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Closed Beta Test
February 22, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Comprehensive CBT and platform article from press coverage and developer notes
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.
CBT1 offered a vertical slice of the game, including:
Three of six classes: Swordsman, Ranger, and Berserker were playable. Paladin, Sorcerer, and Assassin were confirmed but not available.
The prologue and early story content
Chrono Gates: All four solo boss encounters
Open-world exploration of the Western Continent portion of Setera
Chronotector abilities: All five time-manipulation abilities
Crafting, gear progression, and the Matrix System
Eden (the PvPvE extraction mode) was not included in CBT1 and is planned for a later test phase.
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:
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
Chrono Studio published a two-part Developer Note announcing sweeping changes:
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
Chrono Odyssey targets three platforms:
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. Kakao Games' executive producer stated three times in interviews that "no pay-to-win or enhancing items will be sold."
Chrono Odyssey is built on Unreal Engine 5, transitioning from UE4 during 2021-2023. The engine provides:
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
Chrono Odyssey's release has been delayed multiple times: originally Q4 2025, then Q4 2026, and most recently Q1 2027 according to Kakao Games' 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.
