WhenCrystal of Atlan’sdevelopment team agreed to chat with us for an interview, I wasn’t expecting to hear about how they decided to reinvent the MMO wheel through three fundamental design pillars. But here we are, talking about a cross-platform MMOARPG that manages to blend aerial combat, magicpunk aesthetics, and genuine social mechanics without feeling like a Frankenstein’s monster of game design decisions - all built around controls, strategy, and social interaction. And the best part? You can dive into this innovative experience completely free!
The team behind COA has spent the better part of two years refining their vision in Mainland China, and now they’re ready to unleash their “rebellion against traditional MMO structures” on a global audience. With their launch now live and partnerships with Team Liquid already locked in, this is a studio that has bet everything on the idea that players are hungry for something genuinely different. Let’s hear it from the home team.
Gameplay & System Design
Q: Unlike many other games, classes are available for free. What inspired this design choice, and how do you ensure that both free-to-play and paying players enjoy a satisfying gameplay experience?
First off, it’s important to clarify that Crystal of Atlan is not a gacha game with anime vibes. Our core gameplay really centers around the combat system—the interplay between classes, skills, and gear builds. We’ve built the main game experience around fast-paced, action-oriented stage battles that really emphasize player skill. That’s why we madeall classes freefrom day one. We really want players to have the freedom to dive in and experiment with all the different skill combos each class offers, without having to worry about any kind of acquisition barriers.
We’re not doing the old-school MMO where all you do is stack your stats and spam skills.
Visually, we’ve gone with a magicpunk art style. It’s a pretty distinct departure from usual anime-style games on the market. Our characters have more realistic facial features, lifelike proportions, and sharper muscle definitions. That visual direction supports our focus on satisfying action combat—it just fits better with the feel of an ACT title.
Crystal of Atlan is an MMOARPG at its core, with the ARPG part bringing all the fast, satisfying combat and skill expression you’d expect.
We’re not doing the old-school MMO where all you do is stacking your stats and spamming your skills. Our game is all about class variety, skill synergy, and actual player control. We’ve also taken cues from WoW-style team coordination for PvE and mixed it with that satisfying, crunchy feel of a Diablo-style action game. No matter how you label it, MMO or Action, Crystal of Atlan definitely stands out from the crowd.
Q. How does character progression work in Crystal of Atlan? Is there a traditional leveling system, or do you have a different approach?
We’ve structured Crystal of Atlan around this positive loop of “dungeon exploration, resource gathering, and powering up.” Players jump into the stages, grab all sorts of upgrade materials, and that then fuels everything, from leveling up their skills and crafting better gear to unlocking and deepening the pet system and other cool features. It’s all about that cycle of getting stronger by exploring and collecting.
Upgrading your skills doesn’t just make fights look cooler—it seriously boosts your combat performance as well. As you unlock more gear and pet options, your power really starts to skyrocket. Ultimately, players can continuously push their character’s limits through three main avenues: teaming with different classes, advancing their skills, and strategically building their gear. Our goal is to create a progression system that not only feels rewarding but also lets players really tailor their builds based on their own strategies.
Q. Could you share the innovations behind the aerial combat system, and how you refined the fast-paced combat experience?
We really want the combat in Crystal of Atlan to be more than just visually appealing—it’s gotta be fun to play too! So, in terms of design, we’ve moved away from that traditional MMO ground-based, stand-and-attack style. We’ve brought incombat on the Z-axis, which means you get this whole 3D fighting system with things like aerial dodges, attacking while airborne, and even pulling off aerial combos. It adds a whole new dimension to the battles.
This way, players can nimbly jump into the air to dodge attacks or keep the pressure on enemies with smooth aerial combos. The whole flow needs to be really fluid and fast-paced, which seriously boosts how responsive it feels and the impact of your hits. Meanwhile, we’ve really emphasized the 3D layout of all our maps and tied it into the story, creating all sorts of varied environments like Wonderland and the Chrome Military Factory. This is how combat and exploration really blend together, adding a lot more depth to how you play.
To make all that work, we’ve put a ton of effort into fine-tuning the core mechanics. Things likehow hits register, the physics of collisions, and the feedback when you knock an enemy back.We’ve also focused on making the immediate feedback super satisfying through animations, sound effects, and all that. We want every action you take to feel real and just plain fun.
Q. As a cross-platform MMO Action RPG, how did you ensure fair and effective collaboration between PC and mobile players during aerial battles?
We’ve always wanted to keep that satisfying, punchy combat feel, but the big challenge was figuring out how to bring high-quality console-level feedback and combo smoothness onto mobile platforms.
While working on the mobile version, we specifically tweaked the skill system for touch-based interactions. Take the 12 skills each class can equip, for instance. We designed the control area in a fan shape that naturally fitswhere your fingers move, splitting it into primary and secondary skill bars. This makes sure your thumb can handle everything within a relatively fixed area without having to constantly move around the screen.
On top of that, to make combos easier, we added amulti-functional input systemthat allows one key to do more than one thing. For example, a single button can dynamically switch between different skill outputs depending on the cooldown, and a long press would bring up a sub-menu with more options. These designs not only make things less clunky but also open up more possibilities for skill combos. At the same time, some skills have afull 360-degree area of effect, which makes them easier to aim and helps more players pull off cool combos without needing super precise controls.
For the cross-platform experience, we’ve made sure the game feels right on every platform, tailoring the controls for each one. On consoles, we polishedHUD, haptics, and visuals, and fully tapped into DualSense triggers and vibration to make combat feel more intense and immersive. At the UI level, we implemented global key mapping and acustomizable radial input systemto keep gamepad controls just as flexible and tactical.
Whether you’re on mobile or console/PC, we aim to provide you with a fair and immersive experience, letting everyone bring their best performance in cross-platform battles that are both highly intense and flexible.
Q. Balancing individual action with large-scale team cooperation is a challenge in any MMO. How did Crystal of Atlan find this balance, and what were the major technical hurdles along the way?
We’ve always believed that social interaction is what really defines an MMORPG. From the get-go, one of our primary goals was to balance skill-based ARPG gameplay with a focus on teamwork in MMOs.
Unlike many MMOARPGs, we opted for a fully 3D, free-view camera to enhance both immersion and freedom of control. As for players who are sensitive to 3D visuals, we also added a toggleable top-down view for a smoother experience across the board. The top-down view gives you a better field of vision, so it’s easier to track teammates and dodge attacks. This is pivotal in maintaining Crystal of Atlan’s action-oriented combat fidelity while preserving distinct class specializations.
Ouraction systemincludes a robust Z-axis combat framework, introducing airborne dodges and aerial combos that take the battle from 2D to 3D. By integrating basic movement mechanics such as jump and dodge with skill-driven interactions, players gain access to high-mobility maneuvering and precise hit feedback. Features like stagger, knockback, sounds, and enemy response animations all boost the thrill of each encounter.
For PvE, we’ve created athree-tier dungeon system, each with its own level of difficulty and cooperative mechanics—you’ll really feel the difference.Adventure Modefocuses on story and world immersion, combining combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving to introduce players to the setting and gradually guide the new players into the game.
Void Realmis where things get tough—you’ll need to read boss patterns and work together with multiple characters to survive. InCo-op Dungeonssuch asHexChess, which supports 4-8 players, mastering positioning, timing, and skill syncing is key, and you will really need to know your boss’s mechanics.
Our vision for Crystal of Atlan is to combine combat freedom in action games with strategic class-based collaboration so that every class and playstyle matters when working together. That mix of personal skill and team coordination is exactly what we’re always working to fine-tune in the combat system.
Q. For MMO players, multiplayer socialization and cooperation are at the heart of the experience. What specific features or systems has the development team implemented inCrystal of Atlanto enhance player interaction and social gameplay?
To us, high-quality social interactions aren’t driven by rigid systems but by the emotional connections formed through shared goals and collaborative challenges. That’s why the core of Crystal of Atlan’s social system is built around co-op dungeons.
Within the game, most of your loot and resources come from clearing dungeons. Therefore, we use a shared reward system, so as long as your team clears the run, everyone gets solid and similar loot. This alignment of interests naturally incentivizes cooperation among players.
Additionally, our dungeon systems incorporate numerous interaction-based mechanics requiring synchronized team coordination. These mechanics test your own skills and your team’s coordination and class assignments. Unlike solo runs, co-op dungeons are all about working together to solve problems, which makes every run feel way more rewarding and fulfilling.
Through all this, players naturally start building genuine and deeper bonds. Some become the team’s go-to mechanics experts, while others step up as mentors for newcomers in dungeons or strategists for builds. And through tough dungeon runs, players become true comrades who’ve fought side by side and trust each other.
Q. As an MMO,Crystal of Atlanfeatures a Fleet (Guild) system. What role does the Fleet system play in shaping the overall gameplay experience?
To us, the real magic of an MMO isn’t just the battles—it’s the teamwork and the connections you build with others. The Fleet system, which functions as our guild feature, plays a key role in building the game’s social ecosystem. It provides not only a collaborative platform for co-op gameplay but also a social framework for emotional engagement and enduring player relationships.
A thriving community is a shared effort—players build it, and devs need to support it. To bring this to life, we’ve not only enhanced the Fleet feature but also put serious effort into community events and support. At launch, we partnered with Team Liquid, one of the biggest esports organizations out there, to join live dungeon runs and streams on Day 1 (May 28). By showing how the pros play, we want to get everyday players excited about team content and keep the community buzzing.
Of course, we also care deeply about making regular guilds feel involved and rewarded. Even during pre-registration, we kicked off an “Adventurers Assemble” event, where players could start or join Fleets early and build their squads. This gave players a sense of purpose and belonging right from the start—and by teaming up, they could win rare titles, cosmetics, gear, and even go head-to-head with top guilds.
In other words, the Fleet system is more than just a social hub—it’s a powerful tool for building stronger bonds and reinforcing our foundational principle of collaboration-driven content and socially sustained gaming cycle.
New Player Experience & Future Development
Q. Many MMOs evolve rapidly, sometimes overwhelming new players. How are you designing the new player experience to ensure later arrivals don’t feel left behind? Is there a “welcome ramp” of sorts?
Yeah, this is something we’ve been paying close attention to. After our February test, we received feedback from overseas players about the learning curve being a bit slow, so we’ve done a full overhaul of the newcomer experience. First off, we added a set of beginner dungeons early on—these are designed to help new players quickly get a grip on the gameplay, classes, and lore, making the intro experience clear and engaging.
From Day 1, Crystal of Atlan gives you five base classes to choose from right out of the gate. You can unlock any class for free when creating a character, and you can make up to 6 characters—with some gear and items shared between them to make multi-class play easier. To keep things flexible and fun, we unlock class change at level 15, with multiple branching paths, each with its own skill trees and combo systems. You can freely respec your skills anytime, or just use auto-build—perfect for both hardcore theorycrafters and new players still learning the ropes.
We want new players to feel rewarded and confident as they explore—not overwhelmed by complex systems and turned away.
Q. Five years from now, do you picture Atlan growing through new dungeons and classes, or branching into comics, animation…, maybe even tabletop nights?
Crystal of Atlan is a fully original title built from scratch—earning player trust and recognition without an existing IP is one of our biggest goals. Our top priority is making sure the game always has new stuff to explore, so players always feel engaged and accomplished throughout their journey. That’s why we’ll keep focusing on regular updates—adding new dungeons, classes, and systems to keep the MMO experience fresh and exciting.
At the same time, we’re also expanding into a broader content ecosystem around the game. For example, in August, we’re launching our very first official esports tournament—the COA Super Glenn Cup (CSGC) S1. The CSGC sets the foundation for our PvP+PvE “2+N” competitive system, and it’s our first big step toward bringing our esports brand to a global stage through a professional esports presence.
We’re taking cues from FPS and MOBA esports to make our tournaments fun to watch and easy to share, teaming up with social platforms to reach players worldwide.
We’re also working closely with top streamers, MMO experts, and tutorial creators to build out a rich stream of PvP battles, dungeon guides, and meta breakdowns. We’re putting real effort into supporting our creators—with tools, exposure, and platform backing to help them grow. An official Crystal of Atlan comic series is also in the works and will soon be released to further enrich the game’s universe.
Going forward, we’ll stick to a dual-focus approach: Keep improving the game itself while building a broader ecosystem through tournaments, streaming, and social platforms to evolve Crystal of Atlan into a long-lasting original franchise.
Worldbuilding & Inspiration
Q. What inspired the floating island world of Atlan? Were there specific artistic or literary influences behind this unique setting?
What we call “Magicpunk” is an original vision we came up with ourselves—born from a kind of creative spark within the team. Some of us are into Steampunk, and others are obsessed with fantasy and magic. We’ve got a mix of tastes on the team. So when those things came together, we started building a world that blends tech imagination with magical rules.
“Punk” stands for rebellion and defiance—it’s all about breaking the rules and overturning authority. That’s something we really wanted to show clearly through both the visuals and the story. In Crystal of Atlan, you’ll see a ton of bold contrasts in the settings. Players will traverse a world where refined, orderly cities coexist with chaotic underground ruins, Victorian architecture collides with futuristic aerotech, and arcane ruins and hyper-industrial marvels occupy the same skyline… These aren’t random mashups—they’re designed to serve the tension and contrast at the heart of the game’s lore.
We’ve also gone deep into how magic and machinery work together in the world. Crystal of Atlan’s universe operates on a magitech foundation—floating islands, mechanical cities, futuristic arcane-powered weapons, and bosses embodying magical consciousness within mechanical frameworks coexist.This fusion gives the classic industrial style a whole new vibe under magical tech and creates a unique visual and powerful structure for the world.
Our goal is to create more than just a cool-looking fantasy world—we want a deep, layered universe full of tension, contrast, and stories about humanity and destiny.
Q. Your lore teasers mention the World Pillar holding the skyborne continents together. Which myth or piece of literature first sparked that idea in the writing room?
We definitely took some inspiration, like the World Tree “Yggdrasill” from Norse mythology, which was seen as a sacred link between heaven and earth.
That said, Crystal of Atlan’s World Pillar is really our own reinterpretation of that idea. In our lore, this towering crystal column that spans the sky is the source of all magitech radiation and is the foundation of the entire story. The World Pillar’s always been there, constantly emitting radiation. It sparked the Magitech Revolution twice but also caused a dangerous disease called “Decay.” The Crystal, as the crystallized essence of the World Pillar’s power, became both the engine of technological advancement and the cause of factional conflicts and war. Is the World Pillar a blessing or a curse? Why did it explode, and what happens next? These questions lie at the heart of the story.
Q. What piece of non-game media (film, album, or novel) left fingerprints on Crystal of Atlan that players probably wouldn’t guess?
Hayao Miyazaki’s Castle in the Sky had a huge impact on our team. Its idea of floating island civilizations and the blend of steam tech and magic really inspired how we built our own floating world.
We were also heavily inspired by the “magitech” concept from early Japanese fantasy—it became a foundational pillar in our world design. It’s a tech system where magic powers machines—mysterious but also deeply rooted in a structured, advanced civilization. A great example is how Final Fantasy VII showcases Magitech in the game.
When it comes to “Punk,” we really leaned into its industrial vibe and rebellious tone, turning clashing civilizations and power struggles into the core of the player’s journey. These inspirations subtly defined the tone and characteristics of Crystal of Atlan, allowing us to push and innovate across visual design, storytelling, and gameplay systems.
With the convergence of these elements, Rhine City was born—a place where you can feel the tension and contrast between two seemingly parallel worlds locked in conflict. We also realized that this conflict-heavy world gave us more freedom to experiment with gameplay and design.
Development Journey & Creative Stories
Q. Every project has a “we did it!” milestone. What was yours – a first playable build, a successful beta boss fight, something else?
We’re a pretty young team—most of us were born in the ’90s and grew up as hardcore gamers. We lived through the golden era of PC MMOs like WoW, DNF, and Dragon Nest and got hooked on console action titles like Souls, Monster Hunter, and Devil May Cry. The more we played, the stronger the urge became to create a game of our own.
So, from the start, we agreed on three foundational principles: First and foremost, we must make a real action game with smooth controls, high mobility, and punchy combat, not just stat-stacking while standing in place and face-rolling keyboards. Next, we knew the game needed co-op multiplayer dungeons to bring back the thrill of teamwork and clearing raids together. Third, we wanted a fresh setting—Magicpunk—a mix of fantasy magic and industrial machinery to build a world like no other.
This isn’t just about cross-platform publishing—it’s a huge step up in tech and content quality for us.
Our real “We Did It” moment came when Crystal of Atlan officially launched in Mainland China in 2023. That was the moment we knew—everything we worked for, our passion and persistence, had paid off. And now, the game’s going global—and for the first time, it’s also launching onPlayStation 5, alongside mobile and PC. This isn’t just about cross-platform publishing—it’s also a huge step up in tech and content quality for us. We fine-tuned the HUD, controls, and visuals for PS5 to make sure console players get the smoothest, most immersive Action RPG experience possible. For us, this is another pivotal milestone on our journey.
Q. Were there any features or ideas that you loved but had to cut from the final global game version?
Frankly speaking, during the development of Crystal of Atlan’s global release, there wasn’t much content we needed to sacrifice or scale back. The game’s been live in Mainland China for almost two years, so the core gameplay,pacing, and monetization have all been tested and refined to a point we’re really happy with. That’s why we feel now is the perfect time to launch globally.
Of course, we know players overseas have different habits and preferences compared to players in Mainland China. With that in mind, we implemented a number of adjustments specifically for the global launch: For example, we sped up the overall content pacing, made character progression smoother, and improved gear build efficiency. All of this is aimed at providing global players with a smoother and more balanced experience.
Q. If you could drop new players into a single in-game location to capture your studio’s personality in ten seconds, where would it be and why?
It has to be Rhine City. In the world of Atlan, Rhine City is a sleek, modern metropolis. It has the second-largest port after the Empire, a top-tier Magitech Institute, and it’s also home to the Adventurers' Guild HQ. It symbolizes the values of inclusivity, exploration, and continual advancement, making it a city intrinsically aligned with the spirit of adventuring.
In many ways, that reflects our team’s personality as well. We’re all about being open, diverse, and freedom of expression. We want to break free from the traditional MMO structures, push the limits of Magicpunk, and go all-in on bold visuals and meticulously polished systems. Rhine City isn’t just where the journey begins—it’s a reflection of everything our team stands for in worldbuilding and gameplay innovation.
Crystal of Atlanisn’t just aiming for your time, it’s asking for your curiosity. From the tight, responsive combat system to a world that fuses Victorian machinery and arcane ruin into something distinctly new, there’s a clear throughline: care. Every dungeon mechanic, class synergy, and world detail is a result of a team that gives a damn.
And maybe that’s what sets it apart. It’s here to give players something worth investing in. Where it goes next is anyone’s guess. But what’s already clear is that this isn’t just another MMO. It’s a passion project with legs, wings, and a whole lot of ambition.
For more info on the world, classes, and features of Crystal of Atlan, you may check out theofficial website. Or to join the community and get news updates, you can follow them onTwitter,Facebook,TikTok, andDiscord.
Crystal of Atlanis now live onPC,Android,IOS, andPS5. Join the launch, form your Fleet, and start writing your own legend in the sky. You can download Crystal of Atlan for freehere.
