Hidden Path's Windborne going into 'preview testing' next week

Windborne, Hidden Path Entertainment's social sandbox creation game, will enter a "preview testing period" beginning Nov. 11, the developer announced today.

An alpha build of Windborne was shown at PAX Prime in August, where Hidden Path notes in a press statement it was positively received. The preview testing, a closed beta of sorts, will run for four weeks.

According to lead designer at Michael Austin, the test will include a "starting island," a set of shaping and placing tools and 100 crafting objects for players to tinker with. Testers can also play online with others through Steam.

Hidden Path noted that the purpose of the public testing is to determine what needs additional polish before the game's full launch. Attendees who played Windborne at PAX and completed a survey for the developer will be receiving preview codes soon; all other interested participants can follow the title's official Facebook page and Twitter to access preview codes as they are made available.

According to its Facebook page, Windborne will launch via Steam Early Access in early 2014. Check out our in-depth series of features on the making of another one of the studio's games, Defense Grid 2, here.