How To Play Back For Blood Beta

Back 4 Blood campaign Cleaners — There's an early access beta running right now (pic: Turtle Rock Studios)

The Left 4 Dead creators' new game, Back 4 Blood, was meant to be out by now, but you can at least try out the open beta instead.

Earlier this year, Turtle Rock Studios announced a four-month delay for its multiplayer zombie shooter Back 4 Blood, pushing it back from a June release to October.

While delays are always disappointing, the bright side is that Turtle Rock is holding a Back 4 Blood beta to give fans an early taste of the experience. And unlike the alpha test from last year, this one's open to everyone.

That said, there are two betas, with one of them offering earlier access, so here's a rundown of how to sign up and other details you'll need to know about.

Back 4 Blood – how join the early access beta

The early access beta is very much for those who already know they want the game. If you've pre-ordered it, then you have access (and are possibly playing it right now).

If you haven't yet, you can pre-order a copy via the official website. The beta isn't locked to the Deluxe or Ultimate editions though, as pre-ordering even the standard edition grants you access.

If you don't want to commit to a pre-order just yet, you can always register for the beta alone on the official website. However, there's no guarantee you'll be selected for it.

Another alternative is to acquire a code through Twitch Drops. You'll need a Warner Bros. Games account (which is free to set up) and associate it to your Twitch account.

Once the two accounts are linked, you must then watch a Back 4 Blood stream that has Twitch Drops enabled for at least 60 minutes. Do that, and you should be able to claim a Twitch Drop from the Back 4 Blood Twitch Drops homepage.

Back 4 Blood – how long does the early access beta last?

The early access beta started yesterday, August 5, and will run for a few more days until August 9, ending at 8pm BST.

Back 4 Blood – how to join the open beta

Since it's an open beta, there shouldn't be any extra hoops you'll need to jump through. The beta should simply be available to download from the digital storefront on your platform of choice (so the PlayStation Store for PlayStation users, Steam and the Epic Games Store for PC users, etc.).

Back 4 Blood – how long does the open beta last?

Like the early access beta, it will only run for four days, starting from August 12 at 8pm BST (three days after the early access beta ends) and ending on August 16 at 8pm BST.

Back 4 Blood gameplay — The second beta will kick off next week (Picture: Turtle Rock Studios)

Back 4 Blood – which platforms is the beta available on?

The beta is available on every platform that the game is releasing for. So, that's the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Turtle Rock has also confirmed that every version will have cross-play and cross-gen support enabled.

Back 4 Blood – do I need PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live?

Normally, for online multiplayer, PlayStation owners and Xbox owners would need a PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live subscription. But, for the beta, that won't be necessary, making the beta truly open to everyone. Although we imagine a subscription will be needed for the full game.

It should be noted that, for some reason, players based in Germany will need a PlayStation Plus subscription for the PlayStation 4 and 5 versions of the beta. And while we're on the subject, the fine print adds that the beta isn't available at all in Japan.

Back 4 Blood – what content is available in the beta?

You'll be able to play as five of the eight available Cleaners across two PvE and two PvP maps. You'll also be able to explore Fort Hope, the game's hub area.

Back 4 Blood – will my beta progress carry over to the full game?

No, any progress you make will be reset once the beta ends, so you'll need to start from scratch once the full game releases.

More information on the beta, like PC requirements and accessibility options, can be found on an FAQ page.

Back 4 Blood releases on October 12 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.

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