Free to try: New sandbox MMO with a shapeshifting world nears Early Access and offers game preview
BitCraft Online is an MMO sandbox set in a massive open world that players can shape to their liking using an advanced terraforming system. We first reported on this new addition to the MMORPG scene back in March. Instead of centering on PvP combat or grind-heavy quests, the game focuses on world-building – letting players redirect rivers, flatten mountains and construct entire cities. It also offers twelve professions with detailed progression, survival elements like foraging and weather effects, and a player-driven economy. Everything takes place in one shared, persistent world without server divisions.
The ambitious MMO project is now moving into a key phase. Since May 29, a free gameplay preview has been live on Steam, offering players an early glimpse of BitCraft Online. This trial is designed to gather feedback and help polish the game ahead of its official Early Access launch on June 20, 2025. Developer Clockwork Labs is using the opportunity to fine-tune core systems and address community concerns before the wider rollout.
Bumpy start
The Reddit community has been largely critical of the current BitCraft Online preview. While some users praise the core concept and see potential in its slower-paced approach – particularly appealing to casual players – most feedback centers on technical issues. Frequent disconnections, crashes and poor performance are common complaints, even from those using high-end hardware.
Many players have also voiced frustration over the point-and-click controls, questioning why the game doesn’t use the more familiar WASD movement typical of the genre. On top of that, the pacing feels sluggish to some, with many in-game actions taking several minutes to complete – making the experience feel tedious and slow-moving.
The main goal of the preview is to collect gameplay feedback and identify bugs. With that in mind, it’s likely the developers will take the community’s criticism seriously and focus on improving performance, refining controls and streamlining the game’s pacing in the weeks leading up to the Early Access launch.
Free trial until June 16
Players can still try BitCraft Online for free until June 16, 2025. While the game will be free to play at full launch, Early Access requires a one-time payment of around $30. During the current preview, characters can level up to 10, but progress won’t carry over – once the test ends, all data will be wiped.
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