Darkest Dungeon II’s Final Beta Update Brings the Heat…Literally
Brace yourselves, masochists.
The seventh and final update for the Steadfast Steward public beta is here, and Red Hook’s not pulling any punches. If you thought Darkest Dungeon II was done torching your hope and sanity, this patch brings one last opportunity to combust in style. We’re talking about a Runaway overhaul, last-chance tuning, and a desperate bug hunt before the retail rollout smashes through the gates like a funderful Cultist ambush.
Yes, this really is the final call. Red Hook confirmed the beta branch will wrap up shortly with the full build dropping “late next week” – assuming the flames don’t consume everything first.
Let’s break down the highlights and offer some hard-won survival tips from the scorched frontline.
Image: Runaway | Darkest Dungeon II | Red Hook Studios
Runaway Path Rewrites: Burn Baby Burn
The devs heard your feedback. And they decided to throw gasoline on it. This final beta focuses heavily on the Runaway, giving her three distinct paths a fresh coat of flammable paint:
Wanderer
If you’re running basic, know that Backdraft now ignores Block when stealthed, which is honestly pretty cracked. Ransack gets a minor rework. Firestarter becomes leaner but deadlier. She’s no longer just “the Burn girl” – she’s a calculated firestorm of funsies.
Arsonist
Imagine lighting yourself on fire just to do more damage. That’s the Arsonist in a nutshell now. It’s all about stacking Burn and blowing up enemies with massive Backdraft detonations.
Bonus: Arsonist now triggers both Control and Hero Path Condition barks (so your party will never stop reminding you that you’re literally on fire).
Image: Runaway | Darkest Dungeon II | Red Hook Studios
Orphan
Orphan got a much-needed tweak. She now relies more on movement to power her Burn potential. It’s a clever push away from the “park and spark” playstyle. No more sitting in Rank 4 throwing Molotovs like you’re waiting for Grubhub.
Time to dance around and earn those flames.
The Final Countdown
Red Hook confirmed this is the last major beta push before the final version hits live servers.
The studio’s focus now is simple: bug squashing and last-minute tuning.
Expect the full release late next week…but only if players dig in now and flood the devs with feedback like it’s the final round of a stress test (because it kind of is).
Image: Darkest Dungeon II | Red Hook Studios
If you want to jump in, you’ll need to switch to the “coming_in_hot” beta branch on Steam (instructions below). Epic and GOG players can also opt-in via their platforms. And for the love of the Flame: back up your saves. Data wipes are fun until they happen to you.
How to Join the Darkest Dungeon II Open Beta Branch on Steam
It’s actually pretty simple to jump into the Darkest Dungeon II PTB open beta, but just in case you’re not familiar with the process:
- In your Steam Library, right click Darkest Dungeon II
- In the submenu that pops up, select Properties
- Go to the Betas tab and select the “coming_in_hot” beta branch from the dropdown menu.
- Enjoy the chaos!
Image: How to Join the Darkest Dungeon II PTB Open Beta on Steam
What Else Got Cooked in This Darkest Dungeon II Update?
Not everything’s fire and brimstone (though most of it is). A few smaller, spicy additions are tucked into the patch as well:
Speed Toggle: You can now split animation and audio speed. If you’re a fan of playing at 1.5x while still hearing every tortured scream in full fidelity, your time has come.
General Polish: While Runaway got the bulk of attention, the devs are teasing that Occultist and Plague Doctor changes are next in line. Expect those to land in the final pre-launch patch. There’s potential for buffs…OR more ways to accidentally bleed out your healer like a noob.
Tips from the Flame Trenches
If you plan to dive in before launch, here’s how to make the most of your scorched adventure:
Test every Runaway path: Each one plays dramatically different now. If you’re not moving with Orphan or leaning into self-immolation with Arsonist, you’re missing the point.
Stack Burn like your life depends on it: Because it does! Backdraft hits harder the more Burn tokens you have. Set everything on fire…then blow it all up while laughing maniacally.
Give feedback: If something’s busted, weird, or weirdly busted, Red Hook wants to know. Post it to Steam, Discord, wherever. Your rage might actually fix a bug.
Toggle those speeds: Seriously, try 1.5x with normal audio. It feels like mainlining chaos but still hearing every juicy sound cue.
Burnout or Breakthrough?
This final beta might not be the biggest content drop. But it’s the one that matters most.
It’s Red Hook’s last chance to tune the game’s balance before the masses descend. And it’s your last chance to help shape the final product (or at least break it in hilarious ways before launch).
Whether you’re a grizzled road warrior or a first-time masochist, now’s the time to dive in. Light the match. Give feedback while everything’s still flammable.
Because in Darkest Dungeon II, hope is a flame…and Red Hook just handed you a blowtorch. So what do you think about this new update? Let us know in the comments below!
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