Beta ·
Crimson Test Recap: The First Closed Beta
Lord of Mysteries' first closed beta ran from February 5 on PC in mainland China — a confidential technical test set in Tingen with six pathways, steep specs and a strict NDA.
The Crimson Test (绯红测试) — Lord of Mysteries’ first closed beta — launched February 5, 2026 on PC in mainland China, following a recruitment window that ran January 15 to February 1.
What the first test contained
- PC only (no Mac), positioned explicitly as a confidential technical test of an in-development build.
- Set in and around Tingen, the novel’s opening city, rebuilt street-for-street in Unreal Engine 5.
- Six playable pathways — the same roster later confirmed for Grey Fog: Seer, Spectator, Warrior, Mystery Pryer, Apprentice and Bard.
- Data wipe at test end, no payments, and a strict NDA that kept public footage scarce.
- The recruitment specs raised eyebrows: 32 GB RAM minimum — with an official caveat that optimization was ongoing (current specs).
What it told us
The Crimson Test was the public’s first confirmation that the game’s audacious systems — the pathway/acting progression, sanity stakes, TRPG dice checks — were real and playable rather than trailer promises. It also established the testing cadence that pointed at a 2026 launch: technical PC test first, tri-platform beta next (which arrived June 26).
Officially, if all went to plan, the game would release in China within 2026 — a commitment the developers have repeated since.
