Permafrost Playtest Guide — Sessions, the 2-Hour Rule and Invites

Permafrost ran a closed Steam playtest from October 2 to October 6, 2026 (ending 14:00 CEST). Each tester got 2 hours of total playtime and 3 friend invites. The developer extended the limit from 1 to 2 hours and sent a second wave of invites after the first day's demand.

Quick answer: the playtest ran Oct 2-6, 2026 on Steam, by invite from the sign-up list. 2-hour total playtime per tester (counts character creation), 3 friend invites each, and a feedback survey at the end. It has now ended — the next chance to play is the Oct 9 Early Access launch.

The Playtest Rules (as Announced)

  • Window: October 2-6, 2026, ending 14:00 CEST
  • Playtime: 2 hours total per tester (extended from 1 hour on Oct 3)
  • The timer counts everything from launch — including character creation
  • Each tester got 3 friend invites
  • A survey at the end of the session collected feedback
  • Bugs reported during the test were patched mid-test (a fix batch shipped with the extension)

How to Spend 2 Hours Wisely (What Testers Learned)

With a hard 2-hour cap counting character creation, the smart playtest order was: skip long character customization, complete the opening radio-signal setup, then push one loop of the core survival systems — warmth, hunger, a first shelter, and a taste of crafting — before testing the edges (Cold Zones, the dog companion, co-op with invited friends).

The mid-test patch also fixed issues testers flagged, which makes the launch build's stability easier to read: the October 9 Early Access version already incorporates one round of public feedback.

Missed It? What To Do Now

  • Wishlist Permafrost on Steam — you'll get the launch notification and any price news
  • Watch the official Steam news feed — the 'Signal' devblog series documents systems in detail
  • Prepare your hardware against the system requirements page
  • Line up your co-op crew of up to 4 for launch day

FAQ

When was the Permafrost playtest?

October 2-6, 2026, ending at 14:00 CEST on October 6. Invites went out in waves via Steam.

How long could you play?

2 hours total, extended from the original 1 hour on October 3. The clock starts the moment you launch the game and includes character creation.

How did invites work?

Each accepted tester received 3 friend invites to hand out. Sign-ups who weren't in the first wave were told to watch their Steam library — a second round went out October 3.

Is the playtest still running?

No — it ended October 6, 2026. The next opportunity to play is the Early Access launch on October 9.