Hotline Miami 2 Level Editor Beta Launches in December

A level editor for debauched top-down action game Hotline Miami 2 will go into public beta on December 10, developer Dennaton Games has announced.

In a post on the studios blog, it said the beta will be available on Steam from December 10, and provided information regarding invites, whether content will carry over to the full launch, and final release plans. Take a look below to read that.

• The beta is on Steam. The forum makes it easier to gather bugs and the automatic update makes sure everyone is playing the correct version.
• The beta is Windows only for now. The editor will support Mac and Linux later on. No editor for PS3, PS4 or Vita.
• Workshop is not available at the beginning but will be added later. Levels can be shared locally by sending the level folders around.
• Everyone can have access to the beta without an invite. So we don't need your Steam information or anything, you do this yourself when it's available. More info on how you do that on release date.
• All content is available from the start. Some minor features will be added later)
• No promises that levels made in the beta will carry over to the final version. Things will change during the course of the beta as we fix and update the code, so no promises that levels will stay the same or survive the whole trip.
• The plan is to have the beta open during December until early January and then have final version out shortly after that.
• No custom music editor. If we let people get free music when they download levels we are viewed as a illegal file sharing tool. There is also impossible to make sure that if people added a track that the artist of that track is cool with the fact that he/she/they are in HLM.
• No custom sprite editor from us but other people have already created their own and they work great:)
• The plan is to have video tutorials up before the December 10 (or quite soon after) but I think you will figure out most of it without our help ;)
• Nigel is handsome

In GameSpot's Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number review, Danny O'Dwyer awarded the sequel a 9/10 score.

"In almost every way, Hotline Miami 2 is a marked improvement on an already tremendous formula," he said. "This is a game that had me pumping my fists and laughing with joy throughout my time with it, and I was left despondent by the time it drew to a close.

"A gutsy, refined game that isn't scared to force you into corners and watch you battle out of them, as well as an audiovisual joy that marries graphics, music, and gameplay so well that even the pause screen is a work of art."