Grounded 2: How to Join and Leave the Steam Public Test Build

Decide whether you want the test branch

The Public Test Build is an opportunity to try upcoming Grounded 2 content and provide feedback. The official access page warns of a higher chance of bugs than the regular release. This guide covers Steam’s branch selector; Xbox Insider and PlayStation enrollment follow separate procedures. [1]

For Rot and Ruin 0.6.0, the developer also says test progress may or may not carry over. Join to evaluate the test content, with that progression limit in mind, rather than assuming every hour on the test build will become permanent live progress. [2]

Select public_test in the Steam library

Start from Grounded 2’s Steam library entry. The branch is selected through that game’s Properties, so changing another game’s beta selection will not enroll Grounded 2. [1]

Steps

1. Right-click Grounded 2 in your Steam Library and open Properties. [1]
2. Open the Betas tab. [1]
3. In the branch dropdown, choose public_test - Public Test Build instead of the opt-out/None selection. [1]

Allow the public test download to finish

After selecting the branch, close Properties and let Steam download the build. The official instructions say attempting to play should automatically trigger the download if it has not already started. [1]

Steps

1. If a download has not begun, try launching Grounded 2 to trigger it; let the selected build finish updating before testing. [1]

Use a new game for the test

The developer recommends starting a new game because the updated content can affect previous saves. Follow that recommendation when exploring the test rather than opening a valued existing save under the assumption that switching branches later undoes every change. [1]

Return to the regular Steam branch

Leaving the Steam public test uses the same Properties and Betas controls. The branch choice changes which build Steam installs; it does not remove the warning about progress or changes made to test saves. [1]

Steps

1. Return to Grounded 2’s Properties, open Betas and choose None - Opt out of all Betas. [1]
2. Close Properties and allow the branch change to update the game before resuming regular-branch play. [1]