Permafrost Playtest and 2h Preview: Access and Availability
Check the ended Permafrost preview, two-hour timer rules, access history and why test time is not a completion-length estimate.
Quick Answer
The October preview closed on October 6, 2026 at 14:00 CEST. Its final allowance was two hours total, including character creation. An old test entry in your library does not mean access has reopened. Check the main Steam listing for Early Access availability.
On This Page
Is the Permafrost playtest still available?
The October preview window has ended. The October 3 extension announcement set its closing time, and the October 6 developer letter confirmed testing was wrapping up. An old request-access guide is not proof of a current invitation round.
A retained test entry in your Steam library is different from a license for the main game. The preview used a separate application; do not assume that keeping its installed files grants commercial-release access.
How the two-hour timer worked
| Question | Official rule |
|---|---|
| Total allowance | Two hours overall, extended from one hour. |
| Already used one hour? | One more hour remained, rather than two fresh hours. |
| When did time start? | At launch, with character creation included. |
| Friends | Participants had three invitations to distribute. |
| Closing time | October 6, 2026, 14:00 CEST (12:00 UTC). |
These were rules for that preview, not an ongoing free trial. The notice did not explain whether pauses, menus or crashes stopped the clock, so no timer refund is promised here.
What to do if access is missing or expired
- Identify the version. Playtest or 2h Preview refers to the test. The main game is Permafrost from SpaceRocket Games and Toplitz Productions.
- For the ended test, stop looking for an October invitation. The second-wave notice told accepted applicants to check their Steam library while that window was open.
- For Early Access, open the main store listing. A wishlist notification or previous test invitation does not establish ownership of the purchased game.
- Follow fresh rules if another test is announced. Old dates, eligible players and allowances should not be carried into a new event.
Preview-save transfer into Early Access was not confirmed in the official announcements checked here. Keep existing save files if you want to retain them, but do not assume they will load in the release build.
How long is Permafrost? Test time versus game length
Two hours was a preview allowance, not a campaign length. No reliable Early Access completion-time sample was established at this check, so we cannot give a supported main-story or completionist estimate.
The Steam Early Access FAQ describes a planned development period of at least 12 months. That is a production timetable, not hours of playable content. A video duration or preview session is not evidence for how long the released game takes to finish.
Future estimates should identify the build, activities completed and whether crafting, exploration or co-op was included. Until then, use this page to understand the ended preview limit.
What can you play next?
Early Access was scheduled for October 9. The October 9 launch notice postponed the original 14:00 CEST opening by a few hours while launch improvements were included. No new exact time was given.
At this check, Steam still showed Coming Soon. Check the current store button and follow our official download guide once it opens. The main-game unlock does not reopen the ended preview.