playtest Archives

AppWizard

May 2, 2025

This ‘narrative simulator’ about a delivery driver in deeply rural Russia is giving me serious Mudrunner meets Disco Elysium vibes

The upcoming game Zarya is a narrative simulator set in a rural post-Soviet backdrop, where players control Vasily, who navigates life while helping friends. Although available on Steam for over a year, it gained attention with a new gameplay trailer. Players will drive Soviet-era vehicles and engage in activities like grilling, fishing, and shopping. The game emphasizes storytelling, allowing players to assist villagers, transport harvests, and experience authentic post-Soviet life. Interested players can sign up for a playtest on Steam, but as of September 2024, no invites have been sent out yet.

AppWizard

April 24, 2025

Ubisoft is keeping its promise to add an offline mode to The Crew 2, and testing begins next week

Ubisoft has decided to discontinue The Crew, leading to significant backlash against always-online gaming, resulting in a class action lawsuit, new legislation in California, and a disclaimer on Steam. In response, Ubisoft pledged to avoid similar actions for The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest. Seven months later, the company announced development of an offline mode is underway, with a playtest starting on April 30. Positive feedback has been received for the offline initiative, and players are now requesting similar functionality for other titles. Ubisoft plans to roll out the offline mode for The Crew 2 by the end of 2025, with The Crew Motorfest to follow later.

AppWizard

April 13, 2025

This shooter is billing itself as ‘the Battlefield Heroes you can actually play’

Heroes of Valor is currently available for a free playtest on Steam, with plans for an early access version expected to last approximately one year. The game is inspired by Battlefield Heroes and is being promoted as "the Battlefield Heroes you can actually play." There is significant enthusiasm among gamers, particularly on Steam forums, reflecting nostalgia for the original game. Additionally, the community for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 has successfully revived their game, demonstrating the enduring passion within gaming communities.

BetaBeacon

March 20, 2025

Netflix and Spry Fox announce cozy life simulation game Spirit Crossing for iOS, Android

Netflix and Spry Fox have announced Spirit Crossing, a cooperative life simulation game for iOS and Android. The game focuses on friendship and community, allowing players to decorate their homes, build with friends, ride on a Fluffalo train, and join dance parties and jam sessions.

AppWizard

March 14, 2025

Another live service shooter is getting shut down, this time before it even launched on Steam

Star Wars: Hunters will not be released on PC as initially hoped, with the final content update scheduled for April 15th, and the game remaining playable until October 1st, 2025, when the online servers will shut down. The announcement did not address the delayed Steam release, which was initially set for January 2025. The game debuted in June 2024 after several delays and has received a lukewarm reception, holding a 57 aggregate score on Metacritic for the Nintendo Switch.

AppWizard

March 12, 2025

Cthulhu Keeper Revitalizes Classic PC Game Genres Through A Lovecraftian Lens

Certain hardcore PC game genres have seen a resurgence, with titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 gaining popularity, while the stealth-tactics genre and dungeon management games have struggled. Kuuasema's Cthulhu Keeper is a real-time tactics game that combines cult base management with stealth missions, featuring gameplay mechanics that include commanding cultists and Lovecraftian monsters. The game includes story missions and mini-roguelite expeditions, requiring strategic planning and quick thinking. Players control Lilith West, who can harvest enemy corpses for strategic advantages. Cthulhu Keeper aims to appeal to both hardcore gamers and newcomers, with a public playtest scheduled for March 17.

AppWizard

March 8, 2025

Battlefield playtest gameplay is leaking all over the internet, and fans seem cautiously but genuinely excited: ‘Okay, we might be back’

Early playtesting for the next Battlefield installment is underway under the Battlefield Labs initiative, which aims to improve upon the mixed reception of Battlefield 2042. Leaked gameplay footage highlights environmental destructibility and has garnered mixed but encouraging reactions, particularly regarding audio design. The return of the traditional scoreboard, absent in Battlefield 2042, indicates that EA is responding to player feedback. Despite the playtest being under a non-disclosure agreement, some leaked videos are circulating, suggesting EA may be confident in the game's current state.

AppWizard

February 27, 2025

The Splitgate 2 open alpha is live now and very fun

In a recent preview session for Splitgate 2, hosted by 1047 Games, players experienced the alpha version available from February 27 to March 2, featuring various game modes. One notable mode is Hotzone, where teams capture two designated hills to win, with an increasing respawn time that can be reduced by teammates achieving kills. Another mode, Splitball, allows scoring goals while enabling opponents to reclaim the ball. The alpha introduces changes based on community feedback, including shortened respawn times, extended round durations, and enhanced portal mechanics with additional portal walls and a new Launch Portal feature. The game supports crossplay across PC, PS5, and Xbox, inviting players to reconnect and experience the evolution of Splitgate.

AppWizard

February 23, 2025

Skyrim was ‘personally rebalanced’ by producer Jeff Gardiner just 2 weeks before launch: ‘Well, I hope this is good’

Jeff Gardiner, a former Bethesda producer, had conflicts with the design team over the balance of Skyrim as its launch approached. He argued that the designers' reliance on AI simulations did not accurately reflect human player behavior, which could lead to a disconnect in gameplay experience. Gardiner took it upon himself to extensively playtest the game and make adjustments to creatures and weapons in a focused effort just weeks before release. He believed that his background in design allowed him to effectively contribute to the game's balance. Gardiner reflected on the unpredictable nature of RPGs, which he found appealing in his own experience with Skyrim.

AppWizard

February 22, 2025

There’s a free beta on for the mech game by the World of Tanks creators

Wargaming is conducting a four-day beta playtest for its new game, Steel Hunters, which combines mech-hero shooter elements with an extraction battle royale format. The playtest runs until February 24 and is accessible for free on Wargaming's website and Steam. Participants can contribute to a collective performance metric to unlock a permanent skin and compete on a daily leaderboard. The original playtest's battle pass remains active, allowing players to unlock an additional skin. This version includes new and revamped content based on player feedback.