Day-One Xbox Game Pass Game Starts Steam Playtest

gamerant.com:

The Dungeons of HinterbergSteam playtest has gone live ahead of the game's summer 2024 debut. Aside from Steam, this picturesque title will also be coming to the Xbox Series X/S, in addition to being a day-one Xbox Game Pass release.

Dungeons of Hinterberg elicited some Hi-Fi Rush comparisons with its June 2023 reveal, primarily due to its use of stylish cel-shaded graphics. But the debut title from Austrian studio Microbird Games appears to be going for a vastly different kind of experience, one that combines elements of everything from Persona to The Legend of Zelda.

Some of the players whose curiosity was already piqued by this premise have been able to see first-hand how it works in practice since May 9, when Dungeons of Hinterberg launched its playtest on Steam. The game itself isn't available for pre-orders just yet, meaning there's no purchase prerequisite for enrolling in the closed beta. Even people planning to eventually play Dungeons of Hinterberg via Xbox Game Pass hence have a chance to try it out before it reaches Microsoft's subscription service, so long as they have a compatible PC and some luck. Namely, the playtest is invite-only, though anyone can request access via the game's Steam page.

Game Rant can confirm that the initial batch of Dungeons of Hinterberg beta invites has been sent out no later than the early morning hours ET on May 9. Based on the wording of Microbird's accompanying announcement, it would appear that prospective testers who haven't yet signed up for the beta still have a chance to get into it if they request access in the days ahead. The test itself is limited to the opening hours of the game, during which protagonist Luisa arrives in the village of Hinterberg in the Austrian Alps in search of some escape from the hectic life of a law trainee.

Aside from an introduction to the story and combat mechanics, the prologue also offers a chance to explore some of the game's vivid locations, including a portion of its mountain range