Titanfall 2 Open Beta Starts Later This Week

For those anxiously waiting to hop into a Titan and have a guns-blazing good time, the wait is almost over. In preparation for the release of Titanfall 2 this October, Respawn is hosting two of what they are calling Open Tech Tests, the first of which starts this week.

The first Tech Test, starting Thursday, Aug. 19 and running through the 21, will feature two of the new Titans, two maps, and two game modes. While one mode is the classic 8v8 Pilots vs. Pilots, the other, Bounty Hunt, is new. A points-based, 5v5 mode, featuring waves of enemies, Bounty Hunt seems teams fight for points that they then deposit in between waves. Eventually a “bounty Titan” will drop and you will “want to focus all fire and take it down as a team for a massive payout,” Respawn Producer Drew McCoy explains in a post on the PlayStation Blog.

For the second Titanfall 2 Tech Test, which will be held Aug. 26-28, Respawn will then add a third map and a third game mode. Called Amped Hardpoint, the 8v8 mode is a twist on Harpoint Domination from the original Titanfall. Now, holding a hardpoint will allow your team to “amp it,” providing your team with double score.

When it comes to the maps, McCoy describes each in detail. Available in the first Tech Test:

• Boomtown: A secret underground IMC facility where the latest in R&D is put to the test. In this facility Pilots can use the many peaked roofs as cover against combatants below, as well as numerous interiors to maneuver through for a variety of firing positions without being spotted. With tight lanes through the middle, Titans can easily be ambushed unless they head off the main pathways and into the surrounding fields.
• Homestead: The IMC have claimed Imminent Domain on a small commune’s plot of land when valuable natural resources are found. A series of raised, rocky plateaus with a river running down the middle, Pilots are mostly safe from Titans among the rocks and trees but they also can duck into the caves and buildings when needed. Titans control the large rolling fields, so be extra cautious when traveling between the plateaus.

Then added to the line-up for the second weekend:

• Forward Base Kodai: Militia forces have taken over an IMC substation and set up a forward operating base. This is a medium-to-small map with the main building dominating the playable space. Pilots can find safety from Titans in the hallways and chambers of the main building, while Titans can walk over the roof to get a better view of the action. As a Pilot, keep an eye out for two escape chutes that run from the interior of the main building to the roof!

Progression will carry over between the two tests, with the first weekend capping players at level 10, and the second raising it to 15.

“So, why are we doing a multiplayer tech test?” McCoy explains. “Well, first, we just can’t wait any longer to let you all see (and play) what we’ve been working on for the last two years; but just as importantly, we need your help.”

Careful to make it clear these two weekends are not demos, McCoy emphasizes that the game is still in development and these really are meant to be tests. Players are encouraged to report any bugs they find and provide as much feedback as possible.

The Titanfall 2 Multiplayer Tech Test will be available for download through the online marketplaces of both PS4 and Xbox One. Respawn revealed yesterday it would not be coming to PC due to hardware variables and a desire to keep as much of the story under wraps as possible. We also recently learned more about the single-player for Titanfall 2. Be sure to check out all the new information here. Titanfall 2 releases Oct. 28 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

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