Since the 0.4.4 build was published at the end of September we have been working closely with partners to iterate on the character, game mode, and networking systems for Gang Beasts and are now testing release builds for the Gang Beasts 0.5.0 beta.

We plan to publish the 0.5.0 beta when testing ends, this should be in December but we can't set a specific date in December currently (as critical issues could still be found in testing).

To force server compatibility we need to publish the 0.5.0 build concurrently with the Gang Beasts Dedicated Server tool and significant updates to servers.

Please note the 0.5.0 build will replace the 0.3.4 and 0.4.4 Steam Early Access builds and game servers will be intermittently unavailable for an hour following the release of the 0.5.0 build (as servers are modified and restarted)

Please note the Dedicated Server Tool will only support Windows operating systems initially


Currently we're working with Coatsink and SuperGenius to fix some stability issues with character costume parts and part combinations, other work has also been done to optimise the audio system, fix missing SFX, music and other audio, and fix issues with the character system. We have also been working to standardise game menus and in game messaging.

We have also been working with Coatsink to test Steam achievements and localisations, and to make the online multiplayer more stable and accessible (including key work on server automation, polyinstancing, local and online lobbies, VoIP, and support for concurrent local and online multiplayer game sessions).

We will make a post with specific information on modifications and content in the 0.5.0 beta build (including which stages have online multiplayer support) when the build is published later this month.


The character costume system has been populated with the 179 costume parts (109 examples are shown in the image) made for the game to date, it is still missing some older costumes that need geometry modifying to make them compatible with the new costume system.



Please note some costume parts have been made specifically for enemy AI gangs (we plan to make these parts unlock-able in AI game modes)


We have setup a Steam sub-forum named Oculus Keys for Gang Beasts Early Access owners to request Oculus keys for Gang Beasts.

Support for VIVE, Oculus, and PSVR head mounted displays is planned but only Oculus Rift support has been published to date (Oculus support is at a later stage as Oculus made extensive technical and hardware support available for implementing and testing VR support).


Online gameplay in Gang Beasts is only supported in the "unstable" alpha builds on Steam Early Access, online support will be added to the default Steam builds when the 0.5.0 build is released later this month.


To download the "unstable" branch on Steam right-click on the "Gang Beasts" game name on the Steam library page and select "Properties" from the window that opens, from this window select the "BETAS" tab and then the "unstable" option from the dropdown menu (the menu labelled "Select the beta you would like to opt into:". To revert back to the last 'stable' branch select "NONE- Opt out of all beta programs" from the same menu.

For reference switching between unstable and stable branches of the game forces the selected build to download to the Steam client (replacing the previously selected build).

Since the 0.4.4 build was published at the end of September we have been working closely with partners to iterate on the character, game mode, and networking systems for Gang Beasts and are now testing release builds for the Gang Beasts 0.5.0 beta.

We plan to publish the 0.5.0 beta when testing ends, this should be in December but we can't set a specific date in December currently (as critical issues could still be found in testing).

To force server compatibility we need to publish the 0.5.0 build concurrently with the Gang Beasts Dedicated Server tool and significant updates to servers.

Please note the 0.5.0 build will replace the 0.3.4 and 0.4.4 Steam Early Access builds and game servers will be intermittently unavailable for an hour following the release of the 0.5.0 build (as servers are modified and restarted)

Please note the Dedicated Server Tool will only support Windows operating systems initially


Currently we're working with Coatsink and SuperGenius to fix some stability issues with character costume parts and part combinations, other work has also been done to optimise the audio system, fix missing SFX, music and other audio, and fix issues with the character system. We have also been working to standardise game menus and in game messaging.

We have also been working with Coatsink to test Steam achievements and localisations, and to make the online multiplayer more stable and accessible (including key work on server automation, polyinstancing, local and online lobbies, VoIP, and support for concurrent local and online multiplayer game sessions).

We will make a post with specific information on modifications and content in the 0.5.0 beta build (including which stages have online multiplayer support) when the build is published later this month.


The character costume system has been populated with the 179 costume parts (109 examples are shown in the image) made for the game to date, it is still missing some older costumes that need geometry modifying to make them compatible with the new costume system.



Please note some costume parts have been made specifically for enemy AI gangs (we plan to make these parts unlock-able in AI game modes)


We have setup a Steam sub-forum named Oculus Keys for Gang Beasts Early Access owners to request Oculus keys for Gang Beasts.

Support for VIVE, Oculus, and PSVR head mounted displays is planned but only Oculus Rift support has been published to date (Oculus support is at a later stage as Oculus made extensive technical and hardware support available for implementing and testing VR support).


Online gameplay in Gang Beasts is only supported in the "unstable" alpha builds on Steam Early Access, online support will be added to the default Steam builds when the 0.5.0 build is released later this month.


To download the "unstable" branch on Steam right-click on the "Gang Beasts" game name on the Steam library page and select "Properties" from the window that opens, from this window select the "BETAS" tab and then the "unstable" option from the dropdown menu (the menu labelled "Select the beta you would like to opt into:". To revert back to the last 'stable' branch select "NONE- Opt out of all beta programs" from the same menu.

For reference switching between unstable and stable branches of the game forces the selected build to download to the Steam client (replacing the previously selected build).

The list of modifications and fixes made in the 0.4.4 "unstable" alpha build are:

• added infrastructure for VOIP to be enabled in a coming build (when initial testing on the the push to talk system has finished)
  
• added the framework for supporting additional multiplayer game modes (some additional work is needed before the first examples of other game modes can be made available for play testing)
  
• added server modifications to support cross play between Steam Early Access and Oculus Early Access builds
  
• added messaging to the root menu (for contexts when no connection to the central server can be established)
  
• fixed an issue with the quick join setting that could potentially make multiple connections to a server (making the loading / interstitial screens hang)
  
• modified the quick join setting to address an issue where scenes could load with missing geometry

Online gameplay in Gang Beasts is currently supported in the "unstable" alpha builds on Steam Early Access (online support will be added to the default Steam builds when the local multiplayer versions of the 'buoy' and 'fans' stages have been restored to the game).


There are currently a number of discrepancies / issues that make the recent "unstable" builds differently with older builds, we will be working to standardise the control scheme and concussion system in the "unstable" builds soon when online support is added to the default Early Access builds.


To download the ‘unstable’ branch on Steam right-click on the ‘Gang Beasts’ game name on the Steam library page and select 'Properties' from the window that opens, from this window select the 'BETAS' tab and then the 'unstable' option from the dropdown menu (the menu labelled 'Select the beta you would like to opt into:’. To revert back to the last 'stable' branch select 'NONE- Opt out of all beta programs' from the same menu.

For reference switching between 'unstable' and 'stable' branches of the game forces the selected build to download to the Steam client (replacing the previously selected build).

The list of modifications and fixes made in the 0.4.4 "unstable" alpha build are:

• added infrastructure for VOIP to be enabled in a coming build (when initial testing on the the push to talk system has finished)
  
• added the framework for supporting additional multiplayer game modes (some additional work is needed before the first examples of other game modes can be made available for play testing)
  
• added server modifications to support cross play between Steam Early Access and Oculus Early Access builds
  
• added messaging to the root menu (for contexts when no connection to the central server can be established)
  
• fixed an issue with the quick join setting that could potentially make multiple connections to a server (making the loading / interstitial screens hang)
  
• modified the quick join setting to address an issue where scenes could load with missing geometry

Online gameplay in Gang Beasts is currently supported in the "unstable" alpha builds on Steam Early Access (online support will be added to the default Steam builds when the local multiplayer versions of the 'buoy' and 'fans' stages have been restored to the game).


There are currently a number of discrepancies / issues that make the recent "unstable" builds differently with older builds, we will be working to standardise the control scheme and concussion system in the "unstable" builds soon when online support is added to the default Early Access builds.


To download the ‘unstable’ branch on Steam right-click on the ‘Gang Beasts’ game name on the Steam library page and select 'Properties' from the window that opens, from this window select the 'BETAS' tab and then the 'unstable' option from the dropdown menu (the menu labelled 'Select the beta you would like to opt into:’. To revert back to the last 'stable' branch select 'NONE- Opt out of all beta programs' from the same menu.

For reference switching between 'unstable' and 'stable' branches of the game forces the selected build to download to the Steam client (replacing the previously selected build).

The list of modifications and fixes made in the 0.4.3 "unstable" alpha build are:

• baked lighting in the ‘elevators’ stage
  
• fixed a gaze targeting issue on the character select screen
  
• modified Steam IDs to only show when triggered (with the input mapped to show Steam IDs)
  
• modified the scrolling implementation in the server browser screen

  
• temporarily added a round timeout to end rounds at 5 minutes (we plan to review the timeout implementation / length when stage escalations are fully implemented)

  
• temporarily modified the default game logic to a single win per stage (to reduce spectating), we plan to support the previous logic and modified logic concurrently in a coming build

Please note there is no "stable" alpha build release with this post, the next stable release will be published soon (when the 'buoy' and 'fans' stages have been restored to the default local game mode).


Online gameplay in Gang Beasts is currently supported in the "unstable" alpha builds on Steam Early Access (support for online gameplay in the default Gang Beasts Early Access builds is scheduled for a later stage of development).


To download the ‘unstable’ branch on Steam right-click on the ‘Gang Beasts’ game name on the Steam library page and select 'Properties' from the window that opens, from this window select the 'BETAS' tab and then the 'unstable' option from the dropdown menu (the menu labelled 'Select the beta you would like to opt into:’. To revert back to the last 'stable' branch select 'NONE- Opt out of all beta programs' from the same menu.

For reference switching between 'unstable' and 'stable' branches of the game forces the selected build to download to the Steam client (replacing the previously selected build).

The list of modifications and fixes made in the 0.4.3 "unstable" alpha build are:

• baked lighting in the ‘elevators’ stage
  
• fixed a gaze targeting issue on the character select screen
  
• modified Steam IDs to only show when triggered (with the input mapped to show Steam IDs)
  
• modified the scrolling implementation in the server browser screen

  
• temporarily added a round timeout to end rounds at 5 minutes (we plan to review the timeout implementation / length when stage escalations are fully implemented)

  
• temporarily modified the default game logic to a single win per stage (to reduce spectating), we plan to support the previous logic and modified logic concurrently in a coming build

Please note there is no "stable" alpha build release with this post, the next stable release will be published soon (when the 'buoy' and 'fans' stages have been restored to the default local game mode).


Online gameplay in Gang Beasts is currently supported in the "unstable" alpha builds on Steam Early Access (support for online gameplay in the default Gang Beasts Early Access builds is scheduled for a later stage of development).


To download the ‘unstable’ branch on Steam right-click on the ‘Gang Beasts’ game name on the Steam library page and select 'Properties' from the window that opens, from this window select the 'BETAS' tab and then the 'unstable' option from the dropdown menu (the menu labelled 'Select the beta you would like to opt into:’. To revert back to the last 'stable' branch select 'NONE- Opt out of all beta programs' from the same menu.

For reference switching between 'unstable' and 'stable' branches of the game forces the selected build to download to the Steam client (replacing the previously selected build).

The list of modifications and fixes made in the 0.4.2 "unstable" alpha build are:

• added a countdown timer to the local multiplayer character select screen to support canceling the session if other players did not submit to join the session (press the input mapped for ’duck/crawl’ to stop the countdown)
  
• added geography filters for new servers in Frankfurt (EU), São Paulo (South America), Tokyo (Asia Pacific), Singapore (Asia Pacific), Seoul (Asia Pacific), and Mumbai (India)
  
• modified geometry for 'gondola' for stage
  
• modified Steam ID labels to use the selected character colour
  
• modified the default online game mode to not despawn the characters of players that leave the server (neglected characters will idle but not decrement / increment score metrics if removed from the stage by other players)
  
• modified the game camera to frame the last player on stage end
  
• modified the input mapping screen to support the mapping of single inputs
  
• modified the input reference screens with revised information
  
• modified train tracks on ‘subway’ stage to render in front of the Steam ID labels
  
• removed ‘Draw’ messaging on stage end for single player local games
  
• removed background plane and Steam Avatars from Steam ID labels
  
• removed debug input for immediately loading the next stage in the current sequence (in the current default game mode)
  
• restored 8 player support for the current default local games mode (
  
• restored menu setting to enable / disable Xinput support
  
• restored the ‘containers’ and ‘chute’ stages for the current default local game mode
  
• temporarily disabled invoking the input mapping screen from the in game menu


Please note there is no "stable" alpha build release with this post, the next stable release will be published when the 'buoy' and 'fans' stages have been restored to the default local game mode.


Online gameplay in Gang Beasts is currently supported in the "unstable" alpha builds on Steam Early Access (support for online gameplay in the default Gang Beasts Early Access builds is scheduled for a later stage of development).


To download the ‘unstable’ branch on Steam right-click on the ‘Gang Beasts’ game name on the Steam library page and select 'Properties' from the window that opens, from this window select the 'BETAS' tab and then the 'unstable' option from the dropdown menu (the menu labelled 'Select the beta you would like to opt into:’. To revert back to the last 'stable' branch select 'NONE- Opt out of all beta programs' from the same menu.

For reference switching between 'unstable' and 'stable' branches of the game forces the selected build to download to the Steam client (replacing the previously selected build).

The list of modifications and fixes made in the 0.4.2 "unstable" alpha build are:

• added a countdown timer to the local multiplayer character select screen to support canceling the session if other players did not submit to join the session (press the input mapped for ’duck/crawl’ to stop the countdown)
  
• added geography filters for new servers in Frankfurt (EU), São Paulo (South America), Tokyo (Asia Pacific), Singapore (Asia Pacific), Seoul (Asia Pacific), and Mumbai (India)
  
• modified geometry for 'gondola' for stage
  
• modified Steam ID labels to use the selected character colour
  
• modified the default online game mode to not despawn the characters of players that leave the server (neglected characters will idle but not decrement / increment score metrics if removed from the stage by other players)
  
• modified the game camera to frame the last player on stage end
  
• modified the input mapping screen to support the mapping of single inputs
  
• modified the input reference screens with revised information
  
• modified train tracks on ‘subway’ stage to render in front of the Steam ID labels
  
• removed ‘Draw’ messaging on stage end for single player local games
  
• removed background plane and Steam Avatars from Steam ID labels
  
• removed debug input for immediately loading the next stage in the current sequence (in the current default game mode)
  
• restored 8 player support for the current default local games mode (
  
• restored menu setting to enable / disable Xinput support
  
• restored the ‘containers’ and ‘chute’ stages for the current default local game mode
  
• temporarily disabled invoking the input mapping screen from the in game menu


Please note there is no "stable" alpha build release with this post, the next stable release will be published when the 'buoy' and 'fans' stages have been restored to the default local game mode.


Online gameplay in Gang Beasts is currently supported in the "unstable" alpha builds on Steam Early Access (support for online gameplay in the default Gang Beasts Early Access builds is scheduled for a later stage of development).


To download the ‘unstable’ branch on Steam right-click on the ‘Gang Beasts’ game name on the Steam library page and select 'Properties' from the window that opens, from this window select the 'BETAS' tab and then the 'unstable' option from the dropdown menu (the menu labelled 'Select the beta you would like to opt into:’. To revert back to the last 'stable' branch select 'NONE- Opt out of all beta programs' from the same menu.

For reference switching between 'unstable' and 'stable' branches of the game forces the selected build to download to the Steam client (replacing the previously selected build).

The list of modifications and fixes made in the 0.4.1 "unstable" alpha build are:

• fixed Yogscast Charity DLC costumes
  
• fixed an issue with characters not spawning randomly
  
• fixed an issue with the placeholder loading screen not dismissing when joining a game as a spectator
  
• modified the default game mode to 3 round wins (to win the stage)
  
• modified the game architecture to improve stability
  
• modified the placeholder loading screen to show the keyboard input reference if mouse inputs are used to start the game
  
• modified the spectating system to spectate until the the current stage ends (spectating players join the game when the current stage ends)
  
• modified the master server to prepare support for additional server geographies (in Asia Pacific, Europe, India, and South America)

Please note there is no "stable" alpha build release with this post (the next stable release will be published when more optimisations and fixes have been made to the 0.4.x builds).


To download the ‘unstable’ branch on Steam right-click on the ‘Gang Beasts’ game name on the Steam library page and select 'Properties' from the window that opens, from this window select the 'BETAS' tab and then the 'unstable' option from the dropdown menu (the menu labelled 'Select the beta you would like to opt into:’. To revert back to the last 'stable' branch select 'NONE- Opt out of all beta programs' from the same menu.

For reference switching between 'unstable' and 'stable' branches of the game forces the selected build to download to the Steam client (replacing the previously selected build).

The list of modifications and fixes made in the 0.4.1 "unstable" alpha build are:

• fixed Yogscast Charity DLC costumes
  
• fixed an issue with characters not spawning randomly
  
• fixed an issue with the placeholder loading screen not dismissing when joining a game as a spectator
  
• modified the default game mode to 3 round wins (to win the stage)
  
• modified the game architecture to improve stability
  
• modified the placeholder loading screen to show the keyboard input reference if mouse inputs are used to start the game
  
• modified the spectating system to spectate until the the current stage ends (spectating players join the game when the current stage ends)
  
• modified the master server to prepare support for additional server geographies (in Asia Pacific, Europe, India, and South America)

Please note there is no "stable" alpha build release with this post (the next stable release will be published when more optimisations and fixes have been made to the 0.4.x builds).


To download the ‘unstable’ branch on Steam right-click on the ‘Gang Beasts’ game name on the Steam library page and select 'Properties' from the window that opens, from this window select the 'BETAS' tab and then the 'unstable' option from the dropdown menu (the menu labelled 'Select the beta you would like to opt into:’. To revert back to the last 'stable' branch select 'NONE- Opt out of all beta programs' from the same menu.

For reference switching between 'unstable' and 'stable' branches of the game forces the selected build to download to the Steam client (replacing the previously selected build).