Humankind beta test will offer "up to 200 turns" and "5 eras of human history"

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Pre-orders will get "instant access" to the beta once it launches

Humankind
(Image credit: SEGA)

Sega and Amplitude Studios have announced a beta test for the upcoming strategy game, Humankind.

The closed beta will offer players the chance to "play through five eras of human history in the Humankind closed beta", which includes ten new industrial era cultures, along with "planes, trains, and artillery".

"Our past OpenDevs have been more focused on the early game," a press release explains. "Now, for the first time, we’re giving access through to the end of the Industrial era, or 200 turns, whichever comes first. This represents 5 out of the 6 total eras that will be in the game at launch."

That means that this time around, players can try out 10 new industrial era cultures, exploit coal and oil to push your economy to new heights of productivity, build railways to cheaply and quickly move goods and troops, and fight the biggest battles yet, "supporting them with long-range artillery bombardment, and taking to the skies to keep an eye on your enemies".

Though the precise date of the beta has yet to be unveiled – there'll be more info coming later today at the E3 2021 PC Gaming show – the developer has confirmed that all pre-orders of Humankind either on Steam or Epic will "grant instant access to the closed beta when it starts". If you're super keen, you could also hang out with a selection of Twitch streamers who will be "dropping keys and customized avatars" all through next week.

Humankind was originally scheduled to release in late 2020, but it was delayed until April 11 back in the summer of 2020, and then again – this time to August 2021 – back in March. 

Amplitude Studios is probably best known for its work on Endless Space, another 4X strategy title, but it was clear from the off that it wanted to explore something different with Humankind. Rather than focusing on an end goal of conquering the globe, Humankind uses a Fame system that rewards you for your civilization’s memorable deeds throughout the ages. Apparently, it’s not about the destination, it’s about how your empire will be remembered.

For more exciting titles to look forward to, check out our round-up of the new games of 2021 and beyond.

Vikki Blake
Vikki Blake
Weekend Reporter, GamesRadar+

Vikki Blake is GamesRadar+'s Weekend Reporter. Vikki works tirelessly to ensure that you have something to read on the days of the week beginning with 'S', and can also be found contributing to outlets including the BBC, Eurogamer, and GameIndustry.biz. Vikki also runs a weekly games column at NME, and can be frequently found talking about Destiny 2 and Silent Hill on Twitter.