How to Join the Rogue Core Experimental Branch on Steam

Combat Summary

• Official: Access to the Experimental Branch is gated behind the “Rogue Core Experimental” role on the official Discord — claim it in the #info-rc-exp channel.
• Official: With the role in hand, opt into the beta on Steam through the game’s Properties → Betas menu. No public beta password has been documented.
• Community-tested: Experimental builds are unstable by design — expect bugs, balance swings, and unfinished UI. You can switch back to the live build at any time from the same Betas menu.
• Why now: The first batch of Update 3 systems is already playable on Experimental, including the controversial test of enemies dropping Expenite as a base mechanic. Update 3 is targeted for late October / early November 2026, so this is the window where tester feedback actually decides what ships. Our Update 3 experimental WIP roundup tracks everything confirmed so far.

Step 1: Get the Discord Role

Official step. Join the official Rogue Core Discord server run by Ghost Ship Games and head to the #info-rc-exp channel. That channel grants the “Rogue Core Experimental” role, which is the key that unlocks experimental access. Without the role, you cannot get in — the role is the gate, not a code.

If you are new to the Discord, look for the server invite on the game’s Steam store page or community hub. The #info-rc-exp channel explains the current testing focus, so skim it before installing — you will know exactly which systems the developers want feedback on.

Step 2: Opt Into the Beta on Steam

1. Open your Steam library and right-click Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core.
2. Select Properties, then open the Betas tab.
3. Select the experimental branch from the dropdown. The game will update to the experimental build.

No public beta password has been documented — the Discord role is the gate, not a code. If the experimental branch does not appear in the dropdown, double-check that the Discord role was actually granted; role assignment can take a few minutes.

Step 3: Know What You Are Signing Up For

• Bugs are the point. Experimental builds exist so players can find problems before full release. Unfinished UI, non-working upgrades, and softlocks have all been reported by testers on the current branch. Report what you find on Discord — that is the entire purpose of the branch.
• Balance will swing. Features like enemy Expenite drops are tests, not promises. Do not plan your permanent builds around them, and do not treat experimental numbers as final.
• You can switch back. Revisit the Betas tab and select “None” to return to the live build whenever you want. Experimental and live are separate builds; switching re-downloads the relevant files.

What’s on Experimental Right Now (Update 3 WIP)

Official (Steam news, September 29, 2026): Update 3 is targeted for late October / early November 2026 — a target window, not a locked date — and its first systems are already in experimental testing. The headline test right now:

• Enemies dropping Expenite as a base mechanic. Previously this existed only as the Headhunter Alteration; the experimental build tests it as default behavior. This is actively controversial in the community — concerns include pacing disruption, pickup tedium when shards fall into unreachable terrain, and potential team friction over pickups. Our Expenite-on-kills controversy breakdown covers both sides of the argument. Experimental features can be revised or cut before launch, so nothing here is final.

The September 29 Big Break Showcase also confirmed a new boss teaser for Update 3, though the boss itself is not yet playable on any branch. For the full confirmed feature list, see our Update 3 patch notes hub, which we update as news lands.

A practical note: experimental testing periods have been running longer than they used to — Update 2’s experimental phase stretched for weeks before the September 2 launch. If you join now, expect the branch to stay active and shifting right up to Update 3’s release.

Why Bother: Your Feedback Decides What Ships

Experimental players shape the game. The Expenite-on-kills debate burning through the Steam forums right now started on the experimental branch — the players testing it are the ones whose feedback decides whether it ships, and in what form. Ghost Ship has a track record of acting on experimental feedback: Update 1’s Assault Pace options and the R.E.P.D. rework both came directly out of the “big three” launch complaints the community pressed during testing.

If you want a vote in Rogue Core’s future, this is where you cast it. And if you would rather just play the stable game, stay on the live branch — there is no penalty for skipping experimental, and none of its progress systems are exclusive.

Related Reading

• Track everything in testing with our Experimental Branch WIP tracker.
• Read the Steam patch notes hub for the full confirmed Update 3 feature list.
• See the Ghost Ship Games boss teaser breakdown from the Big Break Showcase.

Verification status: official Discord (#info-rc-exp) + Steam news “Update 3 sneak peek just dropped” (Sept 29, 2026). Updated October 17, 2026.