A small private group of testers get the code-gated download with a beta key on Tue Jul 1, play while we iterate on feedback, and credits/attribution flow back at launch. The open beta opens to everyone one week later, Tue Jul 8.
Apply via the form below. Selection is by X-handle visibility in AI / gamedev / procgen circles + the prompt you'd most want to build a world from. Keys go out within ~24h of selection.
Jul 1 → Jul 8
Test & iterate
Selected testers get the itch.io link + a private beta key, download, and play. Report what's broken via the in-game feedback channel or direct DM. We iterate weekly; builds update via itch.io's auto-updater.
Tue Jul 8
Open beta opens
The beta opens to everyone, no code required. We keep iterating on feedback through the open period; closed-beta testers keep their access throughout.
After open beta
$20 release
The polished v2.6 build ships at $20 on itch.io (Steam page in parallel). Beta testers keep their access; reviews from testers get amplified with attribution.
What you get as a tester
the deal
Early itch.io build — full game, weeks before public
Direct line to the dev — Ben @prometheus7, no tickets in between
Credits acknowledgement — name in the in-game credits roll
Launch-day attribution — quotable reviews amplified with @-tag
Free during beta — you keep your download through the open beta, including the v2.6+ updates
Influence v2.6 — what you find shapes the open beta on Tuesday July 8
Apply for beta
closed beta opens Tue Jul 1 · open beta Tue Jul 8
limited slots · selected by X-handle visibility + the prompt you'd build first
We email applicants within about a day. Selected testers get the key + link; everyone else gets a "thanks, see you at open beta Jul 8" with the open-beta link.
How beta keys work
step by step, once you're selected
You receive an email from beta@wanderaround.io with subject "Wander Around beta key inside" — sent within about a day of selection.
The email contains an itch.io download link plus your private beta key (a short alphanumeric string unique to you).
Click the link → it opens the Wander Around itch.io page in "beta access" mode → enter your beta key when prompted.
Download the build for your platform (Windows portable .zip or Linux AppImage). Unzip and run.
Play. Report what's broken, what feels off, what you wish existed. We iterate. You get the updated builds via itch.io's auto-updater (or by re-downloading from the same page).
On Tue Jul 8, the open beta goes public. Your access persists; the $20 itch.io release follows after beta.