How to Get The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu Closed Demo Keys & Assemble Your Squad

With the highly anticipated July 15 launch right around the corner, ACE Team and Nacon are giving players one last chance to experience the jungle early. A Closed Demo for The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is officially scheduled to run from June 5th to June 8th, 2026.

If you want to test your survival instincts before the full release, you need to act fast. Here is exactly how you can secure your spot and, more importantly, get enough keys to bring your friends along.

How to Register and Secure 3 Co-op Keys

Extraction horror is notoriously brutal solo, and the developers know this. To emphasize the co-op core of the game, ACE Team is rolling out a very generous key distribution format for this playtest.

If you are selected for the Closed Demo, you won't just get access for yourself—you will receive three keys in total. This allows you to immediately hand two keys to your friends and form a complete squad.

Here is how to get your name on the list: 1. Head over to the official playtest portal on My Nacon. 2. Fill out the registration form before the playtest ends. 3. Watch your inbox. The team stated that selected players will receive access instructions via email right before June 5th.

Spots are strictly limited. Even though the form remains open until June 8th, we strongly recommend registering immediately. Waiting too long might mean missing out on the initial wave of key distributions.

What to Expect: New Gameplay Showcase Insights

So, what exactly are you dropping into? If you are familiar with games like GTFO or Lethal Company, you might have a rough idea of the extraction format, but The Mound twists the formula significantly.

In a recent uncut gameplay showcase, Art Director Edmundo Bordeu clarified a few massive details about the game's loop that you will experience in the demo:

Individual Hallucinations

Your sanity is a rapidly depleting resource. The lower it gets, the more your grip on reality breaks. The kicker? The sanity system affects players individually. During the demo, you might start hearing sounds or seeing entities that your teammates simply cannot see. Communication is going to break down incredibly fast when nobody agrees on what is actually hunting them.

Non-Wave-Based Monster Encounters

Bordeu made it clear that this is not a wave-based shooter. You aren't defending a point against a horde of nameless enemies. Instead, the creatures stalking the jungle have specific behaviors and triggers. They hunt you systematically. Learning how each entity operates—and knowing when to sneak versus when to run—will be the difference between extracting with your loot and losing your entire loadout.

A Disorienting Environment

The jungle itself is treated as an active threat. Paths that look clear might suddenly lead to dead ends, and the environment is deliberately designed to mess with your sense of direction.

Preparing for July

This Closed Demo is the perfect opportunity to test out the game's mechanics ahead of the official release date and platforms launch on July 15 across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Grab your two most reliable friends, register on My Nacon, and see if you have what it takes to survive the extraction. Just remember to trust your squad—unless their sanity meter is completely empty.