Betawatch: August 28th, 2015

Project Gorgon‘s latest run on Kickstarter is over, and it was a pretty big success for the title, hitting almost $75,000 in funding. That means the game is moving forward with improvements, and it also means that players are going to need to start paying money to get into the test client. Hey, it had to happen eventually.

So what other beta news do we have before this weekend’s convention?

• Ark: Survival Evolved is free to play this weekend if you have the urge to briefly log on to a game and then immediately get crushed to death by Cretaceous wildlife. I assume that’s how the game works, anyhow. There’s also some new stuff coming soon.
• Early access for Otherland has been pushed back to September because of course that happens right after it gets a header on this column.
• The social module for Star Citizen has entered testing. How is it? We don’t know; there’s apparently an NDA for this module. But what’s not to love about standing in a room talking?
• The Repopulation is getting ready for sieges as it rolls closer to release.

Plus we’ve got our usual list of games just past the break. Did we miss something? Is another game further along than we know? Let us know down in Ye Olde Commente Sectionne.

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.

Albion Online: Summer alpha over, closed beta en route
Ascent: The Space Game: Steam early access
Auto Club Revolution: Closed beta
Beasts of Prey: Early access alpha
Black Desert: Korean and Japanese open beta
Camelot Unchained: Backer alpha
Das Tal: Alpha expected in 2015
DayZ: Early access
Divergence Online: Alpha
Dungeon Fighter Online: Open testing
Earthrise: First Impact: Alpha but still alive
Eleven: Closed alpha
Eternal Crusade: Early access begins fall 2015
EVE: Valkyrie: Pre-alpha registration for EVE and DUST players
Ever, Jane: In testing; 2016 anticipated release
Gloria Victis: Donor pre-alpha
H1Z1: Paid early access
HEX: 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: Combat module in early access
Otherland: Second closed beta, early access starts 8/26
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)
World of Warships: Open beta