How to get access step by step
HUNGER (Good Fun Corporation) is an extraction RPG in testing. The test runs in a separate Steam app called Hunger Playtest. The official instructions are:
- Log in to Steam and open the HUNGER store page.
- In the "Join the Hunger Playtest" section, click Request Access and confirm your request.
- Wait for an email from Steam. Access is not instant: the studio issues invites "progressively" as it validates game and server stability.
- Once accepted, HUNGER Playtest appears in your Steam library. Click Install, choose a location, then Launch.
What else to know:
- A studio representative wrote on Reddit on October 23, 2026 that you can still request access and that "invites are still going out in the order requests were received". The studio also says it may close new requests at any time.
- Players from earlier tests (Tech Tests) get access automatically and do not need to ask again. They keep it for the Closed Beta and the Open Beta.
- A player who is already in can invite 3 friends (Missive XVI, October 21, 2026). Friend invitations keep working even when new requests are closed.
- You enter a key only if someone sent you one: Steam, Games, "Activate a Product on Steam...". A normal Request Access needs no key.
- You add party members through Steam (Friend Code: Friends, Add a Friend). In-game invite: ESC, the "+" icon, Invite.
The studio has not said how long the wait is or what share of requests is accepted, so we do not give such numbers.
Closed Beta: October 19-26, 2026
The studio calls the Closed Beta "Tech Test 4, just on a larger scale", a significantly expanded version of the earlier tests. The larger scale came from "far more players" requesting access than expected.
| UTC | Poland | UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start, October 19, 2026 | 09:00 | 11:00 CEST | 10:00 BST |
| End, October 26, 2026 (TBC) | 09:00 | 10:00 CET | 09:00 GMT |
In the night between October 24 and 25, 2026 Europe returns to winter time (03:00 CEST becomes 02:00 CET), so the window lasts 167 hours, not a flat 7 days. That is our own conversion of the official times. The studio has not announced an extension.
The Server Slam is Sunday, October 25, 2026. The studio asks you to jump in "throughout Sunday", fill the Chateau and head out on Expeditions, so it can test infrastructure, matchmaking and stability ahead of Early Access. No hours were given. The Slam is part of the Closed Beta, so it does not open the game to everyone: you still need access to Hunger Playtest.
What is in the beta (press release of October 5, 2026):
- The Chateau: a hub with NPCs, vendors, questgivers and Professions.
- Three maps and dungeons, with proximity chat in Expeditions.
- Six playable characters ("Living"), each with a Passive, Tactical and Ultimate.
- Five Mastery trees with "100+ Masteries".
- Shooting combined with melee and more than 40 weapons.
For weapons and preparing your first run, see weapons and gear and the beginner's guide. General information about the game: everything about HUNGER.
Does beta progress carry over
The studio has not officially said whether Closed Beta characters and cosmetics will survive until Early Access. Steam News has nothing on the subject as of October 24, 2026.
The "No forced wipes" line on the Steam page describes the game after Early Access launches, not the tests. According to Missive XVI, progression is built on Prestige, which lets you start a new Mastery journey while carrying abilities forward, without recurring global wipes.
Players assume test characters will disappear. On Reddit (October 23, 2026) they wrote things like "Nothing from the betas will carry over" and "I would be surprised if anything carried over". These are community opinions, not studio statements.
Streaming and NDA
The studio says it plainly: "Streaming and recording is permitted", and asks for the hashtag #playHUNGER. The official announcements and the guide do not mention an NDA or an embargo. Since Tech Test 3 creators can show the game publicly, and the studio has said it wants more content creators in the betas.
Hotfix #1 and known beta issues
Hotfix #1 came out on October 20, 2026 at 09:57 UTC. It fixed, among other things, players landing on low-population servers, getting stuck on the "Entering Chateau" screen for 10 minutes or more, sporadic matchmaking failures, full reload animations, and several causes of server and client crashes. After the update, close the game, restart Steam and update HUNGER Playtest. As of October 24, 2026 there is no Hotfix #2.
The official guide lists known issues:
| Problem | Workaround |
|---|---|
| "Easy Anti-Cheat is not installed" | Run InstallEasyAntiCheat.bat in \steamapps\common\Hunger Playtest\EasyAntiCheat. If that fails, run Steam as administrator |
| "Login attempt failed... Bad request" | Check and sync your system clock |
| Dodge breaks on AZERTY keyboards or with remapped WASD | No workaround in the guide, it is a known bug |
| Sony Inzone 9 software mutes sound from behind you | Uninstall it |
| Parties behave unexpectedly | Leave the game and re-enter the Chateau |
| No Nvidia Frame Generation on cards like the 4060 Ti | Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling in the Windows graphics settings and restart |
| Quitting shortly after "studying" a map uses it up without teaching it | Do not quit at that moment |
To queue for an Expedition you need to finish Eloise's first quest. Players on Reddit also complain about optimization (micro-stutter), while others say the game runs better than in the Tech Tests. These are opinions, and results depend on your hardware.
Test history
| Test | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tech Test 1 and 2 | no confirmed dates | dates not established in official sources |
| Tech Test 3 | from June 29, 2026, 10:00 BST, to July 8, 2026, 10:00 BST | the first test where creators could show the game publicly; keys handed out through the studio's Discord |
| Closed Beta (Tech Test 4) | from October 19, 2026 to October 26, 2026 | larger scale, more than 500,000 Steam wishlists (October 5, 2026) |
What comes next: Open Beta and Early Access
The Open Beta "is still coming", but later than planned. The studio promised more details, including dates and how to take part, after the Closed Beta concludes. Early Access is planned for 2026, with no date and no price. According to the Steam FAQ, Early Access is expected to last about two years, and the price will rise gradually. It is not known what happens to the Playtest client after the beta ends.
FAQ
Is the HUNGER beta free?
Official announcements do not state a price for playtest access, and the game itself has no price on Steam yet. Media describe the beta as free. You do not buy anything to click Request Access.
Do I need a key or code for the HUNGER beta?
No. Request Access on Steam and an invite are enough. You enter a key only if someone sent you one. We do not promise or link any "free keys".
When is the next HUNGER test?
The Open Beta is announced but has no date. The studio said it will share details after the Closed Beta concludes. Follow Steam News, Discord (discord.gg/playhunger) and the X account @GOODFUNHUNGER.
Is the HUNGER beta on PS5 and Xbox?
No. The test is PC only (Windows, Steam). In July 2026 the studio said it wants to release the game on current-generation consoles after Early Access, with no platforms or dates given.
