Prison Architect 2–a very highly anticipated sequel–was originally scheduled to launch way back in 2024. The game was delayed to September of that year before later being delayed indefinitely, but after more than two years of waiting, we finally have a sign that it could be approaching a new release date: another beta test.
Following a beta back in April–which was the first official update from Paradox on the game since it was delayed in 2024–Prison Architect 2 will hold another closed beta for September.
The sign-up sheet, which is now closed, asks a few different questions of potential testers. The most important is if they are willing to sign an NDA, so don’t expect news to come out of the closed beta.
The actual playtest will run from September 9-15, but it’s unclear if the closed beta will be followed by an open beta later down the line.
Back in August of 2024, Paradox said “we need more time to improve both the game’s performance and its content,” offering refunds to those who preorders and not committing to a new release date. The game hasn’t been available to purchase since then, which could lead to people thinking it was canceled. Above, you can see a video of what the game looked like back then.
It’s been well over a decade since the original Prison Architect released. In addition to PC, it’s available on Xbox, PlayStation, and iOS. Prison Architect 2 is planned to launch for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S alongside PC.