alpha testing Archives

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader developer announces its own launcher, but players are already “opting out”

Owlcat Games is developing its own game launcher to serve as a central hub for players, aiming to improve cross-promotion of its titles. Market research indicated that many Pathfinder 2 players were unaware of Rogue Trader. The decision has received mixed reactions, with concerns about the crowded landscape of game launchers and their functionality. Owlcat plans to roll out the launcher gradually, ensuring no mandatory registration or data collection from users. Players in the alpha test for Warhammer 40k Dark Heresy will be the first to use the launcher, which will provide access to all of Owlcat's games and links to social media and announcements. The launcher will allow users to buy, install, or launch games regardless of the original distribution method, but players can bypass it if accessing games through Steam.

AppWizard

December 22, 2025

This new RTS game’s latest playtest showed me that medieval dinosaur warfare is more than just a meme

Dinolords is a time-traveling RTS game developed by Northplay, featuring gameplay that combines medieval warfare with dinosaurs. Set during Sweyn Forkbeard's invasion of England, players can ride dinosaurs like velociraptors and ankylosauruses into battle against Vikings. The game includes city-building elements where players must manage resources and maintain structures. Despite its whimsical premise, Dinolords offers balanced gameplay that requires tactical thinking. The game is currently in alpha testing and may not launch in early access by its original goal of 2025.

AppWizard

November 22, 2025

The PUBG extraction shooter spinoff springs back to life with a closed alpha test set for December, and its focus on exploration over pure combat sounds a lot like my favorite part of Arc Raiders

In 2023, Project Black Budget, a spinoff of the PUBG franchise designed as an extraction shooter, was announced with a closed alpha testing phase scheduled for December 2025. The testing will take place from December 12-14 and December 19-21, accessible to players in North America, Europe, and Asia. Interested players can request access via the game's Steam page, but entry is not guaranteed. There is no non-disclosure agreement for the alpha phase, allowing players to stream and share their gameplay. Access keys will also be available through Twitch Drops during the testing period. PUBG Studios has acknowledged potential technical issues during the alpha and aims to refine gameplay systems through community feedback.

AppWizard

November 21, 2025

A new rival to Tarkov and Arc Raiders, PUBG Black Budget lets you try its supernatural extraction action very soon

Krafton has announced PUBG Black Budget, a spinoff from its multiplayer franchise, entering the extraction shooter genre. Alpha playtests will begin next month without a non-disclosure agreement. The game, set on the island of Coli, features a time loop and PvPvE threats, focusing on exploration and discovery rather than just survival. It includes a 2.5×2.5 km open-world environment, 30-minute matches, squads of up to three players, and a maximum of 45 real players alongside PvE adversaries. The game will have two weekends of alpha testing: December 12-14 and December 19-21, available on Steam.

AppWizard

October 26, 2025

Blizzard throws World of Warcraft healers and tanks a bone as Midnight’s UI falls short

Blizzard has decided to eliminate combat modifications in World of Warcraft Midnight, impacting the use of addons that players have relied on for successful raiding. The alpha testing began with strict limitations on addons to address competitive advantages, but some restrictions have since been relaxed. Improvements to the group user interface will focus on healer specifications and tank benefits, with enhancements to default raid frames while still allowing for addon customization. The aim is to prevent addons from automating combat decisions while enabling information presentation customization. New features include a 'boss warning' timeline, enhanced enemy cast bar animations, and text-to-speech alerts for crucial combat events.

AppWizard

March 31, 2025

Open-world survival crafting game RuneScape: Dragonwilds announced for PC

Jagex has announced RuneScape: Dragonwilds, an open-world survival crafting game set to launch in Early Access on PC via Steam in spring 2025. The game takes place on the continent of Ashenfall, where players will gather resources, build structures, and craft tools to survive against awakened dragons. It supports cooperative gameplay for one to four players, focusing on mastering survival skills and uncovering secrets to confront the Dragon Queen. The development team is incorporating player feedback from closed alpha tests to shape the game's evolution. The game features quests, skill leveling, and rune-wielding, integrating elements of high fantasy and RPG within the RuneScape lore.

AppWizard

July 3, 2024

Stardew Valley players on Steam Deck can test out the new Nexus Mods app

Nexus Mods has launched alpha testing for a new app, starting with Stardew Valley. The app is currently in early build and only supports Stardew Valley, with more games to be added later. The app is available for Windows and Linux, allowing players to test it on Steam Deck. The app will eventually replace the current mod manager, Vortex. The alpha version of the app allows users to install mods for Stardew Valley on Steam and GOG, log in to their Nexus Mods account, enable and disable mods, roll the game back to a non-modded state, get diagnostic information about common issues, and edit config files in-app.