Frontier Developments is hosting a beta for upcoming park sim Planet Zoo, beginning on September 24 and running through October 8. The beta is exclusive to those who pre-order the game, however. Watch the new Planet Zoo beta trailer above.
The Planet Zoo beta includes the first scenario of Career Mode, as well as letting players experience the more free-form Franchise Mode.
Career Mode features an overarching, narrative-driven story as players travel around the world building, designing, and running zoos. Franchise Mode is described as “sandbox meets simulation,” but with an added online component. In the beta, players can take advantage of the Animal Exchange, where zookeepers can trade animals, Pokémon-style.
The full game will feature daily and weekly challenge goals that players can work towards in Franchise Mode, and progress through the full story campaign in Career Mode.
Planet Zoo is launching exclusively on PC (Steam) on November 5. Pre-ordering will grant access to the beta, as well as the digital soundtrack, desktop wallpapers, and three exclusive bonus animals: the Komodo Dragon, Pygmy Hippopotamus, and Thomson’s Gazelle. Planet Zoo has not yet been rated by the ESRB.
