Dev Blog #4: This Is Big!

Hello all you sexy people! We're incredibly excited to see so many of you eagerly awaiting the upcoming Alpha 1 test on October 25th. Your enthusiasm and support have been the driving force behind our hard work, and we want to give you the best possible experience in 3XO. But I’ve got a little update that’s a mix of "good news" and "here’s the thing…"

So, here's the deal...

Unreal Engine recently dropped their version 5.5 preview build. This is like giving us a supercharged rocket engine to upgrade the game—especially for our character models and performance. We’re talking about going from 30 FPS to 60+ FPS. Yeah, it's that good! But as you can imagine, big performance boosts like this come with a catch—namely, we’ve gotta rework some of our character systems to make it all happen. And right now, 5.5 is still in preview mode, which means we’re sitting in a weird limbo where we have some work to do and we’ve got to wait for the stable release.

Now, here’s the part I know might sting a bit: With all the changes we need to make, the Avatar Editor—one of the first fully finished systems we had—will be temporarily disabled during Alpha 1. I know, I know, it sounds ridiculous. “But you finished that a year ago! Why are you going backwards?!” Trust me, it’s not because we’re being indecisive or adding extra fluff just to slow things down. It’s because Unreal Engine 5.5 gives us such a massive performance boost with Nanite for skeletal meshes that we need to rework the whole system to take full advantage of it. And once it’s done, you’ll be glad we made this decision because it’s going to make everything smoother, faster, and better overall.

Let me say this clearly: This isn’t “feature creep.” We’re not endlessly adding more bells and whistles just to delay the game. We’re laser-focused on delivering the best possible game. Nanite for skeletal meshes is an absolute game-changer. This isn't just "a shiny new toy" - this is the #1 feature we've been desperately wishing for since we first began using Unreal Engine. It's the crucial, magic bullet that slays the biggest performance problem plaguing 3XO (which is high-poly Daz assets). We’re confident this temporary rollback is a necessary step to give you the best experience down the line.

So, what does this mean for October 25th?

On that day, we’ll be rolling out Alpha 1 as planned. You’ll still be able to dive into 3XO, explore, party, socialize, dance, chat, emote, and everything else—but without the full Avatar Editor for now. While we wait for Unreal Engine 5.5 to come out of preview mode and finish our character model optimizations, your feedback on the rest of the game during this phase will be crucial.

Here’s what you can expect in Alpha 1:

• Full access to the world: You’ll still be able to log in, hang out, and experience a lot of what makes 3XO special.
• A few features temporarily offline: Some systems, including the full Avatar Editor, will be disabled so we can make them future-proof with the Unreal 5.5 update.
• Your feedback matters: You’ll be helping shape the future of 3XO by testing what’s live and letting us know what works, what doesn’t, and what you want to see next.

Introducing Alpha 1.5: Double the Testing, Double the Fun

Once Unreal Engine 5.5 is stable and we’ve finished integrating all these sweet new upgrades, we’ll be launching an additional Alpha 1.5 test. Here’s the exciting part: Alpha 1.5 will be available to anyone who has access to Alpha 1—no extra cost, no hassle. It’s a bonus round of testing!

What does this mean for you?

• More access: You get double the time to play, test, and experience 3XO.
• Double the feedback: Your feedback will continue to shape the game in Alpha 1.5, as we’ll be introducing reworked features and upgrades.
• Double the fun: Two testing phases mean more chances to explore, party, and help us perfect the 3XO experience.

We wanted to make sure you’re getting as much value as possible out of your access, and Alpha 1.5 is our way of saying thanks for sticking with us through this exciting journey.

UE 5.5 Fancy Materials Preview

We know this news is a bummer, so here's a preview of some more cool stuff for you to look forward to in the 5.5 version of 3XO!

You may have been wondering what the heck is going on with the cover image of this blog post. What is that weird galactic man? That's a 3XO avatar!

Unreal Engine 5.5 has some substantial changes to its material system, and previously we were unable to use these very special and cool effects with our Daz character models. But now we can!

This galaxy material can be applied to your avatar's skin, hair, tattoos, and clothing. You will also be able to use it on objects in the World Editor! This material, and many other cool ones (fiery auras, shadowy smoke, magic, etc.) will be available when 3XO launches!

I get it—hearing that the Avatar Editor is on pause might feel like we’re taking a step backwards. But I promise you, this is all part of a massive leap forward. By integrating these Unreal Engine 5.5 upgrades now, we’re ensuring that the final Alpha 1.5 (and beyond) will run smoother, faster, and be way more optimized. Trust us—when the full experience is ready with Unreal Engine 5.5, it’s going to blow you away.

Thank you all for your patience, understanding, and support. You’re the heart of this game, and we’re so excited to share what we’ve been working on with you. Get ready for Alpha 1 on October 25th—it’s going to be a wild ride. And stay tuned for Alpha 1.5, where you’ll get to experience the full power of Unreal Engine 5.5.

Thanks again for sticking with us, you sexy legends. We can’t wait to see you in Alpha 1!