ArcheAge Chronicles starts Steam Early Access on 3 Nov, 3pm PT (4 Nov, 9am AEST)

XLGAMES says ArcheAge Chronicles will launch in Early Access on Steam, for PC, on 3 November at 3pm PT (4 Nov, 9am AEST). Pre-orders are open. Steam lists the Early Access price as US$29.99 and A$43.95.

The company says Early Access will have three regions, four classes and eight weapons, two for each class. MMORPG.com lists the classes as Mage, Ranger, Warrior and Berserker. Early Access content includes exploration, dungeons, raids, player-versus-player, housing, crafting, trading and company and guild activities.

XLGAMES expects Early Access to last roughly nine to 12 months. The full release is planned to add more regions, gender options (introduced gradually, starting with select classes), a third weapon for each class and balance changes. Pre-orders get the Dawn Pioneer Set, a costume for one class of the buyer's choice.

The studio also says the game finished fifth on Steam's Most Played Demos list at the end of the Steam Next Fest in October, which ran from 19 to 26 Oct. That ranking is XLGAMES's claim, repeated by Gematsu and MMORPG.com.