TL;DR
Salmi Games is hosting a free open playtest for Drifters: Blackout Crew on Quest until Sunday morning. The game is a sci-fi extraction shooter where players raid temples and upgrade their gear. SteamVR testing will follow soon.
Salmi Games is currently hosting a free open playtest of Drifters: Blackout Crew on Oculus Quest, available until Sunday morning. This limited-time event allows players to experience the sci-fi extraction shooter without cost, providing an opportunity for wider audience engagement ahead of its full release.
The playtest for Drifters: Blackout Crew is accessible via sign-up through Discord, with the event running until early Sunday morning. The game is developed by Salmi Games, known for Sweet Surrender, and offers a cooperative experience where up to four players form a crew stranded in deep space. Players raid temples filled with hostile machines, aiming to recover ancient power systems crucial for their ship’s repairs and survival.
During the raid, players collect loot, which can be converted into parts for modular, customizable weapons, tools, and suit upgrades. The game emphasizes teamwork and strategic resource management, with the game’s environment featuring challenging enemies guarding valuable relics. Salmi Games has also announced plans to open a SteamVR version of the playtest soon, expanding access beyond Quest.
According to Salmi, the open testing phase is designed to gather player feedback and refine gameplay mechanics before a full launch. The developer highlighted that the game will remain in active development, with updates and improvements expected based on player input during this period.
Play Drifters: Blackout Crew Free This Weekend
Salmi Games has opened its cooperative sci-fi extraction shooter to Quest players until Sunday morning. Form a crew, raid machine-guarded temples, recover ancient power systems, and rebuild your gear between runs.
Raid. Recover. Rebuild.
Every expedition connects exploration, combat, extraction, and customization. Valuable relics can strengthen the crew, but hostile machines stand between players and the parts they need.
Raid Lost Temples
Push into ancient sites in deep space while coordinating routes, roles, and resources with the crew.
Fight the Machines
Overcome hostile guardians protecting relics and the power systems needed to repair the stranded ship.
Convert the Loot
Turn recovered materials into modular weapons, specialized tools, and customizable suit upgrades.
A cooperative fight for survival
The crew is stranded in deep space. Ancient power systems offer a path home, but recovering them requires teamwork, strategic resource management, and successful extraction.
Players shape the next build
The open test gives VR players an early, commitment-free look while giving Salmi Games practical evidence for refining combat, multiplayer systems, balance, and progression.
Quest owners can experience the current build without paying for entry.
Feedback from real sessions can expose balance issues, bugs, and unclear mechanics.
A SteamVR test is planned, extending the trial beyond the current Quest audience.
What has been confirmed?
The immediate Quest test is clear, but the wider release plan remains in development. Treat future timing and progression details as unconfirmed until Salmi Games provides an update.
| Topic | Status | Current Information |
|---|---|---|
| Quest playtest | Confirmed | Free access is available until Sunday morning through Discord sign-up. |
| SteamVR test | Planned | PC VR testing is expected to open soon, with no exact date announced. |
| Progress carryover | Unknown | Salmi Games has not confirmed whether test progress will transfer. |
| Full release date | Unknown | No official launch date, final content scope, or pricing has been disclosed. |
Why the Free Playtest Matters for VR Gamers
This free playtest offers a rare opportunity for VR enthusiasts to try Drifters: Blackout Crew firsthand without commitment, potentially influencing its final development. It also signals Salmi Games’ commitment to engaging the community early in the game’s lifecycle, which can impact future updates and features. For players interested in cooperative sci-fi shooters, this event provides a chance to experience a new title that combines exploration, combat, and customization in a space setting.
Moreover, the upcoming SteamVR version could broaden the game’s reach, attracting players who prefer PC-based VR platforms. The event underscores the growing trend of developers leveraging open betas to refine titles through community feedback before commercial release, a practice increasingly common in the VR industry.
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Background on Drifters: Blackout Crew and Salmi Games
Drifters: Blackout Crew is a sci-fi extraction shooter developed by Salmi Games, a studio known for its previous work Sweet Surrender. The game features cooperative gameplay where players assume the roles of stranded space explorers tasked with raiding temples filled with hostile machines to recover ancient power sources. Its emphasis on teamwork, resource management, and customizable gear aligns with popular trends in VR gaming.
Salmi Games announced the game earlier this year, highlighting its unique blend of exploration, combat, and upgrade mechanics designed specifically for VR. The game is built to support multiplayer cooperation, with players working together to overcome environmental and enemy challenges.
Open testing phases are common in VR game development, allowing developers to gather feedback and identify issues before a full release. Salmi’s decision to host a free weekend on Quest follows industry patterns aimed at increasing visibility and refining gameplay based on player input.
“We’re excited to offer players a chance to experience Drifters: Blackout Crew firsthand during this open playtest. Player feedback will be invaluable as we continue to develop and refine the game.”
— Salmi Games
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Unclear Details About Full Release Timeline
It is not yet confirmed when Drifters: Blackout Crew will be officially released beyond the playtest phase. Salmi Games has not provided a specific launch date, and details about the full version, including content scope and pricing, remain undisclosed. Additionally, while the SteamVR version is announced, the exact timeline for its release and how it will differ from the Quest version are still uncertain.
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Next Steps for Interested Players and Developers
Players interested in trying Drifters: Blackout Crew should sign up via Discord before the playtest ends Sunday morning. Following the event, Salmi Games plans to gather feedback, implement updates, and prepare for the SteamVR version, which is expected to open for testing soon. Developers will likely continue refining gameplay mechanics and multiplayer features based on early player experiences.
Further announcements regarding the game’s full release date, additional platforms, and future updates are anticipated in the coming months, as Salmi continues to develop the title with community input.
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Key Questions
How can I participate in the Drifters: Blackout Crew playtest?
You can sign up via Discord, with access granted to those who register before the playtest ends on Sunday morning.
Is the game available on SteamVR during the open playtest?
Not yet. Salmi Games has announced plans to open a SteamVR version of the playtest soon, but it is not available during the current Quest event.
Will progress carry over from the playtest to the full game?
It is not yet confirmed if progress will carry over; typically, open beta testing is for feedback and bug fixing, with full progress reset upon official launch.
What features will the full game include?
Details about the full feature set are not yet available. The current focus is on cooperative raid mechanics, customization, and resource management.
When is the full release expected?
No official release date has been announced. Salmi Games is still in development, and further updates are expected in the coming months.
Source: UploadVR
