Chained Beasts Playtest: Release Date, Platforms, and Demo Details

What Happened to the Chained Beasts Playtest?

The Chained Beasts playtest introduced Featherweight Games’ chaotic co-op gladiator roguelike before its full launch. That matters because the game has now moved beyond its testing phase, with the complete release available across several platforms as of October 15, 2026.

The original public playtest announcement was published on Steam on August 28, 2025. However, the available announcement page does not provide enough accessible detail to confirm the playtest’s exact content, duration, or whether it is still active. Players looking for the game today should check the current official store listings instead.

Chained Beasts Release Date and Platforms

Featherweight Games announced a launch at 17:00 UTC on October 15, 2026. The full game is now listed for PC and consoles, with availability varying by storefront.

Platform	Availability
Steam	Released October 15, 2026, for Windows and macOS
PlayStation 5	Released October 15, 2026
Xbox Series X|S and PC	Released October 15, 2026; Xbox Play Anywhere is supported
Nintendo Switch	Listed as a digital release; Nintendo’s Singapore page shows October 16, 2026, reflecting the local date
Xbox Game Pass	Available through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, with cloud support announced by Xbox

For the most up-to-date platform information, see the official Chained Beasts Steam listing, PlayStation Store page, Nintendo listing, and Xbox Store listing.

The developer’s release announcement describes three arena chapters: Carthage, Germania, and Rome. The launch content is structured around nine battles across three acts, according to the developer’s Steam Community posts.

What Kind of Game Is Chained Beasts?

Chained Beasts is designed as a one-to-four-player gladiator roguelike. You can play alone, join an online party, or use local couch co-op. The game also supports cross-platform multiplayer according to the developer and Steam’s feature listing.

Its central idea is that co-op gladiators are physically chained together. That creates both teamwork opportunities and comic disasters: coordinated players can trip enemies, move as a group, and use their combined positioning to control the arena. Poor coordination can instead leave the team tangled around obstacles or unable to reach a target efficiently.

Combat is not limited to standard swordplay. The arena itself can become a weapon, allowing players to use objects and hazards against enemies. Examples listed by the developer include:

• Throwing urns at enemies
• Launching enemies into environmental hazards
• Driving opponents into spike walls or snake pits
• Throwing weapons from a distance
• Coordinating movement with chained teammates

The roguelike structure adds long-term progression between fights. Players can learn skills, purchase equipment, unlock characters, and make route decisions during each run. The full release includes more than 70 skills, more than 70 afflictions, over 40 items, and eight beasts with variants, based on the developer’s launch information.

Co-Op Features and Player Count

The game supports up to four players, making it suitable for both solo runs and larger party sessions. Official listings identify online multiplayer, local or shared-screen co-op, and cross-platform functionality on supported versions.

The co-op design is more involved than simply fighting beside friends. Because the characters are chained together, movement and positioning are shared problems. A successful group may need to coordinate attacks, avoid arena hazards, and decide when to separate or move as one unit.

The game also includes persistent complications from arena battles. Injuries and afflictions can affect later decisions, while potions may provide relief with possible drawbacks. These systems give each run additional consequences beyond simply defeating the next group of enemies.

Is the Chained Beasts Demo or Playtest Still Available?

The original Chained Beasts playtest was publicly announced on Steam in August 2025, but the supplied announcement page does not confirm its current status or provide a complete list of playable content.

As of October 16, 2026, the Steam store displayed a downloadable demo. Because demo availability can change, check the current Steam store page before assuming the demo or any playtest branch is still accessible.

The full game is also available on Steam, where the store showed an introductory offer of $12.99 instead of the regular $19.99 price. That promotion was listed as ending October 29, 2026, so shoppers should verify the live price before purchasing.

The game had a “Very Positive” Steam rating at the time of the supplied data, with 96% of 83 user reviews marked positive. This is an early review snapshot and may change as more players publish feedback.

Should You Play Chained Beasts After the Playtest?

If you enjoyed the concept shown during the early testing period, the full release expands the formula with three arena chapters, multiple difficulty levels, progression systems, and a substantial collection of skills, items, afflictions, and playable beasts.

It is especially worth considering if you want:

• A co-op action roguelike for up to four players
• Local and online multiplayer options
• Cross-platform play on supported versions
• Physics-driven arena chaos and environmental combat
• A game that combines difficult battles with slapstick teamwork
• A short-session-friendly structure built around repeated runs

Solo players are supported, but the chained movement system is most distinctive in co-op. Before buying, confirm the platform-specific multiplayer requirements, particularly on PlayStation, where online multiplayer for up to four players requires PlayStation Plus according to the official listing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Chained Beasts playtest still running?

The public playtest was announced on Steam on August 28, 2025. The available announcement does not confirm whether that test remains active. As of October 16, 2026, Steam displayed a downloadable demo, so check the current store page for the latest access information.

When did Chained Beasts officially release?

Chained Beasts launched on October 15, 2026, at 17:00 UTC. Nintendo’s Singapore listing displays October 16 because of the local date.

How many players can play Chained Beasts?

Chained Beasts supports one to four players. Official listings include solo play, online co-op, local or shared-screen co-op, and cross-platform multiplayer on supported versions.

What platforms support Chained Beasts?

The game is available on Steam for Windows and macOS, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Xbox. Xbox also lists Xbox Play Anywhere, while Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass availability was announced for the October 15 launch.

Continue exploring

For the next step, read Platforms, Coop, and Gameplay.