We’re excited to bring you some major updates, including new ways to showcase achievements and opportunities for early access. These changes are designed to reward our most active users and offer even more ways to get involved in shaping the future of Inkarnate.

Introducing Achievements and Badges!

We’re rolling out a new badges feature that highlights special achievements on your profile. We're launching the following achievements / badges now:

• Champions: For our top users who help shape Inkarnate.
• Explorers: For those participating in early access testing and feedback.
• Contest Winner: Awarded to users who win our map-making contests.
• Featured: Given to users with a map featured on our explore page.

We will be adding even more exciting achievements and badges in the future, so stay tuned for more!

Join the Inkarnate Explorers!

Many of you have asked for early access to new features and art—now’s your chance! We’re forming the Explorers group, a team of active users who will gain early access to new tools, features, and art, and provide valuable feedback in exclusive Explorers channels on our Discord.

Explorers will be selected for each season. There will be 4 seasons per year:

• Winter: Dec 1
• Spring: Mar 1
• Summer: Jun 1
• Fall: Sep 1 (this starts today)

At the beginning of each season we will select the new members based on activity.

As an Explorer:

• Get early access to new features and art
• Receive a badge on your profile
• Provide feedback that helps shape features and art before public release

We’re looking for users who are active in the community, regularly publish their work on their Inkarnate profile, and are engaged with the community on Discord. You should be open to exploring all the styles and features Inkarnate offers.

How to Apply?

Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/tZh6o2kNXnfH6QJZ7

Introducing Champions!

The existing Early Access group is evolving—meet the Champions, a handpicked selection of the most skilled and active Inkarnate users. Champions are chosen based on their exceptional contributions to the community and their ability to help shape Inkarnate’s future. Like the Explorers, Champions will follow a 4-season system.

Selection criteria for Champions:

• Exceptional map quality: Creating and publishing maps of the highest level of quality.
• Community involvement: Staying active on platforms like Discord, Reddit, or social media.
• Professionalism: Maintaining a positive and constructive attitude in all interactions.

Champions will also receive alpha access to in-development features and art, allowing them to be part of the creative process early on.

To help Champions give back to the wider community, we’ll host events like live streams and interviews, where everyone can engage with Champions, learn from them, and connect more closely—helping everyone to level up their skills.