Playtest
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How you (yes, you) can benefit from 1-on-1 synchronous playtesting
Designer Brian Cronin advocates for synchronous one-on-one playtesting, even for small teams, as an inexpensive and effective method for gathering actionable feedback. This approach helps developers understand player pain points, emotional impact, and can even foster early community by treating playtesters with care.
Ubisoft announces playstest platform The Player Council
Ubisoft has launched The Player Council, a new platform for players to test early game concepts, prototypes, and live PC titles, providing direct feedback to developers. The platform currently features projects like Codename Split Point, Codename Rook, Riders Republic, and Atomega, with more co-op titles planned for later this year. Participation is free but requires signing an NDA, with different access tiers unlocking more sensitive content based on player engagement.
State of Decay 3: Closed Beta Playtests Will Open the Game to Even More Players This Year
Undead Labs is expanding closed beta playtests for State of Decay 3 to more players and platforms throughout 2026, ahead of its 2027 launch. The game will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, cloud, Steam, and PlayStation 5, and will be included with Game Pass. These playtests aim to stress-test and fine-tune the game's systems, including its untethered multiplayer and largest map to date.
Persist Online’s next playtest has begun – and you’re going to want to join a guild to make the most of it
Cipsoft has announced that the next playtest for Persist Online has begun and will run until September 2, 2026. The focus of this test is Guild PvP sectors, with specific time windows for contested stages. Players are strongly encouraged to join or create a guild to participate effectively in sector capture events.
The Duskbloods Playtest Was Even More Popular Than Elden Ring Nightreign’s
FromSoftware producer Yasuhiro Kitao revealed that the playtest for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, The Duskbloods, received more sign-ups than Elden Ring's multiplayer experiment. Despite Elden Ring's massive success and availability on multiple platforms, The Duskbloods garnered higher interest on the Switch 2, a platform with a smaller user base. This increased interest may be due to the anticipation for Hidetaka Miyazaki's involvement and the mystery surrounding the game's mechanics.
I’m not a Psycho Invader – Beta Sign Up | Alpha Beta Gamer
I’m not a Psycho Invader is a high-stakes strategy game where players lead a university takeover, navigating obstacles and managing hostages to reach an extraction point before time runs out. Players can sign up for a beta playtest to try the game.
Koshmar The Last Reverie – Beta Sign Up | Alpha Beta Gamer
Koshmar The Last Reverie is a gothic action-adventure game where players control Violet, a mortician's daughter, navigating a city plagued by a sleeping sickness. Players must traverse between reality and the dream world, fighting through nightmare rifts and managing Violet's sanity, which affects her transformation. Beta sign-ups are now open for the playtest.
Pixel Frenzy – Open Beta | Alpha Beta Gamer
Pixel Frenzy is a high-energy first-person shooter featuring fully destructible environments where players can destroy structures to uncover secrets or create new attack routes. The game allows players to mix and match guns, skills, and modules to create a unique combat style. An open beta is currently available for players to request access.
Latest Dungeons & Dragons Underdark Unearthed Arcana Introduces Playable Mind Flayers
Wizards of the Coast has released new Dungeons & Dragons Unearthed Arcana playtest material focused on the Underdark setting. This update introduces rules that allow players to play as Mind Flayers, offering a new character option for tabletop roleplaying.
SurviRail Playtest Sign-Ups Are Now Open! news
Sign-ups for the SurviRail playtest are now open, allowing players to explore space stations, find blueprints and resources, and prepare a train for its next journey. The playtest will focus on testing core gameplay mechanics, particularly the train expansion system. Future updates include a public demo with an additional location and expanded mechanics.
SAGE the AI joins SAGE the game: Star Atlas adds a guide for its next C4 test
Star Atlas is introducing an AI assistant named SAGE to help players navigate its upcoming C4 playtest within Star Atlas: Golden Era. This AI, also referred to as SAGE Labs, is designed to guide new players and assist with game mechanics. The C4 playtest, powered by the z.ink testnet, has been evolving with features like Combat V2 and the Nemesis Engine, with ATMTA aiming for a mainnet launch in the coming months.
SLOP – Open Beta | Alpha Beta Gamer
SLOP is an upcoming online co-op horror cooking game where up to four players must scavenge for ingredients in abandoned locations and prepare meals for their corporate overlords. Players must balance gathering resources with avoiding hungry creatures and the risk of explosive cooking mishaps. An open beta is currently available for players to request access.
Sky Mavis lines up Atia’s Legacy Playtest 4 and Terrariums V1.2 for the returning Lunacian Lounge
Sky Mavis is hosting its next Lunacian Lounge event, which will feature updates on Atia's Legacy Playtest 4 and Terrariums V1.2. This marks the first public mention of a fourth playtest for the Axie MMO, following previous PvP-focused sessions. The event will also cover behind-the-scenes work and discuss the evolution of the Axie economy and game design.
Here’s How To Check If You Can Play The Duskbloods This Month
Players can now check their status for the closed network test of FromSoftware's upcoming multiplayer title, The Duskbloods, on the Nintendo Switch 2. Registration results are available on the network test website, not via email. The test dates and times are also provided, with participants able to learn more about the game during this playtest.
Wreckreation 2 – Beta Sign Up | Alpha Beta Gamer
Wreckreation 2, an open-world arcade racing game set in Heartbreak City, is now accepting sign-ups for its playtest. Players can experience various event types and create their own challenges with the Live Mix tool. The game emphasizes strategic driving and utilizing the urban environment for takedowns.
Statistically, your PC probably doesn't come close to the recommended RAM requirement for this third-person…
The upcoming third-person shooter Cinder City will hold a pre-alpha playtest for US-based players aged 16 and over from August 14-16, requiring participants to sign an NDA. While an initial high RAM requirement of 64GB was corrected to a still substantial 32GB minimum, the developer NC and publisher Big Fire Games state that final system requirements may be lower due to ongoing optimization efforts.
Sci-fi MMO Cinder City is getting a pre-alpha playtest later this month so you can put its RAM hogging requirements to the test
Big Fire Games is holding a pre-alpha playtest for its sci-fi MMO Cinder City from August 14th to 16th, exclusively for US-based players over 16. The game, set in a near-future Seoul, features Cinderknights battling monsters and super soldiers in an open-world PvE environment with dungeons and raids. Initial reports of extreme RAM requirements have been revised, though the exact specifications are still being clarified.
PvP tank shooter Tyr opens its playtest to everyone on Steam until August 2
The free-to-play tank shooter Tyr, developed by Stoke Games, has opened its Steam playtest to all players until August 2nd. The game emphasizes strategic gameplay with custom-built tanks and unique armor profiles, focusing on tactical positioning over fast reflexes.
Guns & Dragons Playtest Signups Now Available
ABUTTON Inc has announced that signups for the Guns & Dragons playtest are now available via Steam. The upcoming first-person shooter, developed by the South Korean studio, will feature both a three-player co-op mode and a solo mode. The playtest is scheduled to begin on July 30, 2026, and the game will also be showcased at ChinaJoy 2026.
Atia’s Legacy to Get Spectator Mode in Time for Its Next Playtest, Sky Mavis Says
Sky Mavis has announced that a spectator mode will be added to Axie Infinity: Atia's Legacy in time for its next playtest. This feature will allow players to cast matches, follow tournaments, and watch friends play, addressing a key limitation from the previous PvP-only playtest. The exact date for the next playtest has not yet been revealed.
