[UPDATED on 6/26] Closed Beta Has Arrived!

22 Jun 2026Developer post

Source: Steam Community (opens in a new tab)

[Update on 6/26/2026 PT - Change List for #485 Patch]

Build #485 Change List (6/26/2026)

Additions/Changes

Blocked controller input, as it was causing erroneous input in some cases
- God Save Birmingham currently does not support controllers
Improved the “Escape (if stuck)” feature so that it works in more circumstances and moves you to a safe area nearby
Updated the Journal text on alleviating hunger for clarity
Improved the Status menu (Tab key)
- Dirtiness will be above the collapsed menu instead of Warmth for better visibility
- Collapse/expand button has been adjusted for better visibility
The map can now be moved with clicking and dragging the left mouse button as well
Adjusted the location of on-screen hunger/thirst messages so that they are not obstructed by UI

Bug Fixes

Fixed the issue where you could fall underground in some wells
Fixed the issue where you could constantly bleed even when you did not have any open wounds
Fixed the issue where opening and closing the map could slow the character and prevent movement on rare occasions
Fixed the issue where you could not install furniture in some areas that did not have anything visibly obstructing installation
Fixed the issue where, in some cases, the character could fly off or cause animation issues while climbing the ladder
Fixed the issue where, when climbing a ladder to a confined space with a low ceiling, you could be blocked by the ceiling and could not get off the ladder
Fixed the issue where the Dirtiness increased at an abnormal rate if a bandaged injury worsened
Fixed the issue where fuel was consumed even when the fire had been extinguished
Addressed translation/text issues in English

[Update on 6/24/2026 PT - Change List for #474 Patch]

Build #474 Change List (6/24/2026)

Additions/Changes

Added a notification message for when you lose health from the Black Death
Improved the “Escape (if stuck)” button in the Esc menu so that it can now address issues of the character flying off
Reduced the chance to catch the Black Death and its penalties
Increased the drop rates of food items that reduce hunger by a large amount
Increased the hunger reduction rate of some food items that were reducing hunger by too little before
Increased the eating speed for food items small in size
Updated the Journal text for quenching thirst for clarity

Bug Fixes

Fixed the issue where sometimes interacting with the Pottage Cooking Stand could cause the game to crash
Fixed the issue where there were some cases of injuries not recovering
Fixed the issue where sometimes the player character might fly off while climbing a ladder
Fixed the issue where sometimes the player character might fly off while interacting with zombies

Fixed the issue where sometimes there was no font in the priory

Fixed the issue where, after changing clothes, the player character would not be shown as holding a weapon

Survivors,

Welcome to God Save Birmingham’s first beta test. This is a big day for us, showcasing the game to the largest audience ever. While we cannot guarantee access to everyone due to the nature of this closed beta, we will try to accommodate as many testers as we can manage!

We find this to be an exciting opportunity to have fans of survival & zombie genres provide feedback. As we continue to add and expand various gameplay systems and mechanics, your input will be the foundation for fine-tuning the balance!

Latest Dev Updates

If you haven’t checked out our most recent dev log discussing the beta, you can find it HERE. We shared what you can expect in the current build, including content that is not ready at this time but coming in the near future.

In addition, we shared our latest development update video showcasing various features that are already in the beta build. Check out things in action while learning the team’s thoughts behind them!

Watch on YouTube

Closed Beta Information

Here is some key information on this beta:

Closed beta is not under an NDA, so you can stream/share gameplay publicly
Tester pool may be expanded during the test window, so it’s never too late to sign up on the Steam store page
Closing the game will reset any progress, as we are still working on the save/load system

Closed beta will run for about a week

Region	Start	End
North America (PT, ET)	PT: June 22, 3 PM	PT: June 29, 10 AM
ET: June 22, 6 PM	ET: June 29, 1 PM
United Kingdom (BST)	June 22, 11 PM	June 29, 6 PM
Europe (CEST)	June 23, 12 AM	June 29, 7PM
Korea (KST)	June 23, 7 AM	June 30, 2AM

If you have any questions or want to talk to the team, join our Discord server
Make sure you fill out the feedback survey, which can be found on the title screen

Changes in This Beta

We shared major changes from the alpha version in the beta announcement post. If you were part of the Core Group Test, you’ll find various improvements and adjustments based on your feedback! Below are just a few of them, but make sure you check out how different things feel by hopping in right now!

Quality-of-life improvements
- Split the Inventory UI into two columns: items around you and items in your possession
- Added volume adjustment in the Settings
- Adjusted keybindings for easier controls
  - Lifting objects is now with the mouse wheel click, but you no longer need to hold the button down
  - Alternate attack has been reassigned to right-click; the character now faces the camera’s viewing direction all the time while walking
  - Shoving and shaking off zombies now share the same control: left-click
- Added system messages for more events, like weapons becoming dull
- Changed so that the aiming reticle only shows when facing an interactable object or a zombie
Balance changes
- Adjusted the zombie population
- Adjusted the rate of HP loss from hunger and thirst
- Changed so that zombie grasps prevent sprinting
- Adjusted the rate of pottage evaporating and burning
Bug fixes
- Reduced jitter when being in close contact with zombies
- Fixed issues where audio cues were muted/incorrect
- Addressed untranslated text

Known Issues in This Beta

We are aware of the following issues in the current beta and are working on fixes!

In rare cases, the game may crash when pressing "Start Game" in the title screen
Some objects can be interacted with but not moved/disassembled
Some zombies may be spawned below ground level

We can’t say that we aren’t nervous at all. However, we strongly believe this beta will be a great chance for us to lock in the course of the game before we move full speed ahead for the Early Access launch.

Wishlist and follow the game to track with the latest updates, and sign up for our newsletter to make sure you don’t miss a beat!

- ODS Team

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