Originally posted by grapplehoeker:

I have never understood why Iron Gate chose to restrict it to Discord.

Discord is the new hot sh*t !!

Joke's asside, the process exist as it requires some dedication from the end-user.
This is likely both to prevent accidental opt-ins and to at least try to push users to actually test it out and report issues rather than just have early updates and try to play on those.

You'd be surprised how many players opted in experimental branches of their games and complained about issues steming from these unstable builds.

Originally posted by Arc:

Discord is the new hot sh*t !!

Joke's asside, the process exist as it requires some dedication from the end-user.
This is likely both to prevent accidental opt-ins and to at least try to push users to actually test it out and report issues rather than just have early updates and try to play on those.

You'd be surprised how many players opted in experimental branches of their games and complained about issues steming from these unstable builds.

Oh I understand the desire to playtest a new patch before releasing it to the stable branch completely. I have many Early access titles and non EA titles in my library that adopt the same process and I have participated in almost all of their unstable branch experimentation and feedback processes.
This is nothing new to me at all and I am not surprised, since the majority of players that opt in, do so just to get an earlier chance to play new content rather than proactively participate in playtesting and providing feedback.
However, none of those other studios have stuck that access to the the experimental branch behind a proprietary version of IRC with a smartphone ID gateway on their channel o.O
I mean, what is with keeping it so private? It makes no sense and nor does the invitation to participate, only to uninstall the Discord app afterwards.
Thanks, but no thanks.

Originally posted by Munin:

Yes, there is a test branch available, but it's private (more or less).

To get access you need to join our Discord, go to #rules-and-info, react with "V" (:Valheim:). Then go to the channel #valheim-public-test and read the pinned messages on how to activate the test branch. You can also provide feedback and discuss changes in that channel.

I have never understood why Iron Gate chose to restrict it to Discord.
Not everybody likes Discord or is able and willing to create a Discord account. I certainly do not and I quit using Discord years ago. I'll never go back.
Many developers (including Coffee Stain) use the readily available system for a test branch via Steam.

Iron Gate also uses the test branch option via Steam. But it is a private test branch which requires a password. The only way to get access is how I described, after that you could theoretically deinstall Discord again.

Yes, there is a test branch available, but it's private (more or less).

To get access you need to join our Discord, go to #rules-and-info, react with "V" (:Valheim:). Then go to the channel #valheim-public-test and read the pinned messages on how to activate the test branch. You can also provide feedback and discuss changes in that channel.