The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu Closed Beta Live: Key Schedule, Bugs, and Crucial Workarounds

ACE Team has officially kicked off the first closed playtest for their highly anticipated Lovecraftian horror title. Running from June 5 to June 8, 2026, players who registered should check their inbox for Steam keys. If you missed out, you can still check our wishlist guide for future playtest windows or read our tips for beginners to prepare for the terrors ahead.

Alongside the playtest, pre-orders have officially opened, accompanied by a fresh trailer highlighting the game's sanity-draining atmosphere.

Closed Beta Schedule and How to Join

The playtest runs for a limited window this weekend: - Start: Friday, June 5, 2026, at 6:00 PM CEST - End: Monday, June 8, 2026, at 10:00 AM CEST

If you signed up, check your spam and promotions folders for your Steam key. Once you redeem the key, you can jump straight into the co-op action. If you're coordinating with friends, note how multiplayer setup works in our co-op and crossplay breakdown.

Critical Beta Bugs and How to Avoid Them

As an early test build, this version has some rough edges. Several known issues can crash the game or break your controls. Here are the issues developers have documented and the quickest ways to bypass them:

Centipede Hallucination Crash

• The Bug: Engaging or attacking the small centipedes that spawn around the Logbook Camp during the hallucination phase triggers an immediate crash.
• The Fix: Simply avoid attacking these specific centipedes during the onboarding contract. Let the sequence play out.

Guidebook UI & Camera Lockup

• The Bug: Exiting the guidebook menu by pressing the ESC key, or canceling the "return from boat" prompt, can permanently disconnect your mouse cursor from camera control.
• The Fix: Always click the on-screen button prompt to close the guidebook. Do not press ESC. If your camera controls are already locked, you will need to restart the game to restore them.

Network Light Sync Issues

• The Bug: Clients sometimes fail to see the host's lantern or torch light during expeditions.
• The Fix: This is a minor network sync error and does not affect gameplay progression or sanity mechanics, though it does make dark tunnels much creepier.

Inventory Slot Mismatch

• The Bug: The game defaults to selecting your first inventory slot upon starting an expedition, rather than preserving whatever slot you had highlighted before launching.
• The Fix: Just double-check your selected slot when stepping off the boat.

Pre-Orders Now Live Ahead of July Launch

For players enjoying the test or looking forward to the final release, the game is officially launching on July 15, 2026. Pre-orders are now active, showing off more of the hostile jungle and the underground depths of Yoth.

If you are planning to purchase, take a look at our pre-order and editions guide to compare standard and deluxe options. Make sure to also check the system requirements to ensure your rig can handle the dark, foggy environments without dropping frames.