The playtest is live as a separate Steam app called Blind Descent Playtest. Requesting access happens on the store page of the main game, and once you are in, the playtest downloads as its own library entry.

What is in the build

The build concentrates on the opening area, and the studio is explicit about what is still missing: exploration is limited to selected areas, some enemies are not in the game yet, the quest system is a work in progress, and several creatures are still being finished.

What is in it is the loop that matters: the descent, the abandoned research facility you reclaim as a base, scanning, assembly crafting at a station, infection, and combat against the local wildlife. The co-op build added four-player support on top of the single-player build that ran earlier.

How long it lasts

About three hours, and that number comes from the studio's own FAQ rather than from how long players take to explore. Treat it as the length of the content, not a timer.

Progress does not carry over

The FAQ is direct: playtest saves will not carry into the final release, because systems and balance are still moving. Nothing you build in the playtest survives December 2.

What changed during the test

The playtest has been patched repeatedly while it has been open. The visible changes are the kind that shift how you play rather than only fixing crashes:

  • Infection Swing Plants added across the whole game.
  • Telekinesis interactions fixed, including dropvines, and improved target detection.
  • Swing ropes stopped being stored in saves, so they respawn on load.
  • Crafting UI reworked, with an in-game tutorial video for the crafting flow.
  • Two-handed weapons set to consume half your stamina per shot while keeping the same shot speed as short weapons.

Languages in the playtest

The build runs in English, Turkish, Chinese and Russian. Localisation is still in progress, so missing text and errors are expected. The retail game supports far more languages, with English as the only full-audio option.

If something breaks

Bugs go to the in-game F1 reporter or the Discord. The studio asks for a description, your system specs, reproduction steps and a DXDIAG file, and the playtest build has a launch option that produces a fuller crash report.

The full walkthrough of getting in, including what the Steam button does when the test is closed rather than open, is on playtest access.