How to Try OpenRA Playtests and Share Feedback

OpenRA publishes playtest builds so players can try features before they reach a stable release — the current example being playtest-20260222, announced by Paul Chote on 22 February 2026. To take part, install the playtest build alongside (or instead of) your stable install, play a few matches, then report what you find on the OpenRA forum and community channels. The full changelog ships with the release and is the fastest way to see exactly what changed.

What a playtest is for

Playtests are preview builds. They carry new features, balance changes, and bug fixes that are still being tested, so expect rough edges. The 20260222 playtest is a good illustration of the scope:

• New random map generators for Red Alert, Tiberian Dawn, and Dune 2000
• A community-led balance overhaul for skirmish and multiplayer
• Single-player campaign difficulty adjustments to ease the learning curve
• Dune 2000 visual effects for Sonic Tanks and damaged structures, plus "bulk purchase" logic for the Starport
• Map editor improvements, including a Path Tiler tool for placing cliffs, beaches, and roads
• A new "Other RTS" mouse input mode, timed auto-save settings for missions and skirmish, and bots that attempt to build expansion bases
• One new mission each for Red Alert and Tiberian Dawn

Because these are preview features, anything you rely on in a stable release may behave differently here.

Trying the new random map generators

The headline feature of this playtest is the random map generator, and it works the way you would expect from the description:

1. Select a biome.
2. Choose the number of players.
3. Set details about symmetry and resources.
4. Start the match.

Generated maps work in both Skirmish and Multiplayer, so you can test them solo before taking them online. If you want to see how the generator behaves across different settings, run several maps with the same biome and player count but vary symmetry and resource options — that is the quickest way to judge whether the output suits how you play.

Map editor additions worth testing

If you make maps, this release adds tools built on the random map generator logic, plus the Path Tiler for cliffs, beaches, and roads. The practical test is to open an existing map, place a stretch of cliff or road with the new tool, and check that the result connects cleanly to terrain you placed by hand. Report anything that looks wrong while the feature is still in preview.

Tiberian Dawn HD status

The Tiberian Dawn HD mod, currently standalone, reached two milestones: it is feature-complete, with HD sprites for the last custom assets, and it has a new content manager that lets you choose between remastered or classic artwork, audio, and music. Support for the C&C Remastered Collection assets is being merged into core OpenRA Tiberian Dawn, but that merge is not finished — this release is still a standalone mod, with the merge hoped for in the next release. If you want remastered assets today, use the standalone mod; if you want them inside the main game, wait for the merge.

Sending feedback that gets used

Feedback goes to the OpenRA forum and the project's community channels. To make a report actionable:

• Note the playtest version (for example, playtest-20260222) so others know which build you mean.
• Say which game and mode you were in — Red Alert, Tiberian Dawn, or Dune 2000; Skirmish, Multiplayer, or campaign.
• For map generator issues, include the biome, player count, and symmetry/resource settings you chose.
• For balance feedback, describe the matchup and what felt off rather than only the outcome.
• Check the full changelog first, since it lists the changes and fixes already made and may explain what you saw.

Deciding whether to switch

The changelog included with the release is the authoritative list of what changed, and the forum is where the project collects reactions to it.