The Early Access release of Midnight Murder Club is coming on March 13. This new horror multiplayer first-person shooter from Velan Studios drops players into a haunted mansion with only a flashlight and a revolver. Players must navigate the manor’s dark halls and compete against the opposing team, all while experiencing the noir aesthetic of the game. Midnight Murder Club fits right into the modern horror/multiplayer landscape, which has seen some truly memorable titles over the years. Popular games like Lethal Company and Phasmophobia have set the stage for bringing friends together for some scary fun.
As the Early Access launch approaches, the promise of humorous horror and heart-pounding action makes Midnight Murder Club a unique game to watch for fans of the genre. While the expected Early Release launch has been delayed a few weeks (to March 13), the developers have come forward with an exciting update introducing the new Wildcards game mode. Joining this reveal is also the Guest Pass version of the game, allowing players to bring in their friends to join the fun. In a Game Rant interview, Midnight Murder Club game director Eric Feurstein explained why the team is introducing the Guest Pass and how it helps expand the game’s developing community.
Midnight Murder Club Reveals Early Access Release Date and New Game Mode
Velan Studios announces the release date for Midnight Murder Club’s early access and also reveals a new game mode for players to check out.
How Midnight Murder Club’s Guest Passes Allow Players to Join Friends Easily
Midnight Murder Club requires six players, divided into teams, to enjoy its various game modes. However, considering that the game’s standard edition at early access launch is not free-to-play, it may be challenging to gather enough friends to join the fun. This is especially true if the players are hesitant to match-make with strangers in a game mode that demands teamwork and strategy. Fortunately, players will have access to the full game as long as one of their friends owns a purchased copy (The Guest Pass), making it easier for more players to enjoy the fun and chaos with their friends. As Feurstein explained, there aren’t any notable differences between the two versions of the game:
“There isn’t that much difference between the two! The Guest Pass edition of the game can play every game mode, public or private, they can play with bots, they can even keep their Wildcards collection! The only thing a Guest needs is someone who has purchased the game to invite them to their lobby. If one person purchases the game, 5 of their friends can play with them as much as they want, no extra cost!”
The Guest Pass feature in Midnight Murder Club allows players to invite their friends into the game without requiring them to purchase their own copy, making it a more budget-friendly experience for everyone. This seamless access ensures that groups of all sizes can team up and enjoy the game together, even in the newly-announced Wildcards mode. With these updates launching together, friends can share hilarious moments, create lasting memories, and immerse themselves in the fun—all while saving money.
Furthermore, the Guest Pass includes full cross-play support, allowing players to join their paying friends regardless of the platform they are on. This means that players on PS5 can use a Guest Pass to team up with friends on Steam, and vice versa.
Midnight Murder Club Adds Bots to Support Smaller Friend Groups
The Guest Pass allows players to invite up to five friends per match, but smaller groups can still play together without matchmaking if they prefer, thanks to the bots being implemented into the game. While this feature wasn’t available during beta playtests, the developers have responded quickly to community feedback, ensuring that bots can be added to matches when Early Access launches. However, this option will be limited to only two game modes—Free-for-All and Team Deathmatch. The remaining three modes, Thief in the Night, Headhunters, and Wildcards, will have to wait for future updates before bot support is introduced:
“We also added the ability to play with bots as a direct response to feedback from the community. Midnight Murder Club can be an intimidating game to start playing and people wanted a way to ease into it by practicing with bots. At the launch of Early Access, you’ll be able to play with bots in Free-for-All and Team Deathmatch with the hope of adding them to all game modes shortly after.”
As Feurstein also mentions, this is an excellent opportunity for players to get a feel for the game before diving into more serious matches. It’s especially valuable for those who are new to this style of gameplay, as it allows them to practice in a lower-pressure environment. With mechanics that emphasize awareness and teamwork—such as light leaking, proximity chat, and detailed positional audio—over traditional conveniences like a minimap, having bots in matches can help players gradually adapt to the game’s unique challenges before facing real opponents.