The private beta of Megapatch III, version 15.0 of SCP: Secret Laboratory, opens on Friday, November 13 at 20:00 GMT (3 PM Eastern, noon Pacific), Northwood Studios announced in a Steam post on November 6. It is open to Tier-4 Patreon supporters and to anyone who buys beta access on Steam for $20, and for the first time there is a free trial too.
The Details
The free trial. Northwood is putting up an open Steam build of the beta that anyone can play for free. It has all the same features as the paid beta, but no multiplayer and no access to servers.
Paid access. Multiplayer needs either a Tier-4 Patreon membership or beta access bought on Steam, from the free trial’s main menu or on Northwood’s own Portal, where you can also buy it as a gift or as a bundle to share with friends. As with Northwood’s earlier betas, the price drops from $20 to $10 after two weeks, then to $5 a week after that.
What is missing at beta launch. Every key feature is playable, but some work lands during the beta:
- Gate A and Gate B’s entrance side rooms start in greybox and get their art pass later.
- MTF and Chaos Insurgency spawn waves will likely have no animations at first. The MTF helicopter is already remodelled; the CI car will not be for 15.0.
- SCP-953’s containment chamber is not finished, though SCP-953 does not need it to spawn, and its unique chase theme is held back, so the generic SCP chase theme plays for now.
- SCP-953 and SCP-106 still need icons for the new ability icon system.
- Surface Zone still lacks some new doors and gates, and Gate B’s blast door will likely come later. Mini waves and civilians may use the default spawn point until Surface Zone’s spawn elevators are ready.
- The main menu launches without its credits and the OPG.
What This Means for Players
If you just want to see SCP-953 and the rest of 15.0 for yourself, the free trial lets you explore the update solo without paying. Waiting saves money too: the $5 price arrives about three weeks after the beta opens, and Northwood plans to add the missing pieces over the course of the beta.
Northwood said in October that 15.0 was “still on track for our 2026 release date,” as our Halloween event story reported. This post sets only the beta date and does not say when 15.0 reaches everyone. For more multiplayer horror, see our Phasmophobia guides, our best Lethal Company mods and the best horror games of 2026.
When and Where
- Private beta: Friday, November 13, 20:00 GMT (3 PM EST, 12 PM PST), PC via Steam.
- Price: $20 at first; the free trial has no multiplayer.
- Base game: SCP: Secret Laboratory is free to play on Steam.
Source: Northwood Studios, Megapatch III private beta and free trial announcement, SCP: Secret Laboratory on Steam, November 6, 2026.