Vampire is dead. There was only Sabbat, and a Sabbat faction focused on religion and a version of the Masquerade. There was no Camarilla, and no independents or anarchs. Caitiffs and Panders were banned. I don’t think it will pick up even if they make a new wizard. What they want to do with conflict just does not work with the realities of a Sabbat focused vampire sphere. I have never seen it work without an established Camarilla to fight. Without the Camarilla, it turns that aggression inwards or it dies to entropy. There was nothing happening before it closed.
Shifter is the largest sphere by more than 2 to 1, and most of that being Bete. Everything is open (even Rokea and Nagah) so you have as many were-hyenas as you do Shadow Lords. The novelty of a Bete focused shifter sphere is enough that I think any negatives will be overlooked. They apparently plan on adding were-bats to the roster.
Wyrm is Pentex-only (all characters employed by Pentex) and is restricted to Black Spiral Dancers, the Bete in the 20th Anniversary edition of Book of the Wyrm (so no Bastet, there are Histpah; no Corax, there are Buzzards; no Ratkin, there are Mad Destroyers), Malfean mages, and Kumo, the evil Chinese were-spiders from the old Hengeyokai book. Fomori are allowed, but only a special type of super-fomori. Scylla has been banned from games and is happy to show why.
Changeling is the second largest sphere and the most active. It’s Changeling, if you like Changeling and the sort of people who like Changeling. In contrast to the rest of the game, it is all very good guy focused. They allow normal Changelings, Inanimae, and some sort of special chimera from 20th Anniversary.
Mage is the smallest sphere but that usually is the case. The app is large. The Technocracy are good guys, but they murdered all non-white mages outside of the Traditions so the crafts are dead. Sorcerers exist, and Bygones are playable if part of a mage groups.
They are in “beta” so any of this could change. I do not expect that anything will. They seem to believe that the issues are not with their policies or theme decisions, but with people failing to appreciate them. The wiki is not optional and you will need to read most of it, and it is not pleasant to use or explore.
The conflict rules are and will be a problem. I understand where they come from but I have even seen people ask if cross sphere play is allowed at all and seen different answers. Shifter cannot turn to the Wyrm, a mage cannot turn Nephandi or change their allegiance, and vampires could not change sect or ghoul, bind, or embrace anyone but a mortal. They seem to expect a large game, but new players have already slowed a lot. Everyone I know stopped trying to recruit.
Tthe biggest red flag for me was the staff behavior. They make announcements about behavior - negativity, arguing, being passive-aggressive. I was not logged in often but I did often check the Discord. And every time I have seen someone being rude, being argumentative, being childish, it was always staff.
The game is very much a sandbox. If you are comfortable being a side character on a small game, you may enjoy it. It was not for me.
Using a one time account because I do not want anything to happen to the people that I was friends with.