The free-to-play open-world RPG NTE (Neverness to Everness) just started its Containment Test, a closed beta showing off the big changes Hotta Studio has made since the last technical test. They’ve leveled up pretty much everything—better graphics, new gameplay mechanics, racing features, revamped combat, and more.
Exploring the Dual World of Hethereau
NTE is set in Hethereau, a huge city that’s like two worlds mashed together. Above ground, it’s a shiny urban hub where people go about their daily routines. Below, it’s a chaotic underworld twisted by weird, reality-bending anomalies. You play as an unlicensed Anomaly Hunter, diving into these odd events to track down and stop them.
Hethereau has always been a standout, built in Unreal Engine 5 for seamless exploration across its massive map. The latest updates take it up a notch with a full visual glow-up. The city’s details are sharper, the look is fresher, and lighting and environmental effects have been improved.
Enhanced Visuals and Weather Effects
Lighting and shadows now have more depth, especially noticeable as the day shifts to night naturally. You’ll also deal with changing weather—fog, rain, or snow—as you move through the city. Snow, in particular, looks more realistic thanks to physically based rendering, making snowflakes appear translucent and lifelike.
Characters got a visual upgrade too. Their clothes and hair have more detailed textures, making them stand out even more in the game’s anime-style art.
Smoother Combat and New Mechanics
You’ll build a team of four characters for anomaly-hunting missions, each with unique skills called Esper Abilities. You control one character at a time but can swap between them during fights to chain abilities and create powerful combos.
The latest update makes combat feel smoother, with reworked actions, skills, and overall flow. New moves like parry attacks and critical dodge counterattacks add more depth to battles.
Getting Around Hethereau
Your characters’ Esper Abilities aren’t just for fighting—they help you get around the city too. Some let you sprint up buildings or parkour to move fast. You can also use ziplines to reach hidden spots. Plus, with help from Mint at the Bureau of Anomaly Control, you can “borrow” cars.
Car customization has always been a thing in NTE. You can tweak colors, tires, bumpers, engines, and more to make your ride your own. Drive in first- or third-person with tons of custom car options.
The new update lets you requisition cars anywhere in the city with Mint’s help, which is handy for zipping between missions if your own car isn’t nearby. But watch out—if you wreck the car or cause trouble, you’ll attract attention. A new wanted system means police and bots will chase you, getting tougher as your wanted level climbs. Check out the video below to see it in action.
Multiplayer Racing and Drifting
Got a car? Take it online and team up with friends to race against street crews in different city districts—a fresh feature in this update. You can drift too, but wet or snowy roads make handling trickier, so drive carefully.
What’s Next for NTE
The Containment Test runs until July 16, and Hotta Studio will use player feedback to make more tweaks. NTE will launch as a free-to-play game on PC, consoles, iOS, and Android, with progress shared across all platforms. You can pre-register now, and for updates, check out their Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Discord.
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