Boden, Sweden – April 10, 2025 – Indie studio 5 Fortress is kicking off the final weekend of the Open Beta for their explosive new shooter, STRIDEN, starting Friday, April 11 on Steam. This is players’ last opportunity to play STRIDEN before it charges into Early Access. The Open Beta runs April 11–13 and introduces major gameplay improvements, community-requested features, and new content across PvP and PvE modes.
STRIDEN blends intense team-based combat with unique mechanics and offbeat humor — all set in a rugged Nordic world where the wildlife might be just as dangerous as the players.
Play the STRIDEN Open Beta
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2052970/STRIDEN/
Watch the Beta Trailer
https://youtu.be/x2ygVqT7UQ8
“We’re ready to roll out a ton of updates for this second Open Beta Weekend. Everything from audio to game balance has been touched, based on player feedback,” said Johan Sundqvist, Game Director at 5Fortress.
New in the Open Beta – Players will get hands-on with…
- Transmit Mode (PvP) — Compete across three intense maps in a fast-paced objective mode.
- PvE Survival Mode — Team up to fend off relentless waves of enemies.
The Open Beta reflects months of player-driven development, including:
- Complete Audio Overhaul — New weapon sounds, reworked foley, and improved audio mixing create a more immersive, punchy experience. Players will also notice a slightly faster Time-to-Kill (TTK), responding directly to community requests — and yes, weapon skins have been added!
- Improved Mid-Game Joining — No more instant chaos: players can now choose their team and spawn point when joining mid-match, and the black screen bug from our holiday playtest has been fixed.
- Reworked Construction System — Enemy teams can now destroy opposing structures, with a new health and armor system ensuring strategic, dynamic base defense. Players can repair breached defenses and explore an expanded set of buildable items.
- Electron Tube Transport Mechanic — Players must now physically carry the Electron Tube to their base, encouraging teamwork and protection strategies.
- Reworked TTK - after players' feedback, we now have a lower time to kill.
- New weapon sights- are re-worked after player feedback
ABOUT 5 FORTRESS
5 Fortress is an indie developer based in Boden, a snowball throw from the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden. The studio was founded in 2021 by Johan Sundqvist and Emil Darsbo, to develop unique FPS shooters of the highest quality. Striden has been in development for around two years.
The studio is located at Boden Game Camp, the home of the world’s most northern gaming hub. It’s a great place for creative talent, with education, incubators, funding, and studio startups. www.5fortress.com