If you are all a-flutter for news about Black Desert, this week has been kind to you. Super kind, even. A preview of the game’s upcoming Awakening system was made available for fans, its demo will debut in Paris next week, and there’s even super-important information about how you can up your odds of getting into the game’s testing. Once it’s finally here, you too can camp a boss for 10 hours just to deliver an eight-minute clip of video, because who doesn’t think that sounds like a fun ride?
Meanwhile, if you’re not even the slightest bit interested in Black Desert, there’s still other beta stuff going on from the week.
- Wild Terra is opening up for a free-for-all beta test running until October 26th, if you want to jump into a harsh world that will force you to struggle if you want to survive.
- Self-proclaimed hardcore Russian MMO Sphere 3 is aiming for an open beta, if you want to jump into a harsh world that will force you to struggle if you want to survive. Chiefly against other players.
- Devilian entered its first closed beta in what I assume is some degree of harshness. Survival, etc. You know.
- A whopping 120 quests have been added to Otherland. That’s three times 40, and as we all know, 40 is as many as four 10s. And that’s harsh.
- Sword Coast Legends has launched, allowing you to jump into a harsh world blah blah blah. Except it’s probably a world created by your friends, so you know whose fault it is.
There was, of course, more stuff going on, but there’s only so much space in these introductions, gentle readers. Perhaps you’d like to check out our customary list past the break? And if we missed something, of course, you can let us know about it in the comments.
As always, we consider an MMO to be in open testing if it features free, public signups and will server wipe prior to launch. An MMO is marked in closed testing if it’s running a private test phase that cannot freely be accessed by the general public; it’s usually under NDA as well. Early access and crowdfunded MMOs whose tests we deem legitimate will be included. So-called “open beta” soft-launch MMOs with cash shops, no sign of launch in the west, or limited interest for our readers will not be listed; we also do not list expansions.
Albion Online: Summer alpha over, closed beta en route
Ascent: The Space Game: Steam early access
Auto Club Revolution: Closed beta
Beasts of Prey:Â Early access alpha
Black Desert:Â Korean and Japanese open beta, North American release early 2016
Camelot Unchained:Â Backer alpha
Crowfall: Backer pre-alpha
Das Tal: Alpha expected in 2015
DayZ: Early access
Devilian: Closed beta
Divergence Online:Â Alpha
Dungeon Fighter Online: Open testing
Earthrise: First Impact: Alpha testing; no recent updates on development
Eleven:Â Closed alpha
Eternal Crusade: First wave of closed alpha
EVE: Valkyrie: Pre-alpha registration for EVE and DUST players
Ever, Jane: In testing; 2016 anticipated release
Gloria Victis: Donor pre-alpha
H1Z1:Â Paid early access
HEX:Â Unofficial open beta
Kingdom Online: Closed beta
Landmark: Paid closed beta, cash shop active
Life is Feudal: Early access beta
Line of Defense: Early access
MyDream: Closed testing open to donors
Nosgoth: Open beta
Oort Online: Donor alpha
Origins of Malu:Â Combat module in early access
Otherland: Early access
Overwatch: Closed beta 10/27
Pathfinder Online: Subscription “early enrollment”
Project Genom: Closed alpha
Project Gorgon: Free, open testing
Shadowrun Chronicles: Steam early access; launching in April
Shards Online: Pre-alpha
Shroud of the Avatar: Steam early access, backer testing
SkySaga: Ongoing NA and UK alpha events
Star Citizen: Backer pre-alpha
Starriser: Taking beta signups
Stash: Backer alpha
The Repopulation: Early access/backer alpha, launching Q4 2015
Tree of Life: Paid early access
Tree of Savior: English beta testing events
Tribal Wars 2: Open testing
TUG: Steam early access alpha
Valiance Online: Pre-alpha testing
Venus Rising: Closed beta (adult/NSFW)
