Total Warriors,
Here's a quick update on our Closed Beta.
First things first: this blog isn't going to reveal everything we have planned.
We're still working through the details and our Techpriests are hard at work on the game, so we'd rather wait until plans are fully locked in before talking in depth about the specifics.
For now, there's one important date to remember: Registrations will close on the 14th of September at 10:00am BST / 11:00am CEST / 5:00pm CST / 6:00pm JST / 2:00am PST.
If you've been meaning to sign up but have been putting it off until later, consider this a friendly but final reminder.
We've wanted to get the game into your hands since development began, so it means a lot to finally be reaching this point in which we’re almost ready to do it, and we look forward to hearing your feedback to make the game the best it can be.
With that in mind, here's an early overview of what to expect from the next steps.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM THE CLOSED BETA?
It's important to us that we set clear expectations from the outset about what the test will be like.
This isn't going to be a highly polished demo.
It will be a work-in-progress slice of the game that we're putting into your hands so we can learn from your experiences, identify issues, and gather feedback whilst development is still ongoing.
That means you'll encounter bugs, come across placeholder assets, unfinished localisation, balance issues, rough edges, and other things that simply aren't working quite as intended yet. That's all part of the process, and it's one of the reasons we're running the Closed Beta in the first place.
Whilst we'll share more detail at a later point, the Closed Beta will be PC only via Steam and will focus on several of the game's core experiences, including:
- The first section of our tutorial
- The opening two single player campaigns (Space Marines only)
- Multiplayer and custom battles (Space Marines, Astra Militarum Orks, Custom Factions playable)
- Our advanced customisation system
Please note: The Aeldari will not be playable during the Closed Beta. We know many of you are excited to see them, but their strands of fate are still being woven, and we'll have more to share on the faction in the future.
For now, think of this as an opportunity to get hands-on with a wider work-in-progress portion of the game than is in the events demo and tell us what's working, what isn't, and help us make it better.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The response to the Closed Beta has been beyond anything we could have imagined. Seeing so many of you sign up has been incredible, and we're hugely grateful to everyone who wants to help us shape the game.
However, that incredible response does mean we won't be able to offer access to everyone who has registered. We genuinely wish we could, but at this stage of development we need to keep the group more focused so we can properly work through the feedback and act on it quickly.
We will a survey to everyone who signed up, which you'll need to complete if you'd still like to be considered. Once the survey process is complete, we'll then select the participants and contact them with details on how to access the playtest.
Please be honest with your answers; we're not looking for any one type of player. The survey will help us bring together a group that reflects our global community, from long-time Total War veterans to those who are newer to the franchise.
This is important because we're not looking for a single perspective. Someone with thousands of hours across Total War will naturally view things differently to someone experiencing the game for the first time, and both viewpoints are incredibly helpful.
Please remember that completing the survey doesn't guarantee a place in the Closed Beta.
WHAT IF I’M NOT SELECTED?
Not receiving an invitation doesn't mean you'll be completely cut off from the action.
Whilst going hands-on will be exclusive to Closed Beta participants, we've got other plans to help bring everyone else along for the journey. That includes a livestream featuring members of the development team, where we'll play through the test and talk through some of the thinking behind it.
More importantly, being selected for the Closed Beta isn't the only way to influence the future of the game.
The feedback we gather from those with access will be incredibly valuable, but so are the conversations from everyone who doesn’t get access. We will read them. We will discuss them. And they will still influence the decisions we make.
Some of the best ideas don't come from surveys or bug reports. They come from you sharing what you’ve seen, debating features, challenging our assumptions and telling us what matters most.
We’re not promising anything, but who knows, there may be other opportunities to get involved in the future.
HOW WILL FEEDBACK BE USED?
We're running this Closed Beta for one reason: to improve the game ahead of launch.
We're putting the game into your hands early so you can tell us what's working, what isn't, and where it could be better. We'll take that feedback back to the development team and use it to help guide the conversations and decisions we make as development continues.
Just as importantly, we want to be transparent about that process. After it takes place, we'll share what we're learning, highlight recurring themes and discuss how your feedback is helping to shape our thinking.
That doesn't mean every suggestion will become reality, or that every piece of feedback will result in a change. But if we're asking you to invest your time helping us test the game, it's only fair that we're open about what we're hearing and how it's influencing our approach.
We see this as a collaborative process between us and you. The goal isn't simply to identify issues. It's to have honest conversations, challenge assumptions, gather different perspectives and ultimately make the game better.
Whether you end up taking part in the Closed Beta or following along from the outside, we still want to hear what you think. Join us on the Total War Discord or the CA Community and keep the conversation going. We'll be listening.
See you on the battlefield.
— The Total War Team