So Star Citizen fans were more than a little miffed that the news on Squadron 42 had slowed from “a crawl” to “did that move or was it just the wind” levels of activity. That makes sense, especially since at one point the persistent universe was supposed to be the optional multiplayer sideline and not the whole focus. Naturally, players were completely mollified to find out that there’s tons of stuff happening, really, we just didn’t have a pretty enough video to show you! And the developers made you a cake, but it wasn’t good enough, so they ate it. Let’s go on a buggy ride!
Super. Let’s check in elsewhere in beta-land.
- Elyon, formerly Ascent: Infinite Realm, never actually No-Alcohol Lager, has a lengthy video examining the current state of its beta test. I can’t watch.
- The next phase of Crucible’s beta testing will be slightly delayed to iron out bugs, which has got to be a bit of a ding to the game. On top of all the other ones.
- New World, meanwhile, is in density testing. That is testing a number of people in one place, not the property of density in physical objects. I think.
- Last but not least, beta footage for Valiance Online ahead of its actual open beta! Superhero games in testing. That’s a lark.
So that’s the story, and if you want more stories… well, hey, why not just hop on down to the list of games in testing just below? There’s probably a story in one or two of those, and if one of them jumped test phases without us noticing, you can share that story with us. It’s appreciated! No cake-baking here, though.
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, with occasional exceptions.
AdventureQuest 3D: Open beta
Arcfall: Pre-alpha
Ashes of Creation: Alpha one
Book of Travels: Closed beta
Camelot Unchained: Closed beta one
Children of Ur: Open alpha, further development merged with Eleven
Crowfall: Backer alpha
Crucible: Closed beta
Cube World: Closed beta since September 23rd
Dauntless: Open beta
Dark and Light: Early access
Dual Universe: Alpha, with beta coming August 2020
ECO: Early access
Eleven: Closed alpha
Elyon: Korean beta (fka Ascent Infinite Realm)
Ever, Jane: Open beta
Kurtzpel: Closed beta
Gloria Victis: Early access on Steam
Guardians of Ember: Open beta
Hearthstone Battleground Mode: Open beta
Inferna: Early access
Life is Feudal: Early access
Line of Defense: Early access, removed from Steam
Magic: Legends: Closed alpha 2; beta testing in 2020
Mortal Online 2: Closed alpha
New World: Closed testing, launch pushed to 2021
Occupy White Walls: Early access
Osiris: New Dawn: Open beta
Outlaws of the Old West: Early access
Pantheon: Backer pre-alpha
Pathfinder Online: Subscription “early enrollment”
Population Zero: Early access
Project Genom: Closed alpha, servers offline for restructuring with SpatialOS
Project Gorgon: Early access beta
Prosperous Universe: Early access
Saga of Lucimia: Closed alpha
SamuTale: Closed alpha
Ship of Heroes: Alpha
Star Citizen: Backer alpha
Temtem: Early access
The Black Death: Early access alpha
The Cycle: Alpha, weekly test cycle
The Repopulation: Early access alpha
Torchlight III: Early access
Valiance Online: Alpha
Wild Terra 2: Intermittent beta
WoW Shadowlands: Beta
Zenith: Alpha
Yes, MMO gamers, you too can perform the unpaid quality-control work otherwise known as game testing! Check out Massively Overpowered’s Betawatch every week for a run-down of MMOs that are still on the road to launch, even if they appear to have set up a permanent residence in a shed called early access.
