Gamers Beware. Recently, there has been a spike in the number of scams targeting the gaming industry. Many of these scams have targeted gamers with fake playtest claims and offers. Scammers are luring gamers by offering early impressions on the latest games and inviting them to participate in fake playtests. Today, we will take a look at how these Playtest Scams are targeting gamers and how to avoid them.
What are Game Playtests and the scams behind them?
To understand what these scams are, we must first understand what exactly a Playtest is.
A playtest is an early build of the game, created by the developers to invite gamers to provide feedback and test game features. Playtests are mainly closed and are invite-only, with major community members being invited to provide their feedback. For eg, currently EA is holding the biggest playtests in Battlefield history with its Battlefield Labs initiative.
Playtests are a crucial part of game development as they provide relevant feedback right from the final consumer, i.e, you, the Gamer. This helps in creating a community-friendly game with just the right amount of features, mechanics, and more. Playtests are very important for game developers and this is now being taken advantage of by scammers online. Who are luring in gamers with fake invites, messages and popups.
Recently, some of the biggest game releases have been the target of these scams, with the Witcher IV, Silent Hill f, and Elden Ring Nightreign. All these games have been used to lure in gamers to scam them and their hype for said titles.
How to Avoid Playtest Scams
It is very easy to avoid these playtest scams, and gamers need to just keep simple things in mind when they are targeted. Just follow the steps below and keep an eye out for these red flags:
- Legitimate playtests never charge you to participate. If the ad or message demands a participation fee or markets a starter kit with a price tag, simply avoid them.
- If someone offers, like “$500 for 30 minutes of testing,” it’s likely bait. Real playtests might pay, but it’s usually modest—$10 to $50/hr is more typical. Never let money blind you, as lucrative offers tend to get the most clicks.
- If they’re vague about who they are or what you’ll be testing, it’s sus. Always check the developer’s site before clicking on any random playtest mail or notification. Giants like EA, Bethesda, id Software, and CD Projekt Red always have a dedicated tab on their website for any information.
- If the so-called executives from the playtests ask to move the convo to WhatsApp, Telegram, or some random app, right away, then it’s probably shady and you should bail.
- Always check for the grammar, site UI, and other flags. Trust your gut. If the message or site looks like it was thrown together in a rush, it probably was and is a scam.
- And most importantly, if the notifications ask for things like SSN, banking info, STEAM account password, and login or full address up front, flag it down and report the message to the concerned authorities.
Summary
Unfortunately, these playtest scams have been uncommon and are increasing day by day, targeting fellow gamers. We at Driffle our concerned for our gaming brethren and care for your privacy. Games are meant to be enjoyed and never to be taken advantage of by lowly scammers. So stay vigilant and stay sharp—game development can take years these days. Your favorite title might still be in the works, so don’t fall for false promises. Trust the process, wait for official updates.
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