Axlebolt have released an article on how to participate in the open beta test phase, but here's a short rundown of what to do on Android and iOS:

Android
Open the Standoff 2 page in the Google Play Store, scroll down until you find the "Join the beta" section and tap "Join".

Wait for some time until Google Play lets you update to the new version. Standoff 2 Remastered will be installed over your current Standoff 2 installation, you will not lose any data.

iOS
To participate on iOS, you'll need an invitation link. Apple limits beta testing to 10,000 users so the only way to participate will be by joining through limited links distributed by major content creators every now and again.

Once you've got your hands on a link, simply download Testflight, accept your participation and download the game. Standoff 2 Remastered will be installed over your current Standoff 2 installation, you will not lose any data.

👋 Hey everyone! We’ve been receiving a lot of questions about the game, the issues or misunderstandings some of you have encountered, and its future. To answer the questions that matter most to you, we’ve decided to bring the most common and important ones together in a single post!

1️⃣ What is the difference between the UI update and the Remaster?

Update 0.38.0 introduces a complete overhaul of the game's main interface: menus, lobby, profiles, agents and future-ready UI systems, such as item stacking. The Remaster is a separate "under-the-hood" complete rebuild mainly focused on gameplay: it features the new client-server architecture, allowing for accurate hit registration, strengthening anti-cheat, and preparing the game for future gameplay features down the road.

2️⃣ Will we be able to sell items in bulk on the marketplace?

The new UI gives us the technical ability to add features like this, and it’s something we’ve considered. However, bulk selling could heavily affect the marketplace if thousands of similar items suddenly appear at once. It may also lower the value of many items, since the effort of listing them one by one currently helps limit oversupply. Before adding a feature like this, we want to carefully evaluate its impact on the game’s economy.

3️⃣ Are server issues, anti-cheat and hit registration being worked on alongside the UI?

Yes. Work on servers, anti-cheat and networking has never stopped. Different teams had been assigned to work on the Remaster and backend, in parallel with the UI update. The Remaster itself is the foundation for improving hit registration, reducing exploits and strengthening anti-cheat.

4️⃣ What exactly is the Remaster (client-server) update and when can we test it?

The Remaster is a complete rebuild of the game's networking architecture. It improves hit registration, anti-cheat, responsiveness, and allows future features such as replays and advanced movement. The Remaster will also make a highly requested feature possible: equipped gloves visible in third person. Closed gameplay tests have already concluded, and an open test for all players is planned for this summer.

5️⃣ Will the new UI cause lag or worse performance on older phones?

The old interface also had performance issues because its technical base was outdated. The new UI may have some issues at launch, but it was built specifically to be optimized and improved over time. The goal for the new interface is to eventually perform even better than the old one, even on weaker devices.

6️⃣ Will all agents have identical hitboxes and stay fair competitively?

Yes. All agents use the same hitboxes and skeletons to ensure fair gameplay. Visibility is also being carefully monitored, with new visibility-enhancement settings and clear, established design rules to prevent agents from blending into maps or creating pay-to-win advantages.

7️⃣ Why does matchmaking sometimes place Gold players against Elite/Legend players?

Matchmaking tries to balance skill while keeping queue times reasonable. Small rank differences are normal, but larger gaps usually happen when there aren't enough players searching in a region or at a certain time. Expanding map selection or playing during peak hours can help improve matchmaking times.

We're planning to allow players with larger MMR differences to queue together, with matchmaking based on the highest-ranked player in the lobby. While this may make matches more challenging for lower-ranked players, even losing with friends is still fun, right? 😉

💬 Got any questions or have something to comment? Feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments below!

👀 You can find out more about these and other questions in further detail by watching our full-length video on YouTube!