Scam With Your Friends playtest (beta): how access works
| Signup status | Closed for now |
|---|---|
| Signups received | More than 12,000 |
| Access | Limited waves, through Steam |
| Friend invites | Up to three per player with access |
| Cost | Free, with free AI credits |
| Unlimited AI (optional) | $8 USD, playtest only |
Current status
The notice at the top of the Steam page reads: the game passed 12,000 playtest signups, that was "plenty for the time being", and signups are closed for now. Access is granted in limited batches, not to everyone at once.
The same notice adds one detail that matters if you missed the signup: once you have access, you may invite up to three of your friends. If someone in your group got in, ask them for an invite.
Ways to get in
- You signed up before signups closed. Wait for a wave. Access is granted through Steam, so keep an eye on your Steam notifications and library.
- A friend has access. They can invite up to three people.
- Neither. Wishlist the game and follow the official Discord for news of further waves or reopened signups. Otherwise the next chance to play is the October Early Access launch.
Beta, invites and codes
People search for this under several names. They all mean the same closed playtest:
- Beta. There is no separate beta. The playtest is the only pre-release build.
- Invite. Each tester has up to three invites for friends. An invite from someone who already has access is the only way in while signups are closed.
- Playtest code or key. The developers have not issued codes. Access is attached to Steam accounts, so a "playtest code" offered on another site is not real.
- How are people already playing? Everyone posting clips is in the playtest. The public launch is Early Access in October 2026.
Is there a demo?
No. There is no public demo on Steam and none has been announced. The playtest is not a demo in the usual sense: a demo is public and anyone can download it, while this is a capped test that leans on live AI calls the developers pay for. If you cannot get an invite, the screenshots and the trailer on the home page are the best look at the game until launch. Anything offered as a "demo download" outside Steam is not from the developers.
AI credits and the $8 Unlimited AI option
Every call in the game is a live AI conversation, and the developers say each one costs them money. During the playtest that cost is managed with credits: testers get a free allowance of AI credits, and an optional upgrade removes the limit.
The upgrade is called Unlimited AI access. From the official page:
- It costs $8 USD and is paid through Stripe after linking your Steam account.
- It lasts only while the playtest is active.
- It is linked to the purchaser's Steam account, and one purchase covers the whole lobby.
- It does not include a game key or playtest access.
- You must link a Steam account that has already played the playtest.
- You will not need it at release: the full game has unlimited AI.
In practice a group needs at most one purchase, made by whoever hosts. Nobody needs it to try the playtest.
Content creators
The developers encourage videos and streams. Their press kit, linked from the official site, contains the trailer and other assets, and the Steam page says creators can cut or repost them without asking permission.
FAQ
- How do I get into the Scam With Your Friends playtest?
- Signups are closed. The developers stopped taking requests after more than 12,000 signups and are granting access in limited waves. The other route is an invite: each player with access can invite up to three friends.
- Is the playtest free?
- Yes. Playtest access is free and comes with free AI credits. The $8 Unlimited AI option is optional and only removes the credit limit.
- Does buying Unlimited AI give me playtest access?
- No. The official page states that no game key or playtest access is included. You must already be able to play the playtest on the Steam account you link.
- Will playtest progress carry over to Early Access?
- The developers have not said. Assume playtest progress will not carry over unless they announce otherwise.
- Is there a Scam With Your Friends demo?
- No. There is no public demo and none has been announced. The closed playtest is the only pre-release build.
- Is there a beta or a playtest code?
- There is no separate beta, and the developers have not issued codes. Access is attached to Steam accounts, either granted in a wave or through a tester's invite.
- Will signups reopen?
- The Steam page says signups are closed "for now". Any reopening would be announced on Steam and in the official Discord.
