The team behind PlanetQuest has announced a new multiplayer preview that allows players to battle their fellow explorers while testing out the pre-alpha. The first gameplay preview that the company had previously released was a single-player point defense experience, which provided crucial insights into AI, projectiles, lighting, and more.

The new multiplayer preview takes these fundamental elements and puts them in an arena environment where players can face off against each other using a placeable turret and four distinct weapons: an assault rifle, shotgun, minigun, and sniper rifle. It’s designed as a timed, deathmatch-style scenario with 10 minutes per session to rack up the highest score.

The core focus of this preview is to test the multiplayer code, ensuring that PlanetQuest provides a seamless, browser-based experience for all players, and in order to do that, the multiplayer preview is running in three regions: North America, Europe, and Asia.

In addition to the multiplayer aspect, the company has also introduced new additions to its surface generation system for testing purposes and expanded its capabilities. Players will notice that the player model is still a humanoid hologram, as the company plans to reveal the look of the explorer suit later in the quarter.

To participate in the multiplayer preview, players can simply visit the PlanetQuest website and click on "Play Preview." Once in the game, players can move with WASD, aim and fire with the mouse, deploy their turret with Q, and activate their tactical strike with E. The testing session will run until Monday, April 17th, at 5 PM CET.

The developers recommend using Google Chrome for the most stable experience and they encourage players to fill out a feedback form to help improve the game, with the form found linked in their Medium post.