BODEN, SWEDEN, June 26 - 2025. 5 Fortress is excited to run the very last STRIDEN beta before the Early Access release on July 11, 2025.
The Last Open Beta
Before heading into Early Access, the Nordic team behind STRIDEN is opening the gates one final time for players to jump in and experience the chaos. This last Open Beta will offer a near-final look at what’s to come in the Early Access release - complete with new features, performance polish, and the debut of one of the game’s wildest additions since the introduction of the Moose Tank: The Eagle Hook.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2052970/STRIDEN/
Taking the Fight to the Skies: The Eagle Arrives
Headlining the update is the brand new Eagle Hook, a high-flying feature that brings a vertical edge to STRIDEN’s battles. Players can now hook onto enemies or teammates from above, opening up new possibilities for ambushes, repositioning, or pulling off a perfectly timed escape.
The Eagle class comes in three deadly variants
Eagle Hook – Equipped with a grappling hook for aerial control and wild mobility plays
Bomb Eagle – Drops explosive payloads from above
Fighter Eagle – Armed with missiles and a minigun for pure airborne firepower
“The open beta in April taught us a lot, and since then, we've done our homework to meet the expectations and feedback we received.” says Johan Sundqvist, Creative Director 5 Fortress. “After completing over 300 tasks and running two stress tests, we hope our efforts will pay off and deliver a solid experience in the upcoming open beta.”
This final beta gives players a nearly complete look at what’s planned for Early Access.
The Open Beta will include:
- In-game wardrobe system – Switch classes mid-match for more tactical flexibility
- Eagle powerspikes – Game-changing aerial combat with three unique Eagle loadouts
- Bugs and Performance – Smoother traversal, better respawn flow, updated UI/UX
- New voice acting – With new lines recorded in Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, and Danish, the AI is out and the Humans are in.
- Spawn Protection System - A first version that makes it easier to spawn without dying, final version will be done during EA.
Open Beta Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2ygVqT7UQ8
About 5 Fortress
5 Fortress is an indie developer based in Boden, a snowball throw from the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden. The studio was founded in 2021 by Johan Sundqvist and Emil Darsbo, to develop unique FPS shooters of the highest quality. Striden has been in development for around three years.
The studio is located at Boden Game Camp, the home of the world’s most northern gaming hub. It’s a great place for creative talent, with education, incubators, funding, and studio startups. www.5fortress.com