- PROJECT CLOSED - 23 July 2026
Gladiators!You fought bravely in the arena, demonstrating remarkable tactical skill and strategic thinking. You defeated formidable opponents, forged alliances, and fought side by side with new friends. Together, we explored the arena's hexes, mastered powerful gadgets, and discovered the unique mechanics of transforming weapons.Today, however, we have to share some difficult news. After careful consideration, we have made the hard decision to end the development of NCORE and close the project as Astrum Entertainment focuses on its future priorities.The game's website will be closed soon. Our official community channels will remain open, although comments will be disabled.We know this isn't the news anyone wanted to hear. Your feedback, criticism, and support have meant a great deal to the team throughout this journey. They will help shape the way we create our future games.Thank you fo…
- NCORE Development: Music and Sound Design. Part 3 - 4 December 2025
From theory to practice! Here's how NCORE created a soundtrack that suits us and how a film studio is involved.NCORE ExperienceThe entire NCORE team contributed to choosing musical references. We concluded that electronic music with dubstep elements and futuristic sound design best suits the game. This style emphasizes the intensity and pace of arena battles while retaining the showy, positive vibe. Inspirations included Cyberpunk 2077, The Finals, and Death Stranding.Recording sounds came with its own story. Initially, we used paid sound libraries, which covered most needs. As the project grew in scale and depth, we realized libraries weren’t enough — we needed to record foley ourselves.Foley: artificial sound effects used in films, TV, sports broadcasts, and games.Since part of the team is based in Minsk, we ended up at Belarusfilm Studios. We had selected the weapons to record but fa…
- NCORE Development: Music and Sound Design. Part 2 - 27 November 2025
In the previous part, we talked about the sound effects, now let's broaden our eardrums gaze and take a look at the—Background MusicThe amount and structure of background music depend on the game’s genre, scope, narrative, and gameplay style. In games like Doom, music is central — it drives adrenaline and encourages fast, aggressive play. Metal: Hellsinger goes further, making audio integral to gameplay itself.In tactical shooters, however, this approach would be counterproductive. Here, precise sound positioning is key: enemy footsteps, reloads, bomb setups, etc. Music takes a backseat to critical audio cues and is used minimally — in menus, round intros, or moments when battles are resolved. During active combat, music is either absent or subdued as ambient sound, emphasizing tension and atmosphere rather than controlling game tempo.Modern game sound design often uses interactive musi…
- NCORE Development: Music and Sound Design. Part 1 - 20 November 2025
How often do you listen to video game music outside of gameplay? Chances are, your long playlist includes at least a few tracks from your favorite titles!Creating memorable tracks is a complex process, but it’s only part of the long and meticulous work that goes into sound design — most of which happens behind the scenes. In this article, we’ll pull back the curtain and explain the principles and processes behind game sound design using the NCORE project as an example.The Role of Sound in Video GamesGame audio serves three key functions:informational — sounds or music can alert the player or communicate important information, such as an enemy around the corner;artistic — sound establishes atmosphere and enhances immersion;emotional — sound evokes feelings in the player: empathy for characters, anger, or joy.These functions add another dimension to the gaming experience alongside gamepla…
- Emote system in NCORE. Part 2 - 14 November 2025
One more element of customization is the gladiator cards. They are your signature cards showing off your skill.For now, they’re a simple static image, but we plan on significantly expanding their look and functionality — adding animations and the ability to change its frame and background, as well as placing your title and achievements.Opponents who have had the misfortune of being knocked down by you will see your card right before being sent to the Backstage, while others can appreciate it on the statistics screen after the match.Just like with the emotes, you’ll have one card starting off. Other cards you can get from the in-game store of for completing challenges. To look through the cards and learn how to get them, go to the Personalization tab.NCORE is still in active development and some details might look different on the next playtests.What are your favourite emotes in games? S…
- Emote system in NCORE. Part 1 - 6 November 2025
Computer games are a great way to show your personality. What can be cooler than having your gear painted your favourite colors, making your character look like you or, on the contrary, make them look completely different? However, you don’t always get that. Some more conservative shooters rely heavily on realism, where any small inconsistency like an incorrectly placed sight or camouflage pattern can upset the fans.NCORE not only allows you to customize your appearance but also choose what animations your character can do to emote.You can emote at any time during the match. They can be placed into two categories: regular, meant for the player and their team (such as a heroic pose or a sign of approval), and mocks to show your opponent who’s the boss.Basic emotes will be available to all characters. Some can be obtained through completing challenges, others through the in-game store. In…
- Dev blog: Ranking system - 30 October 2025
Greetings! Glad to see you here.Competition is an important element for a good chunk of online games, especially shooters. It’s not just about the gameplay or your match outcomes, but also ranking, matchmaking, leaderboards, statistics, and achievements.NCORE is a PvPvE shooter with a plethora of carefully crafted components: unique locations, a dynamic arena, diverse enemies, and transforming weapons. Competitiveness and player statistics are also vital pillars in our game. If you haven't already, you’ll be able to take a look at the ratings during the next alpha yourselves: a table containing various stats, both personal and general. You can find it in the Profile tab. NCORE’s interface and its elements are still a work in progress, some things might look different in the future game versions.The overview will show the first 100 players and their ranks in the last 30 days. The rank de…
- Gadgets in NCORE: Arsenal of the future. Part 2 - 23 October 2025
Read part 1 for the overview, ways of obtaining the gadgets, and the main usage mechanics.Balance and limitsWe deliberately limit players to one gadget at a time. This decision is driven by several reasons:Balance – unlimited gadget use without cooldowns would give players a significant advantage (e.g., a “grasshopper” constantly using rocket boots or stacking barricades would be near unstoppable).Specialization – each team member should fulfill their role rather than be a universal soldier. The developers want players to interact more and assist each other. This improves teamwork efficiency in both PvP and PvE battles.Preventing overpowering combos – some gadget combinations in the hands of a single player could disrupt the game’s dynamics. Our motto is “One gadget per player!”In the future, gadgets may be split into “lethal” and “support” categories, allowing players to take one of ea…
- Gadgets in NCORE: Arsenal of the future. Part 1 - 20 October 2025
In modern shooters, gadgets have long ceased to be just additional tools — they have become key elements of strategy. In Payday, explosives and electronic locks allow for quick and stealthy bank heists. In Battlefield, anti-tank mines, medkits, and portable turrets define a soldier’s role in the squad. These mechanics don’t just add variety — they force players to carefully plan every operation, selecting gear for specific tasks. In NCORE, gadgets support this idea as unique devices that can turn the tide of battle in seconds.NCORE ArsenalCurrently, the game features seven gadgets, each with unique properties and scenarios:Grenade – a classic thrown projectile that deals damage in an explosion radius.Jet Jump – footwear with an instant impulse that launches the player into the air and grants control over the descent trajectory.Barricade – an energy-based shelter that can be used for def…
- Transformable weapons in NCORE. Part 4 - 17 October 2025
Read part 1 to learn about the reasoning and inspirations for the weapon transformations.Read part 2 to learn more about the development process.Read part 3 to learn about how the players influence what weapons appear in-game.How are weapons obtained in the game? A vast array of weapons can be found in the game by defeating the mobs guarding them or taking them from rival gladiators.Unique weapons can be acquired by defeating bosses. Currently, there are three bosses in the game — one for each hex theme. Defeating the Juggernaut rewards players with a machine gun, the Witch drops the Lightning Gun, and the Zombie-location boss yields a grenade launcher. Be warned: during the alpha test, there may be fewer bosses and unique weapons available. Uniqueness lies not only in power but also in gameplay. A gladiator wielding such a gun stands out, so taking on a boss is definitely worth it.How…
- Transformable weapons in NCORE. Part 3 - 13 October 2025
Read part 1 to learn about the reasoning and inspirations for the weapon transformations.Read part 2 to learn more about the development process.Are player suggestions considered in weapon design?From the very beginning, the team has worked closely with players. Many refinements and adjustments stem from feedback gathered in focus groups. For example, players immediately loved the transformable weapon mechanics, but the initial 2-second transformation time had to be shortened — a tough challenge since the team wanted to preserve both the transformation principle and the cool animations.The Wolverine claws, which the pistol transforms into, only stayed in the game because of positive player feedback. The team initially thought the pistol needed reworking to morph into something else.After every playtest, all feedback is analyzed and turned into tasks for different dev teams, who systemat…
- The alpha test is over! - 9 October 2025
Friends!The alpha test is officially over. Thank you everyone who's taken part and shared their feedback with us!The server is closed but we're still here. Our social media will continue broadcasting as per usual, there'll be new articles about the game and its development. Furthermore, we'll soon talk about the test's results and our plans for the future.If you liked NCORE, keep an eye out for the game's updates to not miss the next testing stages. See you soon in the arena 🙌
- The alpha test is coming to an end! - 7 October 2025
Friends!Note, that the current testing stage of NCORE is coming to an end. The servers will close on October 9th at 7:00 UTC. Make sure you've managed to get all the rewards from the Path of the Gladiator battle pass — all the items you unlock will be credited to your accounts once the game releases.And don't forget about our feedback form. If you want the devs to know your opinions about the game, please fill out this survey 👈We wish you all amazing battles in the arena!
- Alpha test: Bug fixes - 3 October 2025
Friends! Thanks to every test participant for being so active and leaving so much feedback! We're trying to implement fixes to the issues you've pointed out as fast as we can, that's why the teleporting and "throw back" issues are now fixed. It should be more comfortable to play today. We continue monitoring your comments and are looking forward to seeing you in the arena!🙌
- The alpha test is now live! - 2 October 2025
Gladiators!The alpha test is finally live. You can now step into the arena, test your skills and show us the real champion. Make sure you have these checked off your list: you’ve applied for the alpha, downloaded the client, have your favorite drink by your side. Now you’re all set for some action! If you haven’t applied for the test yet, you still have the chance — the system will quickly check your info and send you a notification. Don’t wait around for too long, the testing time is limited and will last until the end of October 8th.Remember we talked about the very first Battle Pass in NCORE? All the rewards you’ll get in the “Path of the Gladiator” during the alpha will be credited to your accounts after the game release.Please note, the alpha test runs a very early stage of the game. You can still encounter some bugs and inconsistencies, some mechanics and features, like the charac…
- Installation is available for the alpha test! - 1 October 2025
Attention friends! You can now download the game. The servers will open at 8:00 UTC on October 2nd, so buckle up and get ready for some action!
- Path of the Gladiator — The First Battle Pass in NCORE - 29 September 2025
Gladiators!During the upcoming alpha test, you’ll have access to the Battle Pass — Path of the Gladiator. The rewards unlocked there will be credited to your account once the game launches. So now’s the time to learn the details.Gladiator’s Path is the first unique Battle Pass in NCORE, available to all players from the start of the second alpha test. Select the corresponding section in the main menu to check out the rewards.The Battle Pass is divided into three pages with different sets of rewards. To unlock items, you’ll need glory points. The main way to earn them is to complete daily and weekly challenges. You can view and track them in the Quests tab available in the main menu.Once you’ve collected enough fame points, you can unlock the items you’re interested in by clicking the Claim Reward button. Rewards don’t have to be unlocked in order — you can choose any rewards you can aff…
- Alpha Test start on October 2nd - 25 September 2025
Friends, The last checks are done, the mobs are geared up, armor shines, and the NCORE hexadrome is ready to accept its visitors! The alpha test starts on October 2nd at 8:00 UTC and will last until the end of October 8th. To participate, you’ll have to Request Access to join the playtest on our store page. All requests will be processed a day before the test. On October 1st, 7:00 UTC you’ll be able to install the game. Don’t forget to download NCORE beforehand to be among the first ones in! If you have any questions, feel free to send them in the discussions thread about the alpha test. See you in NCORE!
- Transformable weapons in NCORE. Part 2 - 22 September 2025
Read part 1 to learn about the reasoning and inspirations for the weapon transformations.What transforms into what, and why?When designing transformations, the team adhered to the law of conservation of mass: you can’t turn a bulky AK into a tiny knife or get a two-handed sword from a pistol. Additionally, we wanted variety in melee weapon types to ensure each one offered a unique gameplay experience — and it seems we succeeded. There’s a pistol that transforms into Wolverine-style claws, a Desert Eagle that becomes a karambit, a revolver that morphs into a butcher’s cleaver, a sniper rifle that turns into a spear, and a shotgun that shifts into a macuahuitl — a Mesoamerican weapon lined with shark teeth (comment below if this is the first time you’ve heard that word too). This means every weapon a player encounters will provide a distinct experience not just in ranged combat but in mel…
- Transformable weapons in NCORE. Part 1 - 18 September 2025
Hi everyone!Today, we’ll start talking about one of NCORE’s key aspects—transformable weapons. We’ll break down how this works, what tactical possibilities it opens, and how it influences the course of battles.Transformable weapons in NCOREThe role of weapons in shooters cannot be overstated. They hold a central place both conceptually and visually — what a character fires from is almost always in the player’s line of sight. That’s why it’s crucial to approach every aspect of weapon design with utmost seriousness: appearance, firing sound, recoil mechanics, damage, and more.A weapon can serve as the foundation for a game's core mechanics, much like the portal gun in the Portal series. Some weapons become so beloved by players that they stand alongside the main characters — just like the crowbar and gravity gun from Half-Life.In NCORE, players step into the arena as gladiators — so how d…
