The Co-Ex Test (short for Cooperative Existence Test) was the third and final closed beta test for Neverness to Evernessrunning from February 6 to February 20, 2026. Developed by Hotta Studio and published by Perfect World Games, this two-week test served as the second global beta and the last major public testing phase before the game's worldwide launch on April 29, 2026. Unlike the PC-only Containment Test that preceded it, the Co-Ex Test was available across PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, iOS, and Androidmaking it the first multi-platform beta for the game. By the time testing began, the game had accumulated over 20 million pre-registrations globally.
The Co-Ex Test was a limited-access closed beta with no in-game purchases. All progress was wiped when the test concluded on February 20. Recruitment opened on December 23, 2025, and sign-ups closed around January 23, 2026. Applicants had to pre-register and fill out a questionnaire on the official website for consideration. Pre-download became available on February 4, 2026, two days before the test went live.
Platforms and Access
The Co-Ex Test represented a significant expansion in platform availability compared to the previous Containment Testwhich was limited to PC. For the first time, console and mobile players could participate in testing alongside PC users. This allowed Hotta Studio to stress-test cross-platform play and performance parity across all target hardware configurations ahead of launch.
Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
PC (Windows) | Supported via the official launcher |
PlayStation 5 | First console beta; PS5 Pro also supported |
iOS | First mobile beta |
Android | First mobile beta |
Language Support
The test supported nine text languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Spanish, and Russian. Voice-over options included English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. This was a notable increase from the Containment Test, which offered only four text languages (English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese).
New Content Introduced
The Co-Ex Test was the most feature-complete beta to date, introducing a wide range of new systems, activities, and content that went well beyond what was available during the Containment Test. While the previous beta focused primarily on the core anomaly hunting gameplay loop and open-world exploration, the Co-Ex Test placed heavy emphasis on Hethereau's daily life and systemic depth.
Cooperative Dungeons
Two new large-scale Anomaly Dungeons were introduced: The Bank and The Hospital. Both dungeons were designed as team-based co-op experiences, requiring players to coordinate and navigate complex environments while facing powerful anomaly threats. These dungeons represented a significant step up in cooperative content compared to what was available in earlier tests.
The Pink Paws Heist was also featured as a team infiltration activity with equalized character stats. This mode emphasized strategy and teamwork over raw character power, providing a level playing field for all participants regardless of their roster or progression.
Prison System and Wanted Mechanics
One of the most talked-about additions was the Prison system, tied to the new Wanted System. Players who committed crimes in the open world (such as vehicle theft or causing public disturbances) accumulated wanted levels. If apprehended by police, players were sent to an in-game prison rather than simply respawning. The prison experience included a full day of activities: solitary confinement, outdoor time, and even an escape mission. Players could choose to serve their sentence, work it off, or attempt a breakout, adding a layer of consequence and strategy to open-world mischief.
Urban Activities and Social Features
The Co-Ex Test introduced a variety of daily life activities designed to make Hethereau feel like a living, breathing city rather than just a combat zone. New social and recreational activities included:
Fishing with improved animations, camera work, and audio feedback
Mahjong as a competitive social mini-game
Racing with other players through city streets
Taxi rides as a new transport option
Part-time jobs such as working shifts at a coffee shop
Each activity provided unique in-game rewards and contributed to the City Tycoon progression system
Drone Exploration
A new flying drone mechanic gave players unrestricted aerial exploration of the city. The drone doubled as a photography tool, enabling a Bird's Eye View capture mode that let players photograph Hethereau from above without movement restrictions. This complemented the existing Photo Mode and opened up entirely new perspectives on the city.
New Characters
Eight characters were teased for the Co-Ex Test: Chiz (identified as a bank lobby manager and urban guide), Shinku, Iroi, Nitsa, Elyms, Lingko, Exe, and Chaos. Not all characters were confirmed as playable during the test period, and some may have been introduced through story content or NPC interactions rather than as full playable characters.
Character Outfits
New outfit options were introduced for the protagonist and several main characters. The designs featured minimalist urban aesthetics with sleek, practical fashion reflecting the game's modern city setting. These cosmetic additions gave players more ways to personalize their character's appearance.
Other Additions
Overhauled traffic AI with NPCs driving diverse vehicles, creating more realistic urban flow
Enhanced lighting engine with improved day-night cycle and weather effects
Improved water physics with realistic rain reflections on wet roads
Story content covering up to the "Deal? Deal!" episode
Character-specific dodge-counter abilities tied to the Parrying System
Balance Changes
One of the most notable balance adjustments in the Co-Ex Test was the reduction of boss fight durations. In earlier betas, boss encounters could last around 10 minutes, which many testers found tedious and repetitive. For the Co-Ex Test, boss fights were shortened to roughly 3 minutes, making combat feel more dynamic. This change was well received by the community and carried forward to the final release.
Previous Beta Tests
The Co-Ex Test was the culmination of a testing cycle that began in late 2024. Each beta phase expanded the game's content and incorporated feedback from the previous round.
Test | Dates | Key Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
CN Closed Beta (CBT1) | November 28, 2024 | PC (China only) | First limited-scale beta. Introduced Hethereauthree chapters of story content, vehicle mechanics, and playable characters including Adler. Built on Unreal Engine 5. |
Containment Test (Global CBT1) | July 3 - 16, 2025 | PC (Windows) | First global beta. Expanded Hethereau by 1.5x with the Miguel District and New Herland District. Supported English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. Introduced Parry Attack and Critical Dodge mechanics. |
Co-Ex Test (Global CBT2) | February 6 - 20, 2026 | PC, PS5, PS5 Pro, iOS, Android | Final closed beta. Multi-platform with nine text languages. Introduced co-op dungeons (The BankThe Hospital)prison systemurban activities, drone exploration, and new characters. Over 20M pre-registrations. |
Player Reception
The Co-Ex Test received a broadly positive reception from players and media outlets. Coverage from, MMOBomb, But Why Tho?, and other outlets highlighted the game's ambitious scope and the improvements made since the Containment Test.
Praise
Category | Feedback |
|---|---|
Urban setting | Reviewers were impressed by the density and detail of Hethereau. The city's highways, side streets, convenience stores, and neon lights made the world feel genuinely lived-in. Multiple outlets called it one of the fullest cityscapes they had experienced in the genre. |
Narrative structure | Main quests functioned as investigative case files rather than typical fetch tasks. Players appreciated that missions revolved around investigating and resolving anomalies with meaningful buildup and structure. |
Combat and Esper system | The Esper Gauge system was frequently praised for creating fluid combat where both the active character and swapped-in partner occupied the battlefield simultaneously, making character switching feel dynamic and strategic. |
Gacha improvements | The interactive board game-style gacha mechanic was well received. Testers noted the system felt generous, with some achieving three S-tier characters in roughly 110 pulls. The elimination of 50/50 mechanics (100% guaranteed limited banners) drew particular attention. |
Side content depth | Side quests were highlighted as surprisingly creative, featuring varied activities like perspective-shifting puzzles and musical performances. Players described them as standalone chapters that expanded the city's culture. |
Criticism
Melee-heavy roster: Several reviewers noted that the playable character roster leaned heavily toward melee-focused fighters, with calls for more dedicated ranged specialists and greater diversity in combat identities.
Driving controls: Vehicle handling was described as stiff, with overly aggressive camera sensitivity and limited adjustment options. This was flagged as a priority issue for improvement.
Mini-game limitations: Mahjong lacked a single-player option during the test, and some recreational activities felt underdeveloped.
Technical bugs: As expected for a beta, players encountered issues such as characters getting stuck on map geometry and quests occasionally failing to progress. These were widely acknowledged as typical pre-release concerns.
Developer Response
Following the Co-Ex Test, Hotta Studio published a detailed response acknowledging community feedback and outlining planned improvements for launch. Key commitments included:
Area | Changes Planned |
|---|---|
Social features | Reduced mahjong queue times by deploying AI opponents to fill empty seats, and enhanced fishing mechanics with improved animations, camera work, and audio |
Driving improvements | Better vehicle handling and a more polished driving experience for urban exploration |
Cleaned terminology, better language display in UI, and more natural readability across all supported languages | |
Expanded character content | New hangout scenes, spontaneous city encounters, inviteable characters, and additional outfit options with refined animations |
Technical stability | Prioritized bug fixes and cross-device performance optimization for PC and mobile |
The developers concluded their response with: "Hethereau wouldn't be what it is without you. And we're looking forward to welcoming you back soon." A full development roadmap and character previews were promised ahead of the official launch.
Pre-Registration Milestones
By the Co-Ex Test launch, the game had surpassed 20 million pre-registrations across all platforms. Players who pre-registered were promised 20x Elite Hunter Guides as a launch reward. Multi-platform pre-registration opened alongside the Co-Ex Test, with milestone rewards unlocking as the count grew. Pre-orders for PS5 later became available at $9.99 for a special bundle.
Related Pages
Beta Test History for a complete overview of all testing phases
Containment Test for the previous global beta (July 2025)
Wanted System for the crime and police mechanics introduced in this test
Prison for the detention gameplay system
The Bank and The Hospital for co-op dungeon details
Pink Paws Heist for the team infiltration activity
Release Date and Launch for the full launch timeline
Development History for the complete development timeline