Over the Hill Release, Demo and Playtest

Over the Hill Playtest: How Sign-Ups Work

Over the Hill playtests are limited and announced in the official Discord. The August 2026 sign-up closed August 17; one more test is planned before launch.

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Direct answer

Watch the Discord sign-up channel for the last test

Over the Hill playtests are run by Funselektor for a limited number of players, and sign-ups are posted in the playtest sign-up channel of the official Funselektor Discord server. The most recent one, the August 2026 playtest, is closed: its sign-up ended on August 17, and selected players were given access to private channels or contacted by email.

Funselektor says it plans one last playtest before the October 14, 2026 launch. No public beta codes have been handed out; access comes from being selected through the sign-up form.

Sign-up open nowNo
Last sign-up closedAugust 17, 2026
Next testOne more planned
Where to sign upFunselektor Discord
A lightning bolt splits a teal night sky over a grassy meadow where an off-roader with a rooftop tent and a second vehicle are parked near pine trees.
An off-roader with a rooftop tent is parked in a meadow as lightning splits the night sky in an official Steam screenshot. It illustrates the game, not a playtest build.

How the August 2026 playtest worked

Funselektor announced the August playtest in Discord on August 12, 2026. Because the test had very specific goals, it ran longer than earlier playtests and was limited to a few hundred players.

  • Limited to a few hundred players
  • The sign-up form had to be completed in full
  • Sign-ups closed at midnight GMT on August 16, 2026
  • Testing started on August 21, 2026
  • Selected players could invite up to two friends who had also signed up

Bringing friends into a playtest

A follow-up post on August 13 explained that selected players could invite up to two friends, but only friends who had also filled in the sign-up form before the deadline. The friend invite form asked only for the email addresses everyone used to sign up, and the sign-up form emailed each applicant a copy of their answers.

Where the next sign-up will appear

The official FAQ points players to the playtest sign-up channel in Discord and to the Steam wishlist for news. Funselektor says one last playtest is planned before launch but has not given dates.

  1. Join the official Funselektor Discord server from the link on the official website.
  2. Open the playtest sign-up channel in the Over the Hill section.
  3. Complete the sign-up form in full before the stated deadline.
  4. Watch your email and the Discord for a selection message.

Playtest versus demo

A playtest is a limited early build for selected testers, while the Next Fest demo was open to everyone on Steam. Funselektor’s August update says keeping a public demo and free servers running worldwide was not feasible before launch, which is why it chose smaller playtests. The FAQ adds that a demo may appear closer to release.

Weekend tests and longer tests

The official FAQ describes the general plan as a few playtest weekends in which you can try an early build of the game. The August 2026 test broke that pattern on purpose: Funselektor said it had very specific goals, so it ran longer than usual with a smaller, selected group. Expect the final pre-launch test to be announced with its own format and dates.

What playtesters helped shape

Funselektor’s release announcement credits playtests, Next Fest and player suggestions with refining the game. The FAQ also marks some design choices as open to playtest feedback, such as keeping a low and high gearbox without a differential lock.

Questions players also ask

How do I get an Over the Hill beta key?

By being selected for a playtest through the Discord sign-up. Funselektor has not released public beta codes.

Is there an Over the Hill early access version?

No. The game goes straight to full release on Steam on October 14, 2026.

When is the next Over the Hill playtest?

There is no date yet. Funselektor says one last playtest is planned before October 14, 2026; watch the Discord sign-up channel.

Do I need Discord to join a playtest?

Sign-ups are announced in the Discord playtest channel, so joining the server is the reliable way to see them.

Next step

Over the Hill on Console: PS5, Xbox, Switch 2 and MobileNext, see which consoles are coming in 2027 and what is known about mobile.

Reference record

Sources behind this page

Official Discord (members only)Funselektor Discord: announcements(opens in a new tab)August 12–13, 2026 posts: the August playtest was limited to a few hundred players, required a sign-up form, started August 21, and let selected players invite up to two friends who had also signed up.Official Discord (members only)Funselektor Discord: playtest sign-up channel(opens in a new tab)Official channel where playtest sign-ups are posted. The August 2026 sign-up closed on August 17 and the team says one last playtest is planned before launch. Reading it requires joining the server.Official FAQ (developer post)Over the Hill FAQ on Steam(opens in a new tab)Pinned developer FAQ, last edited September 17, 2026: release and console timing, price, playtests, Mac, Linux and Steam Deck plans, cross-play, wheel support, co-op rules, map size, damage, upgrades, gearbox and modding.Official announcementAugust Progress Update + Exciting News(opens in a new tab)Explains why the demo is not staying online, announces a limited playtest with sign-ups through Discord, lists post-Next Fest fixes, mentions four vehicle categories, the animal photo journal and the finished soundtrack.Official announcementRelease Date Announcement(opens in a new tab)Steam announcement: launch on October 14 on Steam with several areas in the Canada and Algeria regions, the soundtrack as separate DLC, and console versions for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2 following in 2027.Official websiteOver the Hill official website(opens in a new tab)Funselektor’s game page: offroad exploration pitch, portals and objectives, co-op with up to three friends, weather and terrain deformation, photo mode, and store links for Steam, Xbox Series and PlayStation 5, plus a Switch 2 badge.