Antidote

Antidote is a cloud-based UX and analytics platform that helps game studios manage playtesting and research during development. Teams can run their own playtests, commission managed testing, or use market research services. Data capture options include surveys, gameplay and face recording, think-aloud comments, mobile screen touches, controller inputs, game events, and AFK detection. Analysis tools include AI Insights, top moments, annotations, transcripts, survey and sentiment analysis, face emotion detection, automated reports, and exports. Studios can recruit players through Antidote’s community or invite their own, then distribute builds through Antidote, a developer download link, or named storefront launchers. It says it natively supports PC, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and browser games; console testing can be arranged. Cloud streaming can give selected players access through a private server without a download. Security measures described include NDAs, optional identity verification, controlled launches, watermarking, and encryption. The free Indie option has eligibility restrictions, while pay-as-you-go starts at $25 per player.

Antidote brings playtest operations, player recruitment, and research analysis together for game development teams. Review plan eligibility and platform support, particularly if console testing is needed.

Antidote is aimed at game studios of different sizes that need to organize playtests or research during development. It may suit teams seeking player recruitment, game-session data capture, and analysis tools in one platform.

Overview

Antidote is a cloud platform for game studios that combines playtesting with UX research and analytics. It suits teams that want to recruit players, run tests, and analyze feedback in one workflow; its strongest appeal is that breadth, while console testing requires a separate arrangement.

Studios can organize their own tests, commission managed playtesting, or use market research services. They may recruit through Antidote’s player community or invite and manage their own players. Antidote says setup review takes no longer than 24 hours, with results typically available in real time as players finish. The company was founded in 2017; its maker, Sensing Emotions and Knowledge Group, S.L., is based in Barcelona, Spain.

Workflows cover playtesting and performance monitoring, with hybrid test environments and support for Unity and Unreal. That focus makes Antidote a more natural fit for game teams than for general-purpose product research.

Key features

Player access and test distribution

Studios can use Antidote’s community or bring their own players, with access controlled through invite links. Builds can be delivered through Antidote, through a developer’s own download link, or via Steam, Epic, Google Play, and the App Store. Cloud streaming lets selected players access a game on Antidote’s private server without downloading it, which can simplify access for those participants.

Antidote natively supports PC, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and browser games. Console tests are possible by arrangement, so teams that need routine console coverage should confirm the setup before choosing a plan.

Feedback and analysis

Data capture includes surveys, gameplay and face recording, think-aloud comments, mobile screen touches, controller inputs, game events, and AFK detection. Analysis tools include AI Insights, top moments, annotations, think-aloud transcripts, survey and sentiment analysis, face emotion detection, automated reports, and data exports. This range can bring qualitative feedback and recorded gameplay into one review process; the per-test survey and result limits on lower paid plans may constrain larger studies.

Team controls and security

Role-based access control lets teams invite members and stakeholders with different permissions. Antidote describes NDAs, optional identity verification, secure distribution, controlled launches, watermarking, and data encryption as security measures. Support-team contact and representative meetings are offered for personalized guidance.

Pricing

Antidote is freemium, with a free plan, a 14-day trial, and paid options. The plans differ substantially in whether they cap the number of tests, results, questions, or team members, and in the platforms they cover.

• Free Trial: free, billed for 14 days. It includes 1 playtest, up to 5 community players, 20 survey questions, and sessions up to 20 minutes. It is a short, tightly capped way to assess a test workflow, not an ongoing testing plan.
• Indie: free, billed monthly. For teams under 10 without a publisher or investors, it provides 1 Antidote-community playtest per month for a PC or Mac game that is not free-to-play. It is a no-cost option for eligible small teams, but the monthly test and game eligibility restrictions rule it out for broader testing needs.
• Pay as you go: Starting at $25 per user playing your game, billed once per project. It uses Antidote’s player community, with final price varying for complex recruitment or setups. This suits teams buying a particular recruitment effort rather than a subscription; costs can rise with participant count and project complexity.
• Indie Plus: $99.95 a month, billed monthly. For teams under 30 with a publisher or investment, it includes 1 Antidote-community playtest per month for a PC or Mac game that is not free-to-play. It serves the same one-test cadence as Indie but accommodates the stated team and funding profile.
• Starter: $115 a month, billed per game per month. It includes unlimited community playtests and player invites, up to 50 results per playtest, 20 survey questions, and 2 team members. PC, Mac, iOS, and Android are supported. The uncapped test count is useful for repeated studies, but the result, question, and seat limits can bottleneck larger teams or research projects.
• Master: $475 a month, billed per game per month. It includes Starter features, unlimited results and survey questions, unlimited team members, PC and Android game streaming (usage limits apply), and up to 5TB of download data. It is the clearest fit for larger studies and teams that need streaming; streaming is limited to PC and Android, and the usage and data caps still matter.

Platforms

Antidote supports Windows/PC, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and browser games. Although consoles may be supported by arrangement, they are not part of the stated native support. The paid plan details also differ: Starter names PC, Mac, iOS, and Android, while Master specifies PC and Android streaming.

Who it's for

Antidote is aimed at game studios of all sizes, from indie teams to large developers. Indie and Indie Plus are narrowly defined around team size, publisher or investment status, and PC or Mac games that are not free-to-play. Starter suits teams seeking frequent community tests but able to work within two seats and 50 results per test. Master better fits teams needing unlimited results, questions, and team members, particularly when PC or Android streaming is useful. Studios that need consoles as a standard part of testing should look elsewhere or confirm a custom arrangement.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Recruitment, distribution, capture, and analysis sit in one game-focused workflow, reducing the need to piece together separate playtest operations.
• Pro: A free plan and trial provide low-cost ways for qualifying indie teams or first-time users to try community testing.
• Pro: Multiple capture and analysis methods support both recorded play and player commentary, rather than relying on surveys alone.
• Con: The free plans limit teams to one community playtest per month, and eligibility rules exclude some teams and games.
• Con: Starter caps results, survey questions, and team members, while Master’s higher monthly price and per-game billing may be difficult to justify for occasional testing.
• Con: Console testing requires arrangement, and Master streaming is limited to PC and Android with usage limits.

Alternatives

For other options, browse Game Playtesting Platforms or Game Testing Software.

• Go Testify has a free Essential plan with unlimited playtesting in one active project and insight reports, plus GT Intelligence at $30/hr of footage analysed. Choose it if one-project testing and footage analysis are a closer match.
• PlayProbe offers a free plan for 1 game, 3 tests, and 20 sessions per test, with pre- and post-surveys and a results dashboard. Its stated free limits may suit teams focused on a small number of structured tests.
• PlaytestCloud is a paid option with a free trial; its Professional Basic mobile-or-PC plan costs €1,025 a month, invoiced annually, and includes 120 Video Tokens per year and unlimited users and seats. Consider it if unlimited seats matter more than Antidote’s lower entry costs.
• Lysto uses project-based pricing on a scope-and-proposal basis, with one-off studies, no project minimums, custom recruitment, and AI analysis. It may fit teams seeking one-off studies rather than a per-game monthly plan.
• Poki Playtesting is free for web games, with Poki controlling test nature and player numbers. It is an option for teams willing to give up control over those aspects.
• Viewport.gg charges $11.50 per accepted session, with no subscription, project minimum, or per-seat fees. Consider its session-based billing if avoiding a recurring subscription is the priority.
• FirstLook Engagement Analytics has a free plan with 100k player profiles, up to 500 playtesters, and 1,000 emails per month. Its stated free caps may appeal to teams prioritizing player profiles and outreach.
• Userplay offers a free Indie plan with up to 10 seats, unlimited playtests, up to 1,000 players, and 30-day recording retention. It is worth comparing if a larger free seat allowance and player cap matter most.

Verdict

Antidote is a strong choice for game teams that want recruitment, test operations, and research analysis under one roof, with plans spanning no-cost indie testing through larger studies. The main reason to look elsewhere is a need for straightforward console support or a less restrictive fit than its per-game pricing and plan-specific caps provide.