Soul Chained's Closed Beta Test is LIVE on Steam!
During the Closed Beta Test, you will experience a more expanded Soul Chained experience compared to what you've seen from the demo.
Some of the latest features you'll see on the Closed Beta Test build include:
New Hubs and Bosses
Reworked & Improved Weapons
More Polished Combat
Better Chain Physics
Reworked Chain Magic & Progression
To get into full detail on what you can expect during the Closed Beta Test, check out our official announcement from last week:
As outlined in our previous article, the goal of the Closed Beta Test is to gather essential feedback to help improve the Soul Chained experience for everyone. Good news - you can still join the playtest. Check the details below:
To sign up for the playtest, follow the steps below:
Fill out the Soul Chained Closed Beta Test Invitation Form.
If you haven't already, be sure to join our Discord by clicking the link here - Soul Chained Discord Server
If you've been selected for the playtest, you should see the private channels for playtesters under "Trial Grounds" in the Discord server. You will also be contacted on the server via a ticket channel to receive your playtest key.
NOTE: Keep in mind that we're selecting our Closed Beta testers depending on the answers to the invitation form. Selection is not guaranteed.
While we've managed to update the build to its latest iteration, some issues have been identified early on, and are still being worked on. Here's a comprehensive list to help you navigate thru the Closed Beta Test better:
Graphics & Visuals
After changing display resolution, the game must be restarted for volumetric effects to function correctly.
Some UI elements and menus are still a work in progress.
Certain UI elements may not display correctly on ultrawide resolutions.
Overall graphics quality and optimization are ongoing and will continue to improve.
Blood effects are currently unfinished and may look inconsistent.
Global illumination may not appear correctly on some meshes near the first castle due to a streaming issue.
Global illumination on low settings can have streaming issues, leading to dark areas.
In some locations, Global Illumination may temporarily unload. Work is ongoing to make lighting fully seamless and remove the need for loading transitions.
Performance
Stutter may occur during world streaming, especially around Bridge of the Enslaved: Gate.
Killing enemies using Saw Magic can occasionally cause stuttering.
Chain Magic performance may be inconsistent due to brute force effects, etc.; impact varies depending on PC hardware.
Some CPU threads can become overutilized, creating CPU bottlenecks especially on powerful GPUs. Most systems can maintain ~60 FPS, but reaching 100+ FPS may be difficult in the current build.
Gameplay & Systems
Destruction effects at Bridge of the Enslaved are disabled for this beta while optimization issues are being resolved.
The current Host/Join flow is not very intuitive. A Steam server-based system (joinable directly via Steam UI) is planned.
Havoc Mode fast travel can be glitchy:
If launched across the map, fast travel again (this usually resolves it).
If a player becomes stuck underground, pulling them up should fix it.
Enemies may occasionally fail to enter a death animation, remaining upright but inactive at 0 HP.
The level-up menu can sometimes be accessed away from a campfire. If this occurs, it may allow an unintended self-revive exploit (more common in Havoc Mode). This is a high-priority fix.
Audio & Content
AI-generated voiceovers are temporary. Human voice acting is planned, with auditions coming soon.
All nudity has been removed for this build due to recent Steam policy changes. Censored versions still display jiggle physics for comedic effect.
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