Overworld Private Beta 2 Has Arrived!

Are you ready to face the unknown? Illuvium's Private Beta 2 Overworld has Launched; new dangers and challenges come with it. The world of Illuvium is expanding, and so are the Illuvials that inhabit it. From the dark depths of the Abyssal Basin to the high-flying vine-engulfed Brightland Steppes, you'll encounter new Illuvials that will test your skills and strategies. But that's not all. The mysterious Morphopods are also making their debut, and if that isn't enough, the Overload mechanic will keep you on the edge of your seat as you risk your life to explore the new regions and battle maps.

Illuvials

Let's start with the Illuvials. Brace yourself for the arrival of 10 new Illuvial lines to our world. From the agile Monkey Rogue to the mighty Polar Bear, each Illuvial brings unique skills that will challenge even the most skilled players in both Overworld and Arena battles. The Tiktaalik, Tenrec, Monkey Fighter, Monkey Empath, Komodo Dragon, Terror Bird, Penguin and Squid Line (Stage 1 only) are also set to join the fray, and their arrival will not go unnoticed. These Illuvials will be the ultimate game-changer, introducing complexity that will leave even the most seasoned player reeling. Be ready to face the unknown and embrace the thrill of the fight.

Morphopods

But what about the Morphopods? What are they, and how do they fit into the world of Illuvium? In the diverse ecosystem of Illuvium, the Morphopods stand out with their remarkable features and behaviours. Plobb, a beetle-like Bulwark, is notable for its ability to bury itself and secrete antibacterial fluids. Meanwhile, Flout, a bee-like Empath, floats through life, fostering symbiotic relationships with microorganisms for photosynthesis and communication. Murahn, an eel-like Fighter, stands apart with its undulating movement and surprising cannibalistic tendencies, swallowing prey nearly its size. Wizps, the firefly-like Psions, mesmerize with their ability to lure and trap prey with their luminous tail and non-Newtonian fluid. Finally, the Tabir, a seasnail-like Rogue, uses its hardened back and vibration-sensing fins to navigate and sense danger in its environment. Each of these Morphopods is a testament to the varied life forms that populate the regions.

Overload Mechanic

Each region is safeguarded by a dome that weakens as you expend energy. Overload, an integral part of gameplay, occurs once enough Ergon is used by your drone, causing the region's Obelisk to overload, sending a wave of energy towards the region's centre. Straying outside the stable area during this time can be fatal. This mechanic emphasizes the importance of strategic energy management and cautious region navigation.

Abyssal Basin

The Abyssal Basin is a vast and treacherous region located in the southern part of the map. It is characterized by its dark, eerie bioluminescent atmosphere and vast wild marshlands, where the waters are teeming with danger. But fear not, as a network of lily pads will help players safely traverse the swamp and avoid the deadliest depths. Each area within the Abyssal Basin boasts unique features and challenges, but beware, formidable Illuvials might lurk in the shadows.

Brightland Steppes

The Brightland Steppes is an expansive and vibrant region in Illuvium, brimming with lush vegetation and thrilling opportunities for exploration. Its wide-open spaces and bright, colourful landscapes evoke a sense of joy, and players can expect to encounter a variety of Illuvials hiding in hard-to-reach areas. To assist players in travelling the vast distances of the Brightland Steppes, they can hitch a ride in giant bubbles produced by the regions flora that will lift them to the highest reaches of the skies, offering breathtaking views of the sprawling terrain and making movement an exhilarating experience.

Traversal Mechanics

Illuvium is all about exploration and adventure, and to enhance the experience; this update features new traversal mechanics that allow players to navigate the vast and varied regions of the game quickly. One of these mechanics is the wingsuit, which players can use to fly through the air, reducing the effect of gravity and creating unique moments as they traverse the map in exciting ways. The friction board allows players to travel faster down hills or slide along the ground with enough speed. With the friction board, players can steer and navigate on slopes, and when they're ready to move on foot again, they can deactivate it easily.

Arena Updates

Illuvial Base Rework

In our commitment to enhancing gameplay, we've conducted a major overhaul to all Illuvials. This aims to carve out more distinct archetypes and give Illuvials pronounced strengths and weaknesses. Empaths and Psions are now less tanky, and their auto-attack damage has been reduced, with more power channelled into their Omegas. This adjustment significantly changes their gameplay, making them more vulnerable to Rogues and flanking behaviours. Conversely, Fighters and Bulwarks have received a boost in stats, with their Omegas being slightly weakened. This is particularly evident with lower-cost Bulwarks and Fighters, which are now much more effective at their respective roles. Check out the detailed information HERE.

Simplified Synergies

To improve the player experience, we have simplified Synergies. Playing a Unit with a Synergy will only increase their specific Synergy. This not only reduces complexity but also strengthens the identity of each Synergy. The result? A broader range of viable team compositions as Synergies are less interdependent. We believe these changes will be a significant improvement for both new players grappling with the complexity of Arena and seasoned players seeking more flexibility in viable team compositions. Check out the detailed information HERE.

Additional Updates and Improvements

Among other adjustments, we've improved Overload. It now splits damage among all Units on a team. We also introduced the Hyper Overlay feature for better clarity related to Hyper. This can be seen by activating the view next to your Synergies and Damage in the upper left-hand corner and hovering over your Illuvials or Ranger. We've made necessary tweaks to Survival AI, continued improving VFX, SFX, Models, Animations, and Textures, and worked on connection and reconnection improvements. Finally, we've improved pathing with a reworked movement interpolation/smoothing algorithm and integrated dash visualization for Dashing units.

TLDR

In conclusion, Private Beta 2 of Illuvium: Overworld is gearing up to provide a more intense, mysterious experience than its predecessor, unfolding a deeper layer of Illuvium for our players to explore. With new Illuvials, Morphopods, mechanics, and regions, you'll have plenty to keep you entertained and challenged. But remember, the world of Illuvium is not a friendly place. You'll have to fight for survival. Are you ready to capture these new Illuvials and find what secrets are waiting in the new regions? If you're awaiting access, check out our previous blogs to learn how to gain access!