Summary
NetEase Games has released the details on the upcoming Closed Alpha Test forFragPunk, its newly announced multiplayer shooter. Revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase on July 17, 2025,FragPunkpromises to put its own spin on the team-based hero shooter scene with a unique “rule-changing” gameplay mechanic.
The Xbox Games Showcase, as well as other game-centered events in and around the Summer Games Fest, brought with it a slew of new game announcements, including a wave of new multiplayer shooter titles, includingFragPunk. The hero shooter scene is dominated bymajor titles that include games likeApex LegendsandValorant, soFragPunkwill have some very stiff competition. That said, developer Bad Guitar Studio appears confident inFragPunk’s ability to stand out, thanks to a unique mechanic based on actively changing the rules of the match as it’s played.
TheFragPunkClosed Alpha Test will start on July 22, 2025, and run through July 1 for selected applicants. Players in North America can register to participate in the test onthe officialFragPunkwebsite. Alternatively, players can request access via the game’s Steam store page. The schedule makesFragPunkthe second of the new wave of hero shooters to enter a public testing phase, as the superhero-themed hero shooterMarvel Rivalsentered Alpha Testing in early May 2024.
FragPunk Closed Alpha Includes the Launch Roster of Characters
According to an FAQ on the official site, players will be able to play an early build ofFragPunk, and have access to the launch roster of 10 characters. They’ll also be able to choose from 15 weapons, 4 maps, and 70 different Shard Cards, allowing for a good number of combinations between weapon, character, and card deck. It’ll be during this test period that players will see just how impactful theFragPunkShard Card abilitiescan be.
Based on the trailer, which was entirely cinematic, Shard Cards are the central mechanic that helpsFragPunkstand out in a crowded genre. Shard Card abilities can be relatively mundane, like Dragon’s Breath, which adds fire damage to a player’s attacks. But others can be far more dramatic, like World Flip,which indirectly takes a page fromLawbreakersandflips the map upside-down, to “reverse” enemies' gravity temporarily.
What wasn’t clear from the trailer alone is how the “hero” part ofFragPunk’s hero shooter concept will come into play. The official site promotes a cast of ten playable heroes with a variety of abilities and weapon combinations, but says little about what those abilities are and how they’ll play alongside Shard Cards. That might come into clearer light once more details emerge from theFragPunkClosed Alpha.
FragPunk
WHERE TO PLAY
FragPunk is a fast-paced 5v5 hero shooter with powerup cards that change the rules of each round! Choose your hero, your weapons, and pick from a selection of cards that dramatically change the rules of engagement!Bend the rules with Shard Cards!No two rounds of FragPunk are ever the same. Discover over 70 Shard Cards with an activatable selection that changes every round creating new and unique combinations that create infinite possibilities! Cards can amplify your jump height, reverse the roles of attackers and defenders, engulf your bullets in flame or turn them into chain lightning, and even may resurrect you and your team!Frantic 5v5 Hero Shooter!Each round lasts about 2.5 minutes, so get a move on! The short TTK means you have to aim well and react fast to win the fight. Pick between 10 heroes with diverse abilities, customize your weapon combination, choose your cards and get ready for a fight!Variety that fuels replayabilityPick your favorite hero from a selection of 10, each with their own unique abilities. Find your favorite guns among the 15 available, some which have special abilities, like shooting faster over time, bursts and more! Discover new hero, weapon and card combinations and develop your personal combat style!
