Why Early Access?

“Because this visual novel was originally conceived as a large, episodic project.

Cycle of Struggle: Ardengrad is not a short visual novel, but a multi-act story with branching trajectories and a shared final destination. A project of this scope cannot be created and released all at once without losing either depth or the audience’s attention.

Early Access makes it possible to release the game in parts, without breaking the dialogue with players, and to develop the story consistently, act by act.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“We anticipate that the project will remain in Early Access until approximately 2032.

Given the project's scale, the timeline depends on the sequential release of all key acts. We do not tie development to rigid formal deadlines: each new act is released only when it is complete, both dramaturgically and technically.

Early Access, in this case, is envisioned as a process of gradually unfolding the visual novel, rather than a promise of a fixed release schedule.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“The full version is planned to present the complete story of the project: all acts, key branching paths, and the final convergence of all plotlines. It is this version that is intended to fully realize the game’s philosophical and narrative ideas.

We also plan for further refinement of the writing, pacing, and the choice-and-consequence systems, as well as the visual and audio elements, incorporating feedback gathered during the Early Access period.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The Early Access version currently includes the first act — a complete and self-contained narrative block.

It introduces the world, the characters, and the core conflicts, and lays the foundation for future choices. This is a fully structured part of the story that also serves as the exposition for the entire cycle.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“Yes. The price is planned to increase gradually as the project moves closer to its full release.

This is intended as a form of respect toward those who purchased the game earlier and supported the project at its initial stage of development.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“Through attentive work with player feedback.

We monitor how players perceive the story, characters, choices, and their consequences, and use this feedback when refining future acts.

The community does not determine the plot directly, but it influences how clearly and precisely it works. This is a focused dialogue, and it is important for the project’s development.

To share feedback and suggestions, players can reach us via Telegram and Discord, where we regularly review messages and discuss game impressions.”