Flyway Games, a subsidiary of Krafton Inc. (creators of PUBG: Battlegrounds), released a free Steam demo for the new game： Ascend to Zero, an roguelike action title centered around time-stopping mechanics. Set in a fractured multiverse where alien invaders have destroyed dimensional portals, players assume the role of a soldier repeatedly rewinding time to rescue allies and prevent apocalyptic collapse.

Time-Loop System

Players infiltrate alien-occupied past timelines, to gather resources and upgrade gear within strict time limits.

Just like most of Roguelike game, Failed runs return survivors to a devastated underground bunker, resetting character levels but retaining partial equipment.

Rescued allies unlock permanent base upgrades, adding meta-progression layers to offset roguelike attrition.

Battle Mechanics

Ascend to Zero distinguishes itself through its real-time combat fused with tactical pauses:

Auto-Attack System: Weapons fire automatically while allowing manual directional aiming for precision strikes.

Chronal Mastery: Freeze time to reposition, dodge attacks via dash maneuvers, or chain skills like temporal fragmentation blasts.

Second-Chance Resurrection: Players can revive mid-combat using residual timeline energy if HP depletes, adding risk-reward tension.

Demo & Development Roadmap

Currently available in Korean, English, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese, the Steam demo (2-4 hour playtime) focuses on:

Core loop refinement across two biomes: Collapsed City and Alien Hive.

Community feedback integration for skill balancing and enemy behavior.

Flyway confirms plans to expand with additional dimensions and multiplayer rescue ops in full release.

Ascend to Zero joins Krafton's growing portfolio of experimental mid-core titles. The demo is free-to-play on Steam, with a 2025 target launch window.