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SPECIFICTION
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AccelByte PlaytestHub

github.com

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Spec score 9.1 #3 of 23 in Game Playtesting Platforms

What it is

AccelByte PlaytestHub is an open-source, self-hosted application for running closed game playtests from applications through feedback. Players apply for a place, accept an NDA, get a game code or download, play, and complete a survey. Studios can distribute Steam keys, AGS Campaign redemption codes, or ADT build download URLs. Players sign in with Discord through AGS IAM, which provides the backend with an AGS user identity. Studios can review signups, manage code pools, examine structured feedback, and send bulk announcements from the AGS Admin Portal. Surveys support versioned text, 1–5 ratings, and multiple-choice questions; players must accept a revised NDA before submitting a survey response. Playtest windows can open and close on a schedule, and a configured number of initial signups can be approved automatically. The backend runs as an AGS Extend Service Extension, while the player frontend is a static bundle. The hosted admin UI is currently available for Internal Shared Cloud only. The MIT-licensed tool costs nothing and requires AGS Extend.

Spec sheet

What it does
PlaytestHub manages closed game tests from player applications through NDA acceptance, game-code or build delivery, play sessions and surveys.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Purpose
PlaytestHub is a self-hosted AGS Extend application for running closed game playtests end to end.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Deployment
The backend deploys as an AGS Extend Service Extension, the player bundle can deploy to GitHub Pages, and the admin module is uploaded with extend-helper-cli.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
PlaytestHub is released under the MIT license.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Maker
AccelByte says it was founded in 2016.Read 8 Oct 2026 · accelbyte.io
Admin interface
The administrator UI provides playtest detail tabs for information, distribution, participants and Discord broadcast tools.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Administration
Admins can curate signups, manage code pools, review structured feedback, and send bulk announcements from the AGS Admin Portal.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Audit and access
Admin RPCs require the AGS namespace EXTEND:APPUI permission, and admin mutations are recorded in an audit log.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Audit logging
Every administrator mutation is recorded with a structured JSONB audit payload.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Authorization
Admin RPCs require the AGS namespace EXTEND:APPUI permission and per-action create, read, update or delete checks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Automatic approval
Operators can configure a limit from 1 to 100,000 so the first matching signups are approved automatically.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Automation
Playtest windows can open and close automatically on schedule, and the first configured number of signups can be auto-approved.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Backend stack
The backend is a Go service using gRPC, in-process grpc-gateway HTTP/JSON, PostgreSQL and the AccelByte Go SDK.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
CLI
The pth command-line tool drives authentication, users, playtests, codes, surveys, ADT linkage and end-to-end flows over gRPC.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Code delivery
A FIFO Discord direct-message worker supports circuit breaking, retries and restart sweeps, while keeping codes visible in the player interface if messaging fails.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Company founded
LinkedIn states that AccelByte was founded in 2016.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company headquarters
LinkedIn lists the headquarters in Bellevue, Washington, at 500 108th Avenue NE, Suite 1100.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company legal name
The company is identified as AccelByte Inc.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
Company size
LinkedIn lists AccelByte as having 201–500 employees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company status
Crunchbase classifies AccelByte as a private Series B company with a 101–250 employee range.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
Customers reported
Newswire said AccelByte had grown to more than 30 AAA and Triple-I studio partners by May 2022.Read 15 Oct 2026 · newswire.com
Discord identity
Players authenticate through Discord using the AGS IAM platform-token grant.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Discord limitation
Discord blocks bot messages to applicants without a shared server, so approved testers and the bot must share a guild.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Distribution
A playtest can distribute Steam keys, AGS Campaign redemption codes, or ADT build download URLs.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Distribution models
Each test can distribute Steam keys, AGS Campaign redemption codes or AccelByte Development Toolkit download links.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Documentation depth
Documentation covers product behavior, database schema, error codes, architecture, engineering workflow, CLI usage, DM queues, AGS failure modes and game integration.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Feedback
The product supports versioned typed surveys with text, 1–5 rating, and multiple-choice questions.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Frontend stack
The player client uses Svelte 5, Vite and Tailwind, while the admin client uses React 19 and TypeScript.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Funding news
On May 3, 2022, AccelByte announced a $60 million Series B led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 with Sony Interactive Entertainment, Galaxy Interactive and NetEase participating.Read 15 Oct 2026 · newswire.com
Funding total
TechCrunch reported that the Series B brought AccelByte's disclosed total funding to $70 million after a $10 million Series A.Read 15 Oct 2026 · techcrunch.com
Game integration
The recommended integration links the Discord-side AGS identity to the game's Steam-side identity through a one-time Discord OAuth gate.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Hosted admin limitation
The AccelByte-hosted Extend admin module is currently limited to Internal Shared Cloud.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Identity
Players sign in with Discord through AGS IAM’s platform-token grant, which gives the backend an AGS user identity.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Identity limitation
Discord-federated and Steam-federated AGS accounts can produce different user IDs unless the game explicitly bridges them.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Integration caveat
Discord-federated playtest users and Steam-federated game users can have different AGS user IDs unless the game integration bridges those identities.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
NDA
NDA versions can be updated during a playtest, requiring approved players to accept the new version before submitting a survey response.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
NDA management
NDA versions can be changed during a test and approved players must accept the new version before submitting feedback.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Platform limitation
The repository says the hosted admin UI is currently available for Internal Shared Cloud only.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Praise: developer positioning
TechCrunch described AccelByte as giving game creators backend tools for live-service features and AAA-scale operation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · techcrunch.com
Praise: extensibility
TechCrunch reported that AccelByte services can be extended and that Unreal and Unity SDKs support cross-platform games.Read 15 Oct 2026 · techcrunch.com
Public API
The repository exposes gRPC services and grpc-gateway HTTP/JSON endpoints, with API documentation under gateway/apidocs and protocol definitions under proto.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Scheduled windows
A background worker automatically changes tests from draft to open at the start time and from open to closed at the end time.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Seattle startup
GeekWire described AccelByte as a Seattle startup supplying backend tools and scalable architecture for multiplayer live-service games.Read 15 Oct 2026 · geekwire.com
Survey types
Surveys support text, five-point rating and multiple-choice questions, with responses separated by survey version.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
System requirements
Local setup requires Linux, macOS or WSL2, Bash, Docker 23 or newer, Go 1.25, Node 22 or newer, protoc, grpcurl, jq and curl.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Target users
The project describes itself as built for indie and mid-size studios that already use AGS and want playtest tooling they can own and self-host.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Testing process
The project uses unit, integration, end-to-end and smoke tests, with CI gates including Go tests, linting, protobuf checks and frontend builds.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Workflow
Players apply for a slot, accept an NDA, receive a game code or download, play, and submit a survey.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

PlaytestHub (MIT license) Free open source · self-hosted · requires AccelByte Gaming Services (AGS) Extend Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every AccelByte PlaytestHub plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Distributes Steam keys, AGS codes, or ADT downloads.
  • Supports versioned text, rating, and multiple-choice surveys.
  • Automates playtest windows and initial signup approvals.
  • Records admin mutations in an audit log.

Limits

  • Requires AccelByte Gaming Services Extend.
  • Hosted admin UI is currently Internal Shared Cloud only.
  • Discord- and Steam-federated users may have different AGS IDs.

Who it suits

It suits indie and mid-size studios already using AGS that want playtest tooling they can own and self-host. Studios should account for the hosted admin UI’s Internal Shared Cloud limitation and possible differences between Discord- and Steam-federated AGS user IDs.

Verdict

PlaytestHub covers recruitment, access, distribution, and feedback in a self-hosted AGS workflow. Its fit depends on using AGS Extend and whether the hosted admin UI and identity integration meet a studio’s needs.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to AccelByte PlaytestHubAll alternatives →