Airframe Ultra Playtests & Betas: Every Round So Far
Airframe Ultra has been unusually open before launch: five numbered Beta playtests plus a public "Megacity Open" weekend have run since spring 2026, all delivered through the playtest/demo entry on the Steam store page. Beta 5 — the final announced beta — wrapped up on September 18, 2026. This page tracks every round and how to get into the next one.
Beta 5: Desperada (September 2026)
The most recent round, Beta 5, went live on September 3, 2026: "Grab your helmets and start your engine! The servers are running and the playtest button is live on the Airframe Ultra store page." The update added a new racer, Desperada, to the roster.
The wrap-up post on September 18 used the moment for the big announcement — the November 5, 2026 release date — and walked through the development story behind the beta. That makes Beta 5 the last announced playtest before launch.
Named racers confirmed for launch alongside your friends: Desperada, Bandit 99, Nuclear Them and Jackrabbit.
The Earlier Rounds: Megacity Open and More
The playtest program has been running in rounds since spring. On June 26–29, 2026, the "Weekend Megacity West Open" put servers up for everyone: "The cops have been bribed. Download the Airframe Ultra Playtest and get started!" — bookended by developer streams on the Akupara Twitch channel.
The team has also been public about why the betas exist. In an August 3 Q&A, developer Josh answered community questions in the Discord about "the purpose and goal of the playtests": stress-testing netcode and gathering movement feedback before the full launch.
Even earlier, the game appeared in Steam Next Fest with its "Steam Next Fest Circuit Trailer", and an "Official Open Beta Trailer" ran as part of Indie Fan Fest 2026 — both still public on YouTube.
How to Join the Next Playtest
Access is deliberately simple: when a beta is live, a playtest/demo button appears on the Steam store page and anyone can download the build — no key, no signup, no survey. Rounds open and close on short notice, announced through Steam news and the publisher's social channels.
The Discord is the fastest signal channel: the Q&A channel, race nights against the publishers, and beta announcements all happen there first. The Steam news feed is the official archive.
Since Beta 5 ended on September 18 with the release date announcement, the expectation is that the next public build is the game itself on November 5 — but if another open test appears, it will use the same playtest button.
FAQ
Is there an Airframe Ultra demo?
There is no permanent demo — the game runs time-limited playtest rounds (five numbered Betas so far, plus a public Megacity Open weekend). A demo entry exists on the store page and activates when a round is live.
When did the last beta end?
Beta 5 ended on September 18, 2026, with the release date announcement in its wrap-up post. No further beta has been announced.
How do I join a playtest?
When a round is live, a playtest button appears on the Steam store page — anyone can download it, no signup needed. Announcements go out via Steam news and the publisher's channels.
What was in Beta 5?
Beta 5 added the racer Desperada and stress-tested servers and netcode before launch.
Was Airframe Ultra in Steam Next Fest?
Yes — the game promoted its Next Fest appearance with the "Steam Next Fest Circuit Trailer", and also ran an Open Beta trailer during Indie Fan Fest 2026.
Do beta progress and items carry over to the full game?
Not confirmed. The developers have not said whether playtest progress carries into the release version.