Outward 2 Open Beta Goes Live Ahead of July 2026 Early Access Launch

Nine Dots Studio has opened the gates for more players to experience Outward 2 ahead of its Early Access launch on July 7, 2026. Revealed during the PC Gaming Show as part of Summer Game Fest 2026, the new open beta is now live on Steam, giving players a chance to test the survival RPG before its full Early Access arrival next month.

Outward 2 has already been available to selected players through a closed beta, but this new open beta gives everyone else a chance to step into Aurai and help test the game’s systems, servers, and co op features. For fans who missed the closed beta, or for new players who simply want to see how the sequel is shaping up, this is the first major public opportunity to try the game before launch.

The new Outward 2 open beta trailer also highlights co op gameplay, which remains one of the most important parts of the series identity. Players can explore the world with a friend online, and the trailer also confirms split screen co op support for anyone who wants to bring another player directly to the same PC setup.

That is an important feature for a game like Outward 2. The first Outward built much of its appeal around harsh exploration, dangerous travel, survival pressure, and the feeling that every journey could go wrong in unexpected ways. Co op helped make those moments more memorable, and Outward 2 appears ready to continue that tradition with more systems, stronger presentation, and a wider player base testing the experience before Early Access.

The open beta is also designed to help Nine Dots Studio pressure test the game’s servers before launch. With the Early Access release scheduled for July 7, 2026, the studio is using this period to gather feedback, observe player behavior, and make sure the game is ready for a larger wave of adventurers when it officially becomes available next month.

Alongside the beta, Nine Dots Studio is launching a community competition that gives players a chance to win 2 Early Access keys for Outward 2. The event begins today and runs until June 25, 2026. To enter, players need to follow one of the game’s social media accounts, which can include Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, or Discord.

After joining the community, players can share a screenshot or video from their time in the open beta. Nine Dots Studio is looking for moments where things go either very well or hilariously wrong.

"things going really well or going hilariously wrong."
— Nine Dots Studio

To complete an entry, players must add #ExploreAurai, mention someone they would play the game with, and tag Nine Dots Studio. Players who need more details can visit the official Explore Aurai giveaway page.

For longtime fans, this beta is a major moment. It has been 7 years since the original Outward launched, and the sequel carries strong expectations from players who appreciated the first game’s uncompromising approach to survival, exploration, and fantasy adventure. Outward was never just about defeating enemies. It was about preparing properly, surviving the road, managing risk, and learning from mistakes.

Outward 2 now has the chance to refine that formula with a larger audience watching. The open beta will give players an early sense of how the sequel handles exploration, co op, combat, survival systems, and world design before the Early Access launch. It will also allow the community to directly contribute feedback during a critical stage of development.

With Early Access arriving on July 7, 2026, Outward 2 is entering one of the most important periods for Nine Dots Studio. If the beta proves stable and the sequel captures the same dangerous charm that made the original stand out, Outward 2 could become one of the more interesting survival RPG releases of the summer.

Will you jump into the Outward 2 open beta solo, or are you bringing a friend for co op chaos in Aurai?