Prologue beta goes live

Brendan Greene's new survival game Prologue opens a free open beta ahead of Early Access.

Greene unveils Prologue free open beta

Brendan Greene, the creator behind PUBG, returns with Prologue. The survival game built over four years by PlayerUnknown Productions now offers a free open beta ahead of Early Access later this year. The test drops players in a woodland cabin on an 8 by 8 kilometer map and tasks them with reaching a weather station while managing hunger, water, warmth and threats from wildlife and extreme weather.

Prologue aims for atmosphere and isolation rather than speed. It nods to The Long Dark and The Forest but uses procedural maps to create a sense of emptiness. The game will be released on Steam and Epic, with the Go Wayback demo letting players join immediately by requesting access on Steam.

The move to a free open beta fits a pattern where survival titles try to build audiences through no cost entry. Prologue could appeal to players who want a contemplative survival loop rather than action, potentially broadening the genre.

Branding and communication will matter. Greene's references to metaverses create expectations that could invite scrutiny. If Prologue delivers on its mood and core mechanics, it may reshape late stage survival releases; if not, it risks being dismissed as a niche experiment.

Highlights

The next steps will reveal how Prologue fits into Greene's broader plans.