There’s a lot going on in January, as Amazon just announced a huge bot banwave which affected the game’s concurrent player stats, and next week brings the Witcher crossover event, featuring a brand new island with quests and characters from the franchise, not to mention the cosmetics (including free ones, Twitch drops, and store items)!

Bots (Source)

Heroes of Arkesia,

This week, many players have noticed a drop off in the number of concurrent users displayed in Lost Ark’s Steam stats. This change is the direct result of a roll out of a significant number of bot account bans, which utilized new and highly-effective tactics to target and remove bots from the game.

Players should expect these bot bans to have a positive impact on gameplay, including improved Market and Auction House experiences, decreased lag in heavily populated areas, and fewer bots present in the game.

In the coming months, we will continue to deploy large scale bot ban waves, implementing new methods of identifying and actioning against bots en masse. We will keep players updated about the deployment and impacts of these ban waves as they occur.

Thank you for your patience as we continue working to improve Lost Ark.

And the big Witcher January event:

Witcher Event (Source)

A beautiful island’s festivities have been interrupted by a mystifying vortex. Uncovering the mysteries will lead to encounters with iconic characters from The Witcher on an all-new island and in new event quests! The Lost Ark x The Witcher collaboration and event will begin on January 18 after weekly maintenance, and run until February 22.

As you work with Geralt, Ciri, Dandelion, Yennefer, and Triss through a series of story and daily quests, a variety of Witcher themed items are available as rewards. Quest rewards include Witcher Potions, 3 Jukebox songs, a new Card Set featuring 5 Witcher Characters, a Stronghold structure, Emoticons & Selfie Stickers, and even a Title!

Unlock the all-new event island by speaking with the Guild Investigator in major cities. Participating in the event requires completion of the [Set Sail!] Main Story Quest, which unlocks the ability to sail around Arkesia. With Main Quests & Daily Quests to be completed, players can use the Ocean Liner for quick trips to White Wolf Haven Island.

Gear up like Geralt and Ciri with new Witcher Themed cosmetics found in the in-game store— from a wallpaper to weapon skins to full outfits that add Witcher hairstyles, you’ll strike fear into the heart of all monsters in Arkesia. These special cosmetics aren’t the only way to look Witchery in the new year; a unique Twitch Drop with Witcher-inspired Mokoko skins accompanies the January update. Visit our Twitch Drops page or tune into your favorite Lost Ark content creator on Twitch after the update releases to learn more.

Learn more about the upcoming event on the release page, and find some of the unique cosmetics showcased below!