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Sign-ups are closed; the final test runs to October 11
Sign-ups for Over the Hill’s final playtest are closed. Funselektor opened them in its Discord server on October 5, 2026, closed the form on October 6 and announced the same day that the playtest had started for the players it selected. It runs until Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 23:59 GMT, when access to the build is removed.
Funselektor’s start post says pre-release playtests have now ended, so there is no further sign-up to wait for and no public beta code to find. If you were not selected, the next way to play is the full game on Steam on October 14, 2026.
The October 2026 final playtest
Funselektor announced it in Discord on October 5, 2026 as one final playtest before release: an early look at the game for a limited number of players, who help the team with the finishing touches. The sign-up form, titled the October Playtest, closed the next day, and late on October 6 the team posted that the playtest had started.
That post thanked everyone who had signed up for a playtest over the past year and said pre-release playtests have ended, while promising other events in the future.
- Sign-ups ran from October 5 to October 6, 2026
- Selected players can see two private Discord channels and were sent an email
- The event lasts until Sunday, October 11, 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Access to the build is removed when the event ends
- Testers are expected to fill out a survey after playing
What the sign-up form asked for
This is how the form read on October 6, 2026, before it closed. It had to be filled out in full. Besides an email address, it set the conditions below, and it said that breaking the confidentiality agreement would get a tester banned from the playtest program.
| Condition | What the form said |
|---|---|
| Age | You must be at least 16 years old |
| Discord | You must be a member of the Funselektor server and give your exact username |
| Mailing list | You must subscribe with the same email, which is where the Steam key is sent |
| Fair play | No save editing or cheat tools to skip the normal progression |
| Confidentiality | No sharing details, screenshots or videos outside the private channels, and no streaming |
Hardware and platforms for this test
The form said the playtest would use a Windows build and highly recommended a Steam Deck or better hardware for a smooth experience. Funselektor had tested the build on a limited number of Windows and Linux machines, the latter running SteamOS and Ubuntu through Proton.
Testers were welcome to run it through Proton on Linux or CrossOver on macOS, but the team said it could not support CrossOver or every Linux distribution.
How selection worked, and what to do if you missed it
The form link was posted in the announcements and playtest sign-up channels of the official Discord server, and the form closed about a day after it opened. The form promised selected players a playtester role, a private channel for the duration of the test and a Steam key by email. The sign-up channel was no longer listed in the server when this page was checked on October 7.
Funselektor’s post tells anyone who missed out not to lose heart, but it announces no further test.
- Wishlist the game on Steam so you are notified at launch on October 14, 2026.
- Stay in the Funselektor Discord if you want to hear about the future events the team mentions.
- Ignore any site or seller offering playtest keys; they were emailed only to selected players.
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. The October 2026 announcement and form do not mention friend invites.
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. The final test started on October 6 and ends on October 11, three days before launch.
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?
You cannot get one any more. Keys for the final playtest went by email to players selected from the Discord sign-up, which closed on October 6, 2026, and 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?
None is planned before launch. The final playtest started on October 6, 2026 and ends on October 11 at 23:59 GMT, and Funselektor says pre-release playtests have ended.
Do I need Discord to join a playtest?
Yes for the October 2026 test. The form required membership of the Funselektor Discord server, and selected players were given access to private channels there.
Can I stream or post footage from the playtest?
No. Applicants agreed not to share details, screenshots or videos outside the private playtest channels and not to stream the game.
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