted by many testers |
Open-world density | Some areas felt empty or lacked content |
Performance | Frame rate issues on mid-range hardware |
Post-CBT Developer Response
Chrono Studio published a two-part Developer Note announcing sweeping changes:
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Complete story rewrite | The narrative was being rebuilt with stronger emotional investment, better-matched pacing, and improved character development |
Combat improvements | Reduced input delay, improved hit registration, added dynamic grass and wind systems |
First Chrono Gate moved | From level 3 to level 5, giving players more time to learn combat |
NPC support | Optional NPC companions for the first Chrono Gate to help newer players |
Open-world expansion | Scenic viewpoints, themed caves, diverse exploration routes, and player choices that influence quest progression |
Platforms
Chrono Odyssey targets three platforms:
Item | Description |
|---|---|
PC | Steam. CBT1 was PC-only. Primary development platform. |
PlayStation 5 | Confirmed but not yet tested publicly. |
Xbox Series X|S | Confirmed but not yet tested publicly. |
Mobile platforms (iOS, Android) were part of the original 2020 announcement but were dropped during development. The business model is buy-to-play with a cosmetics-only cash shop. ' executive producer stated three times in interviews that "no pay-to-win or enhancing items will be sold."
Unreal Engine 5
Chrono Odyssey is built on Unreal Engine 5transitioning from UE4 during 2021-2023. The engine provides:
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Nanite | Virtualized geometry for detailed environments without traditional polygon budgets |
Lumen | Dynamic global illumination for realistic lighting |
World Partition | Enables the seamless open world with no loading screens |
DLSS/FSR/TSR | Upscaling technologies for better performance on mid-range hardware |
Target Release
Chrono Odyssey's release has been delayed multiple times: originally Q4 2025, then Q4 2026, and most recently Q1 2027 ' Q3 2025 earnings report. Additional testing phases (CBT2 and potentially an Open Beta) are expected before launch, though Chrono Studio indicated a second CBT may not happen in 2025. The scope of post-CBT changes, particularly the complete story rewrite, supports the later timeline.
Post-CBT Updates
After CBT1 concluded, Chrono Studio published a two-part Developer Note responding to community feedback and outlining what would change before the next public test. The notes broke down into four broad areas:
Area | Change |
|---|---|
Combat | Reduced animation delay and input lag; improved hit feedback and synced hitboxes; introduction of the Matrix System layer (see Matrix System) |
World and rendering | Rendering and memory pipeline restructured to lower CPU and GPU load; NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR upscaling added; smoother loading transitions; improved lighting and a dynamic grass system |
UI | Redesigned interface to clarify stats, skill presets, gear swapping, and crafting; streamlined map navigation, quest tracking, and ping tools |
Early-game pacing | Tutorial content refined; an optional NPC companion can support the first Chrono Gate; solo and group challenge balance pass |
Forward-Looking Beta Plans
The studio has stated publicly that more closed beta tests are planned before launch, with the next test expected to include classes that were not playable in CBT1. Class additions that have been named in public commentary include Paladin, Sorcerer, and Assassin. Specific dates for the next test have not been published; treat any rumored window as unconfirmed until Chrono Studio or the publisher announces it directly.
What Was And Wasn't In CBT1
Several systems that are part of the launch design were not playable during CBT1 and should not be inferred from CBT1 footage as currently-shipped behavior:
Matrix System: post-CBT addition, not playable in CBT1.
Paladin, Sorcerer, Assassin classes: confirmed for launch but not playable in CBT1.
Full launch map: CBT1 shipped a vertical slice; the full open world is described as substantially larger.
Eden extraction mode: discussed in dev posts as endgame content; not part of CBT1.
Most endgame content, including 10-player raids and structured guild systems.
How To Read CBT1 Footage
Any specific number, tooltip, ability cooldown, or UI element seen in CBT1 footage should be treated as build-specific. The post-CBT changes alone touched combat tuning, hit feedback, and UI layout, which means several CBT1-era screenshots are already out of sync with the studio's current target. For the most reliable read of what currently ships, prefer the most recent dev notes over older CBT1 captures.