ReVamp’s first playtest may reach only a few hundred players, despite tens of thousands signing up for the planned Steam test. Digital Sun will instead begin with a smaller Discord session on October 29, where staff can approve access manually. The studio hopes to hold a public playtest around January, ahead of the game’s March 2027 release.
Marketing manager Israel Mallén explained the change in an interview with PC Gamer. Discord gives Digital Sun more control over who gets a build. The studio can require testers to sign NDAs, monitor activity on its server, and answer questions while they play.
Steam’s playtest access tools offer fewer options. Mallén said the studio can restrict access by country, but cannot screen individual users or distinguish established players, with histories of buying games, posting reviews, or joining other tests, from accounts created just to enter the playtest.
Digital Sun is concerned that a public build could be reverse-engineered, have its code taken, or inspire a similar game before ReVamp is ready to launch. Mallén said the studio had not felt this level of risk during its decade making games such as Moonlighter and Cataclismo.
We’re keeping ReVamp’s first playtest small for now.
Here’s why. pic.twitter.com/VVBm5hoBeF
— Digital Sun ✨ Wishlist ReVamp! (@DigitalSunGames) October 19, 2026
The smaller test also means less access to feedback and attention. Mallén said moving public tests and demos closer to launch leaves months without feedback at scale from real players or the reach of content creators. Digital Sun says that affects how many players it can reach and how visible ReVamp is. Later demos may serve more as marketing than as a way to develop the game with its community.
Mallén suggested storefronts could give developers more ways to screen playtest applicants, including account age, playtime, or review history. Digital Sun has 250,000 wishlists and years of experience behind it, he said, but developers just starting out may have less room to absorb the risk. Games with simpler mechanics or visuals may also be easier to replicate.
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