Alpha test for Creative Assembly's new PvPvE shooter is live now

Hyenas is a zero-G PvPvE shooter first teased way back in 2018, and officially unveiled this year. We had some reservations when we took a closer look at it in September, finding some interesting concepts but also a lot of, well, cringe: News writer Mollie Taylor said she couldn't tell "if this is a game that's trying too hard or not trying hard enough," and worried that Hyenas would be able to find a niche for itself in a genre that's already crowded.

This weekend—I mean, right now—you can form your own thoughts on that point, at least as far as a pre-release build will let you. Creative Assembly is holding an alpha test that's live now and scheduled to run until 4 am ET on December 4. Hyenas has already held one alpha test, and the studio said that this one will include a number of improvements since then, including tweaks to the end-of-match flow, improved UI and HUD, and controller updates.

"As 2022 closes out, we’re hyped to be expanding The Pack with our biggest Alpha Weekend yet," live product director Alex Hunnisett said. "We’ve heard your feedback and will be bringing new features and improvements that will enhance your games, along with a few extra community surprises thrown in."

Alpha testing takes place relatively early in the development process, but hopefully the feedback developers have heard includes our thoughts about Hyena's "metacringe," because the underlying game could be very decent.

"Certain areas around the map allow you to make use of zero gravity, floating to either escape your enemies or provide a good vantage point for gunning them down," Mollie wrote in her preview. "It can be used to quickly traverse from point to point too and feels like a good way to get some quick coverage across large spaces. 

"The maps are also fitted with vents that can be used to sneak your way around the ship, which Creative Assembly says should open up opportunities for how each match is tackled by teams. I like the idea of trying to quietly tackle each vault, letting other teams fight each other and the environmental hazards and slipping away before anyone can notice."

The test is closed, as alphas typically are, but Creative Assembly is looking for more players this time around—10,000 in total—which hopefully means your odds of getting in are good. To take part, head over to playhyenas.com and click the button that says "sign up to the alpha." The Hyenas alpha test is open to PC players in the US, EU, Canada, and Brazil.