Chained Beasts Beta and Playtest History: Closed Playtest, Open Beta and What Changed
✓ Last verified 2026-10-16 · How we check facts
Quick answer
Chained Beasts beta testing ran in stages: a closed playtest in mid 2025, a public playtest, the November 2025 demo and an open beta weekend in July 2026. The full game launched on October 15, 2026, so no beta is running now.
Chained Beasts beta questions are common because the game went through several public tests before launch. If you want to know when the Chained Beasts beta ran, what it contained and whether you can still join one, this page lays out the full history.
Chained Beasts Beta Timeline
| Date | Test | What it included |
|---|---|---|
| June 2025 | Closed playtest sign-ups on Steam | Tutorial and the first 3 days of combat |
| June 2025 | Beta sign-ups promoted on gaming sites | Feedback through Discord |
| Mid to late 2025 | Public playtest on Steam | Ended with a thank-you post from the developer |
| November 12, 2025 | Free Steam demo | Tutorial, 5 Carthage battles, rhino-mounted boss |
| Through July 19, 2026 | Open beta weekend | Free on Steam; release date announced July 16 at the Secret Sauce Showcase 2026 |
| October 15, 2026 | Full release | All platforms |
The 2025 Closed Playtest
Featherweight Games announced the closed playtest on Steam in June 2025, calling it the first time outside players would see the game. It covered the tutorial and the first three days of combat, playable in single player, same-screen co-op or online co-op through Steam. Feedback went through the Featherweight Discord, and the studio asked players to report what was fun and what was hard to understand.
A preview from the playtest period noted that solo players got a heavy ball at the end of their shackles rather than an AI partner, and that the chain becomes a weapon once you learn to trip enemies with it.
Open Beta Weekend
In July 2026 the studio announced a release date at the Secret Sauce Showcase and opened a free open beta on Steam through July 19. IGN hosted an "Official Open Beta Trailer" for the event. The release date later moved to October 15, 2026, when the full game launched on every platform.
Is There a Chained Beasts Beta Now?
No. The full game is out, so there is no active Chained Beasts beta. The free demo is still on Steam if you want to try before buying. See our demo guide and the release date page.
Official Source
The playtest announcements are in the Chained Beasts Steam news feed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When was the Chained Beasts beta?
The closed playtest began in mid 2025, and an open beta weekend ran in July 2026.
Q: Is the Chained Beasts beta still available?
No. The game launched on October 15, 2026. The free demo remains on Steam.