Crystalfall to Stress Test Servers in Open 24 Hour Playtest on Steam

Crystalfall will run a 24 hour Server Slam from December 17 to December 18 to test its game servers under real player load ahead of its planned Early Access launch. The test will be free to join on Steam and is designed to identify performance issues, server bottlenecks, and bugs while giving players hands-on access to the latest version of the game.

The Server Slam will run from 12 pm UTC on December 17 until 12 pm UTC on December 18. During this window, players are encouraged to log in, play for extended sessions, and push the servers as much as possible. The studio behind the game, Cold River Games, says the goal is to ensure a stable experience when Crystalfall enters Early Access in early 2026.

What is Crystalfall and Who is Developing it?

Crystalfall is an upcoming free to play action RPG developed by Swedish studio Cold River Games. The game draws inspiration from classic ARPGs such as Diablo and Path of Exile, with a focus on loot driven progression and deep character customization.

The setting is a post apocalyptic steampunk world. Players take on the role of mutated hybrids, combining technology and altered abilities while navigating hostile environments and enemy factions.

The studio’s team includes developers who have previously worked on established titles like:

• Path of Exile
• Stellaris
• Pillars of Eternity

How does blockchain technology fit into Crystalfall?

Blockchain technology is expected to play a supporting role in Crystalfall’s economy. While not all details have been disclosed, Cold River Games has indicated that Avalanche is likely to power the game’s blockchain systems.

According to CEO Åke André, the focus is on maintaining a secure and transparent game economy. In loot driven ARPGs, item ownership and trade integrity are critical.

André has said that while blockchain is not suitable for all games, it can enhance barter economies in ARPGs by supporting secure asset tracking and exchange.

The design intent is for blockchain systems to operate in the background, supporting game mechanics rather than dominating gameplay.

What is the Crystalfall Server Slam?

The Server Slam is a large scale, time limited playtest meant to simulate launch conditions. Unlike smaller closed tests, this event is open to all players on Steam and runs continuously for 24 hours.

Cold River Games says the focus is not on showcasing a finished product, but on testing infrastructure in a live environment. The studio has been clear that the game is still in active development and not launch ready.

In its announcement, the team stated that holding the Server Slam early gives developers time to adjust server capacity, optimize performance, and fix critical issues before Early Access goes live.

Players can join at any point during the 24 hour period and are encouraged to play for as long as possible. Cold River Games recommends at least one hour of playtime, or reaching the first encampment, to help generate meaningful server data.

Players joining the test should expect bugs, performance drops, and possible server interruptions. These outcomes are part of the test and are actively being monitored by the development team.

What Can Players Expect During the Server Slam?

The Server Slam version of Crystalfall includes all features planned for Early Access. This gives players a broad look at the game’s systems while also pushing server load across combat, crafting, progression, and world exploration.

During the test, players will be able to:

• Explore new world zones added since the last playtest
• Create and customize characters from scratch
• Try the new Technomancer class
• Craft and upgrade items
• Access shared storage through the stash system
• Test combat, skills, and talent trees

Cold River Games has emphasized that no progress will carry over. Characters from previous tests will be wiped, and all progress made during the Server Slam will be reset before Early Access.

This approach allows the team to freely adjust systems without affecting long term progression.

Why is Server Stress Testing Important for ARPGs?

Action role playing games place heavy demands on servers, especially during launch windows. Combat calculations, loot drops, skill effects, and player movement all require real time processing.

In online ARPGs, server issues often appear only under high concurrency. Problems such as login queues, desync, rubber banding, and failed instance creation are difficult to detect in small tests.

By running a Server Slam, Cold River Games can observe:

• Peak concurrent player limits
• Instance creation speed
• Stability during combat heavy scenarios
• Database load from loot and crafting actions
• Account creation and login performance

This kind of testing mirrors what established ARPGs like Path of Exile and Diablo have done ahead of major launches.

How do Players Access the Crystalfall Server Slam?

Access to the Server Slam is handled entirely through Steam and is limited to Windows PC.

To join the Server Slam, players need to:

• Open Steam and search for Crystalfall
• Navigate to the Playtest section under the game trailer
• Click the Request Access button
• Receive automatic approval
• Download and launch the game
• Create a Crystalfall account

Players who participated in earlier playtests are advised to reinstall the game if they encounter access issues. This ensures the latest build is installed.

Cold River Games has also asked players to report issues through its Discord support channels, especially server related problems and early game blocking bugs.

What is the Technomancer Class?

One of the major additions available during the Server Slam is the Technomancer class.

The Technomancer uses staff based combat and blends technological tools with elemental or energy based abilities. It expands Crystalfall’s class variety and offers a different playstyle compared to previously tested builds.

Alongside the new class, players can explore:

• Expanded talent trees
• Lootable skills
• New progression paths

These systems are still being tuned, making player feedback during the Server Slam especially valuable.

How Does this Test Relate to Crystalfall’s Funding and Roadmap?

The Server Slam follows a $2 million funding round announced by Cold River Games last August. The round was led by Beam Investments and included participation from Partnerinvest Norr, CoinFund, the Avalanche Foundation, and A100X.

Avalanche’s involvement has fueled expectations that it will underpin Crystalfall’s blockchain features.

Gaming Lead at Avalanche Parker Heath described the project as a strong bet on the direction of gaming infrastructure, while André noted that raising funds in the current web3 environment was challenging for many studios.

The funding is being used to support continued development, infrastructure testing, and preparation for Early Access.

Crystalfall is expected to launch on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, with Early Access currently targeted for early 2026.

Conclusion

Crystalfall’s 24 hour Server Slam on December 17–18 is a large-scale infrastructure test designed to prepare the game for Early Access. The test gives players access to all planned Early Access features, including the new Technomancer class, while allowing developers to evaluate server stability under real world conditions. 

Progress will not carry over, and bugs are expected. The event reflects a methodical approach to launch readiness, backed by recent funding and a development team with experience in established ARPGs.

Resources:

1. Crystalfall on X: Announcement (December 2025)

2. Crystalfall website: General information

3. Blog article by Crystalfall: Help Us Gear Up for Launch During the Crystalfall Server Slam!

4. Report by NFT Plazas: Cold River Games Raise $2M For Web3 ARPG Crystalfall