Warhammer 40k: Darktide Preorder Beta Starts Today, Here’s What You Need to Know
Nov. 16, 2022Warhammer 40k: Darktide Preorder Beta Starts Today, Here’s What You Need to Know
Warhammer 40k: Darktide preorder beta starts in full swing. Players will be able to get their hands on 60 weapons, 4 missions, and other random in-game events.
The dark tides are among us, Rejects! Asreported yesterday, the upcoming shooter from Fatshark Games is launching its pre-order beta today, November 17th. To be clear however, this is definitely a “beta” in the sense that the product now is not yet going to be what’s available in the final release.
It’s time to take up your chainswords, boltguns, and other messy armaments. Let’s take the fight to Nurgle to defend Tertium!
Fatshark has heard fans’ resounding feedback from the Closed Beta test a few weeks prior (check out ourimpressions here!). One of the arguably biggest concerns was that of performance. There were reports that even high-end PCs would struggle to maintain a constant 60 fps even without ray-tracing.
My personal tests on a 3070 paired with a 1440p@144hz monitor struggled to keep a framerate above 70, so I can imagine what other hardware configurations might have experienced. Thankfully, Darktide’s first notable change is an “improved optimization and performance”. Hope that this means the GPU and CPU will be better utilized, DLSS will work properly, and settings save through gameplay sessions.
Included here are also optimizations to the netcode, making sure that connectivity is more consistent (hooray, fewer disconnects!). Players can also disable head bob in the options menu, for those with motion sickness. Mouse sensitivity can also be adjusted this time around.
For players with tons of characters, the tutorial is now optional past your first Reject. Previously, all fresh meat would need to sit through 5-10 minutes of tutorials, even if the basics were largely the same. Speaking of meat, a new Meat Grinder area has been added to the Mourningstar. This is basically a shooting gallery wherein players can test out the feel of guns before actually committing to using them in a 20-minute mission.
Generally, combat inDarktideseems to have remained untouched for the most part. Still, there are a few tweaks here and there. One big standout is that weapon swapping will be adjusted. The speed of switching from one weapon to another will depend on the size, type, and weight of the item. Swapping to a melee weapon will almost always be immediate, but ranged weapons will generally have a windup time before it can be used.
Stun and hits on player characters will also be modified so that they are less likely to be stunlocked by the rifleman fodder enemies. Toughness is still a finite resource, so you will still get locked in place if you take too many hits.
Last in the Warhammer 40k:Darktidepreorder beta, players will have access to over 60 weapons. Folks can get their grimy hands on these coveted equipment, and try them out in the Meat Grinder first or just lug them into battle blindly. Hopefully that Bolter or Powersword is right up your alley.
Missions will also have random “Conditions”, or in-game events that will vary in theme. At the start of the beta, there will be only 4 conditions, including a power outage that will shut off the lights.
As mentioned, Warhammer 40k: Darktide is still a work in progress. As such, Fatshark is still working on adding features from now up until the proper November 30 release. The endgame scoreboard will be more detailed eventually to better highlight our heroic deeds during missions. In terms of the UI, weapon stats will be made more detailed as well so that choosing your armaments will be easier.
Below is also the rough outline that Fatshark is aiming to accomplish for Darktide.
Lastly, Fatshark acknowledges that Progression Carryover from the Preorder Beta to the Full Launch is important to players. There is still much uncertainty about whether this is possible from a technical standpoint, as confirmed on their news blog. Since this is a beta in the truest sense of the word, Darktide’s still in testing. The progression systems are not final, and are still being tested by the players. Fatshark is still reserving the possibility that a full wipe or reset may be needed due to any unforeseen circumstances.
It appears that if players truly want to help the company test Darktide, the Preorder Beta is the best time to do so. Just be warned that there will be a chance that you will need to start fresh once more come November 30th.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide releases on PC on November 30th. Unfortunately, the Xbox consoles have no specific date yet in mind. It costs $39.99 upfront for standard, and $59.99 for the digital deluxe (Imperial) edition that contains cosmetic outfits and Aquilas, the premium currency.
For more news, check outLost Ark November Update Titled “Feast with Friends”, Releases November 16thandMonster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Next Free Title Update Launches on November 24th.
Auberon
Writer at Fextralife. I really like vanilla ice cream.
