Fish Stick Protocol’s Beta: Slip, Slide, and Laugh Together

If you expected tense standoffs and gear-loss panic in an extraction shooter, think again. When Maracas Studio launched Fish Stick Protocol’s open beta on Steam (August 14–25, 2025), I braced for heart-pounding suspense—only to find myself doubled over in laughter. This physics-driven co-op adventure swaps life-or-death stakes for Rube Goldberg–style chaos, turning every misstep into a memorable punchline.

Beta Overview at a Glance

• Dates: August 14–25, 2025 (Steam, open to all, no NDA)
• Platform: PC via Steam, full English localization (nine languages supported)
• Players: Solo or up to eight-player online co-op
• Core Loop: Enter surreal dimensions, grab relics, and make a comedic escape
• Permadeath: Off—every wipe is a chance for a new gag

What Makes This Beta So Special?

• Zero-Stress Extraction: No punishment for failure—just fuel for the next belly laugh.
• Procedural Playground: Randomized hazards like giggling plants, gravity wells, and sonic anomalies keep runs fresh.
• Physics-Powered Mayhem: Bounce barrels, ride living vines, and watch teammates fly skyward.
• Emergent Comedy: The game’s best moments aren’t scripted—they’re improvised by your wildest blunders.
• Manor-Building Progression: Spend relic shards on quirky gadgets, oversized fish tanks, and absurd cosmetics between runs.

The Three Pillars of Fish Stick Protocol

1. Physics-Driven Puzzles: Stack, swing, and launch with weight and momentum—clever mechanics reward creative problem-solving.
2. Emergent Carnage: Trigger chain reactions, fling enemies into hazards, and let the chaos unfold in real time.
3. Home Base Upgrades: Invest shards in workbenches, spring floors, and décor to keep your manor as zany as your runs.

Open-Door Beta Philosophy

Maracas Studio has thrown out the NDA, inviting players to share clips freely on Discord, Reddit, and Steam. Developer channels are wide open for feedback—no polished marketing scripts or hush-hush demos here. The team actively watches community posts to fine-tune physics stability, dimension variety, and performance scaling.

Diving into Wacky Dimensions

Each session drops you into a procedurally generated realm packed with surprises: floating platforms tethered by cables, gravity-flipping orbs, and carnivorous plants that giggle when you poke them. Your mission? Grab marked relics and reach extraction. The unexpected hazards—like mechanical crabs snapping at your ankles or slime geysers launching you sky-high—might derail your plan, but they’ll never crash your fun.

A Run to Remember

During one beta sprint, my team’s relic plummeted into molten lava after a vine snap. Instead of groaning, we rigged a pulley system from spare rope and yanked it back—only to have a giant beetle swoop in and claim it. Against all odds, we still extracted two “Plate-Sized Beetle Shells” and a charred shard, howling with laughter the entire time. That spontaneous Rube Goldberg moment summed up Fish Stick Protocol: fail spectacularly, then find a way to win anyway.

Building Your Manor

Every successful extraction nets relic shards and materials to spend on your in-game home. Key upgrades include:

• Workbenches for crafting nets, spring boots, and improvised bridges
• Decorative Trophies—fish fossils, relic sculptures, and living aquariums
• Character Cosmetics—oversized hats, goofy gloves, and spring-loaded boots

This meta-progression ensures that even the wildest, most explosive runs feel rewarding.

Physics Shenanigans: Bugs or Features?

The physics engine is the star of the show, but occasional quirks—crates clipping through walls or ragdoll glitches—pop up. With permadeath off the table, these oddball moments become part of the comedy reel rather than frustration points.

Solo Play vs. Co-Op Chaos

Fish Stick Protocol supports solo runs, but the real magic happens in co-op:

• Role Assignment: Scout hazards, haul heavy relics, or tinker with traps.
• Gadget Combos: Strap rockets to artifacts or lure enemies into improvised snares.
• Live Banter: Nothing beats last-second extraction calls over riotous voice chat.

Performance Tips

The game runs smoothly on most modern PCs. If you hit frame dips during high-intensity shenanigans, dial back shadows or particle effects. An SSD helps cut load times between chaotic runs.

Beta Focus Areas

• Physics Stability: Are collisions and weight interactions consistent?
• Dimension Variety: Do realms feel delightfully unpredictable?
• Community Clips: Are players sharing standout fails and victory strategies?
• Performance Scaling: How well does the game adapt across different PC specs?

Top Tips for Beta Players

1. Embrace the Chaos: Every flop is comic gold—laugh and move on.
2. Scout Quickly: Map hazards and relic positions in the first minute.
3. Divide & Conquer: Assign clear roles to avoid crowding objectives.
4. Share Your Fails: Post clips on Steam or social media—the devs are watching.

Final Thoughts

Fish Stick Protocol’s open beta redefines extraction shooters by trading soul-crushing stakes for laugh-out-loud physics mayhem. With manor-building progression and a transparent feedback loop, Maracas Studio might just have created the co-op gem extraction fans didn’t know they needed—so long as the physics stay playful and the maps keep surprising.

Ready to turn your fails into legendary moments? Jump into the beta and let the hilarity begin.