BeastLink Early Access Launches August 18 With 32-Player Monster Battles
The early access launch marks Grove Street Games' first original IP after years of contract porting work for major franchises.
Key Facts
- BeastLink launches in early access on Steam on August 18, 2026.
- The early access version includes 4 Beasts, 3 maps, and dozens of weapons.
- The game supports up to 32 players in PvPvE matches.
- Full release is planned for summer 2027 with 8 Beasts, 12 maps, and 10 co-op story missions.
- Grove Street Games previously developed the GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition and co-developed ARK: Survival Ascended for consoles.
Reporting from 3 sources: Denfaminicogamer, Automaton, Game Spark.
Grove Street Games, the studio behind the GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition and ARK: Survival Ascended console ports, announced that its original multiplayer game BeastLink will enter early access on Steam on August 18, 2026. The game is a PvPvE title supporting up to 32 players in matches where humans use modern weapons, vehicles, and teamwork to fight giant monsters called Beasts. Players can also collect a serum on the map to link with a dormant Beast and control it, turning the tide against other players or monsters. The early access build includes four Beasts (horned lizard, mandrill, bull shark, and vampire bat), three maps, dozens of weapons, a tutorial, and some single-player missions. Two multiplayer modes are available at launch: Convergence and Battle Arena. The game uses a proprietary "Super Destruction" system that allows buildings and entire city blocks to be demolished, with hundreds of thousands of destructible objects per map. Full release is planned for summer 2027, at which point the price will increase. The final version is expected to include eight Beasts, twelve maps, and ten co-op story missions. Console versions for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S are also in development.
The four Beasts in the early access build each have unique abilities: the horned lizard fires laser beams from its eyes, the mandrill throws its own bones as weapons, the bull shark attacks from the air, and the vampire bat specializes in close combat. The serum linking mechanic introduces a risk-reward element, as stronger links grant more power but increase the danger of being consumed by the Beast's will.
Grove Street Games, based in Florida, previously operated as War Drum Studios before rebranding in 2020. The studio's experience with large-scale console ports is reflected in BeastLink's destruction system, which the developer says was a priority. The early access period will see frequent updates adding new maps, Beasts, and story content, with the full release targeting summer 2027 and a price increase at that point.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.