NetEase’s Beneath the Mist starts China closed beta Aug. 17

NetEase Games will run a closed beta for Beneath the Mist in China from Aug. 17 to Aug. 23, 2026, on Android and iOS. The weeklong trial is a limited-time, data-wipe test of a top-down, three-player experience that combines monster hunting, cooking and extraction.

Recruitment for the “Great Hunting Test” is active on the game’s official website. Interested players must pre-register by selecting Book Now, submitting a mobile phone number, choosing First Test recruitment and completing a hunter questionnaire. Test qualifications will be distributed beginning Aug. 14. NetEase has tied in-game rewards to participation and notes the build is under active development, so content and quality may change from the final release.

The beta build was developed by ZHU studio, a new team formed after a collaboration between NetEase and producer Ailu in Chengdu. Beneath the Mist is ZHU studio’s first mobile project built around a top-down perspective.

Gameplay places teams of three into the Mist Sea, an extraction-style map populated by hostile creatures such as fire dragons, giant boars and large sword-wielding beasts. Players fight monsters to collect loot, then cook defeated foes into dishes that grant temporary abilities, including short bursts of flight or fire-breathing. Successful runs require clearing threats, gathering treasure and reaching an extraction point to secure acquired items.

The game allows on-the-fly weapon switching, environmental ambushes and experimentation with different monster dishes each run. Loot can include legendary weapons, rare artifacts and hidden manuals that alter playstyle and progression. NetEase describes the trial as a chance to gather player feedback and to stress-test core systems rather than to present final content.

The Great Hunting Test is limited to Android and iOS users in China and will wipe player data after the trial. NetEase recommends checking the official site for full details and qualification updates starting Aug. 14.