如何尽快玩到《Pony Island 2: Panda Circus》

Published Oct 8, 2026, 9:34 PM EDT

Michael Manning (He/Him) has been enamored with video games since he first played the Sonic Classic Collection as a child. With decades of experience in gaming and a full tour as a Gaming Journalist, Michael is ready to step up to the plate. From AAA to the smallest passion projects, his motto is that every piece of art has something worth celebrating. He's excited to bring this outlook to Dualshockers.

Steam has given developers plenty of tools to allow eager fans to assist with the process of developing the games they're so excited for. Early Access has been a huge success, helping games like Hades 2 and Baldur's Gate 3 build massive fanbases before they even launch.

Early Access isn't the only way for fans to get their hands on games early; developers can opt in to Playtest Requests, allowing players to sign up for the opportunity to give feedback on a game before its finished development. As development proceeds on the sequel to his debut title, Daniel Mullins, solo developer behind Pony Island, has opened Playtest Requests for Pony Island 2: Panda Circus.

How to Snag a Playtest Seat

The process of signing up for a Steam Playtest is remarkably simple, and unlike buying a game in Early Access, it won't cost you a dime! To get your request sent to the folks behind Pony Island 2: Panda Circus, head to the game's Steam page found here. With the game's inclusion in the Playtest Protocol, you can click on the green button above the estimated release date to sign up!

It really is as simple as that. With your request sent to the developers of the game you've requested access to, these devs will have the choice to invite you into the playtest or deny your request. Developers are given very little context to your profile individually, only seeing your display name, userID, and profile picture. No need to gussy up your account to make a good impression at the very least.

While longtime fans of Pony Island and Inscryption may be disappointed to see the doors only open a crack, Daniel Mullins has been very open about Pony Island 2: Panda Circus's progress, seen in the numerous deep dives into the game's development you can read on its Steam page.

Keep an eye on Pony Island 2's Steam page for any further updates as well, as Daniel has used the system to tease streams, drop the curtain on development, and even announce new Playtests for his previous games. Whether you're a longtime fan or a new one, you may be wondering why not just toss the game into full Early Access? Once you know the strengths of both approaches, I think it becomes clear that, in this example, a smaller-scale Playtest is perfect, so make sure to get your foot in the door fast!

Early Access or Playtests?

The differences between Playtests and full early access are subtle, but incredibly important based on the intent of the developers behind the scenes. For solo auteurs like Daniel Mullins, whose games strive for a single, uncompromised vision, Playtest Requests allowing him to pick and choose the number and individuals who gain access to the game is paramount.

Early access is a much more open approach in contrast, and is perfect for bug testing and sheer bulk problem-solving. With a game in early access, teams can more easily make sweeping changes, drip-feed content as it reaches completion, and alter the experience based on player feedback.

The distinction is also largely based on optics: where a game in early access is treated more like a product that is mostly finished, or at least approaching completion, a Playtest comes with a very different connotation. Playtests are earlier on in the development process, often limited to only select, trusted individuals.

When Playtests open, there's a greater understanding that the game is still far off, with plenty of changes to come aside from the limited chunk of the experience on display. With how focused on puzzles, twists, and personal discovery Daniel Mullins' games are, it only makes sense that he'd want to keep the pool closed as much as possible.

Pony Island 2: Panda Circus

Systems

Released

April 27, 2027

Developer(s)

Daniel Mullins Games

Publisher(s)

Daniel Mullins Games

Prequel(s)

Pony Island

Number of Players

Single-player

Steam Deck Compatibility

Unknown