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Closed Alpha
June 8, 2026 at 11:06 PM
Removed duplicate in-body wikilinks
The Closed Alpha is the third and largest pre-release test that Mintrocket and Nexon have run for NAKWON: LAST PARADISE, running from 5:00 p.m. Pacific on March 11, 2026 to 1:00 a.m. Pacific on March 16, 2026. See Overview for the full game summary; this page focuses on the test programs.
Progress made during the Closed Alpha did not carry over to the full release. All character levels, gear, and shelter customization were reset.
Test | Window | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Pre-Alpha Playtest #1 | November 29, 2023 to December 3, 2023 | PC via Steam | Free, open sign-up, no player cap. First public hands-on for the build. |
Pre-Alpha Playtest #2 | December 2024 | PC via Steam | Pre-Alpha #2 participants received automatic access to the Closed Alpha. |
Closed Alpha Test | March 11, 2026 to March 16, 2026 | PC via Steam | Selected applicants only. Regional and language support expanded. Progress did not carry to release. |
Pre-Alpha #1 ran from November 29, 2023 through December 3, 2023 on Steam, free to register with no player cap. It was the first public stress test of the expedition format, day-and-night structure, and early infected behavior.
Mintrocket published a public development roadmap on January 29, 2024 listing the priorities to be addressed before the next test:
Basic features: character appearance customization, in-game voice chat, MMR-based matchmaking.
Combat overhaul: separated upper-body and lower-body actions, improved impact and contact feedback, separated left and right hand slots, more natural movement.
Zombie enhancement: new
types, more satisfying kill feedback, increased zombie threat.
Scouting rules: starting point selection, exit rule improvements, removal of the toxic gas leak system.
Exploration content: difficulty selection, map changes by difficulty, random weather.
Several roadmap items surfaced in the Closed Alpha two years later, including new infected types, weather conditions, and the more granular combat layout.
Pre-Alpha #2 ran in December 2024. It is referenced in the January 2024 roadmap and in 2026 alpha communications as the test whose participants received automatic access to the Closed Alpha. No full content list was published for it.
Sign-ups opened February 25, 2026 and ran through March 15, 2026. Earlier Pre-Alpha participants received automatic access; new applicants signed up through Steam. Supported regions expanded to parts of North America, South America (newly added), and East Asia. Two new localizations were added: Latin American Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.
The Closed Alpha is the most thoroughly documented build to date for content scale. Counts may shift between alpha and full release.
Content category | Confirmed count | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
110 | Trait points earned through character leveling feed the active and passive skill tree. | |||
Active and Passive Skills | 35 | Skill tree fed by trait points; a mix of active abilities and passive bonuses. | ||
60 | Dual-wieldable. Alpha additions include the Firefighter Axe, Sledgehammer, One-Handed Axe, and Round Riot Shield. | |||
30 | Categorized as heavy or light. | |||
7 | Three classes: makeshift, improvised, and factory-grade. Includes single-use craftable scrap guns. The revolver, pistol, and double-barrel shotgun are confirmed entries. | |||
14 | Named locations across the expedition map, set in ruined | . | ||
Quests | 160+ | Includes Key Resource Intel missions among the named mission types. | ||
Character Outfits | 70+ | Cosmetic customization for the player character. | ||
Special Infected Types | 6 | All highly sensitive to noise. See the table below. |
Fourteen named landmarks were available across the closed alpha expedition map:
NAKWON Arcade
Tapgol Park
Police Station
Incinerator Facility
Jongno Building
MR Building
Seongdo Building
Hotel Momo
Art Gallery (South)
Art Gallery (North)
Reconstruction Site (South)
Reconstruction Site (North)
Parking Lot (South)
Parking Lot (North)
Six special infected types were confirmed for the Closed Alpha. All are highly sensitive to sound, which interacts with the noise-based detection systems and the heavy-rain weather that muffles ambient audio.
Type | Behavior |
|---|---|
Runner | Aggressively rushes players. |
Screamer | Wears a helmet with headlights that sway with movement, telegraphing line of sight. Does not attack directly; on spotting a player it screams to alert and attract other infected. |
Gatherer | Pre-infection scavengers who supplied resources to NAKWON; killed in combat and turned. Distinguished by gear similar to player gear. |
Armored | Pre-infection survivors who crafted makeshift body armor and turned despite the protection. Wide range of motion; their armor generates noise when moving. |
Butcher | Suffered severe eye and head injuries before turning. Specialized melee threat. |
Policeman | Pre-infection identity (police officer) carries through into post-turn movement and fighting style. |
Last Stand:
When HP reaches 0, the player enters a
state, unable to attack or use offensive skills. Damage taken in this state increases an infection level; 100% infection kills the character. Players can still attempt to extract through map exits.
Heavy-rain weather:
Three weather conditions are available: daytime, nighttime, and heavy rain. Heavy rain muffles ambient sound, making both player movement and infected detection harder. See
for the full sensory cycle.
New housing content:
3D shelter customization with upgradeable workbenches, refrigerators, and furniture.
Crafting and scrap workflow:
Workbenches craft and modify items for durability and performance. A scrap bench dismantles items into materials, and single-use scrap firearms can be crafted from those materials.
Wound and infection tracking:
Last Stand layers an infection meter on top of the broader
loop.
The Closed Alpha Test concluded on March 16, 2026. The official recap, published on March 24, 2026, summarized the test in concrete engagement and progression numbers. These figures are the broadest publicly disclosed picture of the build's reception, and they apply only to that test window. Counts will reset for any future test and for the eventual full release.
Recap metric | Reported figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Total participants | 280,000 | Total players who joined the Closed Alpha across all regions. Not the same as Steam peak concurrency. |
Peak concurrent users | 37,468 | The high-water mark for simultaneous players during the test window. |
Players who reached max level | 393 | Players who reached the Closed Alpha max character level (10). Max level was a small fraction of the participant pool. |
Successful extractions | 1.8 million | Aggregate count of completed extractions across the test. Used as an engagement signal for the loop. |
Highest single extraction value | 3.7 million credits | The single most valuable loadout extracted by any player during the test. Specific contents were not publicly itemized. |
Beyond the headline numbers, the recap and the April 15, 2026 Dev Talk acknowledged the test as a stress test for matchmaking, anti-cheat enforcement, and the noise-driven detection model. Mid-test patch notes on March 12 and March 13 reduced beginner matchmaking wait times from roughly 150 seconds to 20 seconds and addressed animation sequencing and stability bugs. Enforcement action was published against accounts caught using unauthorized programs, demonstrating active anti-cheat monitoring during the test.
The April 15, 2026 Dev Talk and the March/April Q&A summarized which directions the team committed to after the Closed Alpha. The list below reflects publicly stated plans at the time and is not a binding feature list. Mechanics may shift before launch.
Two new maps are in development beyond the existing Jongno area. One is described as a shopping mall area. The stated goal is for new maps to differ in gameplay and not only in visuals.
Housing improvements planned for shelter: wall-mounted installations, customization of flooring, wallpaper, and ceilings, and the ability to change expedition gear inside the shelter.
Quality-of-life features planned for full release: clearer UI cues such as food expiration indicators, a dedicated screenshot mode, and continuous usability passes.
Safe pocket system was confirmed as not planned. The team stated that maintaining a constant sense of losing something on every expedition is part of the intended experience.
City activities beyond extraction are described as a mid-to-long-term goal, with not every activity guaranteed at launch.
No release date has been announced as of May 2026. Future tests have been referenced but not scheduled. See Getting Started for an introduction to the loop, and the Overview for the broader game summary.
Character progression, inventory, gear, and shelter customization did not transfer to the full release.
Content figures reflect the alpha build at the time of test. Final-release counts may differ.
The alpha map is a subset of the full city; a future Dev Talk has been teased to cover a new map featuring a large shopping mall.
No release date was announced during or after the alpha; the game remains unreleased.
Visit the official Steam store page for NAKWON: LAST PARADISE.
Use the Request Access button during the announced sign-up window.
Wait for an access notification through Steam if selected.
Existing Pre-Alpha participants did not need to re-apply.
For first-time players preparing for a future test, see Getting Started for an introduction to the expedition loop and shelter management.
