About Neverness to Everness: Dive into a Supernatural Urban World

Hotta Studio's highly anticipated multiplayer gacha RPG, Neverness to Everness (NTE), is making waves with the announcement of its first global closed beta test, dubbed the "NTE Co-Ex Test." Fans eager to explore the mysterious, anomaly-filled city of Hethereau can now sign up for a chance to be among the first to experience this supernatural-infused urban adventure.

The Adventure Begins: Global Beta Announced

This news, fresh as of Dec 22, marks a significant step for the game, which has been gradually building anticipation since its initial announcement. While a specific date for the beta's commencement hasn't been revealed, recruitment is officially underway via a questionnaire on the game's official website.

A Glimpse into Hethereau: What is Neverness to Everness?

Neverness to Everness is a free-to-play urban open-world action RPG that plunges players into the roles of "Appraisers." Set in a sprawling city grappling with strange "anomalies," players will navigate this unique environment, build teams of characters (each boasting special Esper abilities), and engage in a variety of activities. The game promises a blend of high-speed drifting, player-driven exploration, combat, and even lifestyle elements like managing businesses and customizing sports cars.

The narrative and gameplay seem to draw inspiration from an "anime Shadowrun vibe," featuring a mysterious urban setting where players can expect to race, run shops, personalize their living spaces, and, of course, battle enigmatic forces.

A key feature highlighted is the ability to traverse the city using not only vehicles but also characters' unique Esper abilities, allowing for gravity-defying movement like running up buildings. The city of Hethereau is designed to feel alive with a day-night cycle and dynamic weather that can even impact vehicle handling.

The Esper Cycle: Tactical Combat

Combat in NTE utilizes a system called the "Esper Cycle." Players will use skills and combos to attack enemies, infusing them with specific attributes. When two adjacent attributes combine, it triggers a synergy, unlocking new combat options. Building up a "Cycle Rate" through combat actions will eventually allow players to unleash the full power of the Esper Cycle for a tactical advantage.

Powered by Unreal Engine 5: A Visual Feast Awaits

Hotta Studio is leveraging the power of Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) to bring Neverness to Everness to life, promising a visually stunning and immersive experience. The game is confirmed to support NVIDIA DLSS rendering and RTX ON technology (ray tracing), aiming for a high-quality gaming experience across multiple platforms.

While specific granular details on every UE5 feature being utilized are still emerging, here's what we know about how the engine is shaping the game:

• Next-Generation Visuals: UE5 is known for its ability to create incredibly detailed and realistic environments. In NTE, this translates to a "richly detailed environment" in the city of Hethereau, with a focus on making the urban landscape "pop." The engine allows for seamless transitions as supernatural phenomena can alter the surrounding environments in real-time, shifting them to "a much more creepier, surreal world."
• Enhanced Immersion: The developers are aiming for an "immersive high-freedom experience." UE5's capabilities contribute to this by enabling features like NPCs who go about their lives and react realistically to events, making the city feel more lived-in.
• Advanced Rendering Technologies: Support for NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) indicates an effort to provide smooth performance and high fidelity visuals by using AI to upscale resolution. The inclusion of RTX ON (ray tracing) will likely result in more realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections, further enhancing the game's atmospheric and supernatural elements.
• Large-Scale Open World: UE5 is well-suited for creating expansive open worlds, and NTE's Hethereau is described as a "sprawling city" and an "expansive supernatural metropolis."
• Multi-Platform Development: Hotta Studio is targeting PC, PlayStation 5, iOS, and Android for Neverness to Everness. UE5 offers a robust framework for developing across multiple platforms, though the team acknowledges that optimizing the multi-platform experience, particularly for mobile, is a significant challenge they are actively working on.

Global Beta and Future Release

The current closed beta, the "NTE Co-Ex Test," is currently open for PC, Android, iOS, and PS5! It will support English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese text and voice-overs (English, Japanese, and Chinese). Interested players need to fill out a survey on the official website to sign up. It's important to note that spots are limited, and any data from this beta test will be wiped once it concludes.

Ready to join the adventure? Sign up for the NTE Co-Ex Test here!

While a final release date for Neverness to Everness has yet to be announced, pre-registration for the game is also open. The game will be free-to-play with an internet connection required and will support cross-progression, allowing players to maintain their character and story progress across different platforms.

With its intriguing blend of supernatural urban exploration, gacha mechanics, and the graphical prowess of Unreal Engine 5, Neverness to Everness is certainly a title to keep an eye on. The ongoing global beta sign-ups offer the first chance for players worldwide to step into the anomalous world of Hethereau.