Antidote

Overview

Antidote is a cloud-based UX and analytics platform for game studios. It brings playtesting and research into game development, with options to run studio-organized tests, commission managed playtesting, or use market research services. The product was founded in 2017. Its maker is Sensing Emotions and Knowledge Group, S.L., based in Barcelona, Spain.

The platform covers recruitment, game-build distribution, feedback collection, and analysis. Studios can bring their own players or recruit targeted participants from Antidote’s community. Antidote says setup review takes no longer than 24 hours, and results are typically available in real time as players finish.

Antidote is designed for game development rather than general-purpose product research. It supports playtesting workflows and performance monitoring, uses hybrid test environments, and lists Unity and Unreal as supported game engines. Related directories include Game Testing Software and Game Playtesting Platforms.

Key features

Test setup and distribution

Studios can distribute builds through Antidote, provide their own download link, or use launchers named in the FAQ: Steam, Epic, Google Play, and the App Store. Cloud streaming lets selected players access a game through Antidote’s private server without downloading it. Antidote natively supports PC, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and browser games; console support can be arranged.

Recruitment can be handled through Antidote’s player community, or studios can invite and manage their own players. Invite links control player access. Team members and stakeholders can also be invited, with role-based access control for team permissions.

Feedback and analysis

Data collection 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, think-aloud transcripts, survey and sentiment analysis, face emotion detection, automated reports, and data exports.

Security and support

Antidote describes NDAs, optional identity verification, secure distribution, controlled launches, watermarking, and data encryption as security measures. Its FAQ offers contact with the support team and meetings with a representative for personalized guidance.

Pricing

Antidote offers a free plan and a free trial. Listed plans and terms are:

• Free Trial: free, billed 14 days. Includes 1 playtest, up to 5 community players, 20 survey questions, and sessions up to 20 minutes.
• Indie: free, billed Monthly. For teams under 10 with no publisher or investors; includes 1 Antidote-community playtest per month for a PC or Mac game that is not free-to-play.
• Pay as you go: $25, paid once, billed starting at $25 per user playing your game. It is per project and uses Antidote’s player community; final price may vary for complex recruitment or setups.
• Indie Plus: $99.95 a month, billed Monthly. For teams under 30 with a publisher or investment; includes 1 Antidote-community playtest per month for a PC or Mac game that is not free-to-play.
• Starter: $115 a month, billed PER GAME / MONTH. Includes unlimited community playtests and player invites, up to 50 results per playtest, up to 20 survey questions, 2 team members, and support for PC, Mac, iOS, or Android.
• Master: $475 a month, billed PER GAME / MONTH. Includes Starter features, unlimited results and survey questions, unlimited team members, PC and Android game streaming (usage limits apply), and up to 5TB download data.

Platforms

Antidote is available on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. Its game support includes Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and browser games, with console testing possible by arrangement. The Master plan includes game streaming for PC and Android, subject to usage limits.

Who it's for

Antidote says it is tailored to game studios of all sizes, from indie teams to large developers. The plans distinguish smaller teams without publishers or investors from teams with those backing arrangements, while per-game plans specify team size, results, survey, and streaming allowances. Its recruitment and access options suit studios that need to involve either community players or their own invitees.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Multiple research modes; broad gameplay and feedback capture; analysis tools spanning transcripts, sentiment, and reports; support for desktop, mobile, and browser games; player recruitment and controlled access.
• Cons: Plan eligibility and included testing capacity vary by plan. Console support is by arrangement, and the Master plan’s streaming has usage limits. Pay-as-you-go pricing can vary with recruitment or setup complexity.

Alternatives

For other tools in adjacent areas, consider GameDriver, Airtest Project, Backtrace, GameBench, TBase, Obvra, Poki Playtesting, and AltTester.

Verdict

Antidote brings recruitment, build delivery, player feedback, and analysis into a platform focused on game studios. Its stated support for PC, Mac, Linux, mobile, and browser games, along with several research approaches and capture methods, gives teams flexibility in how they structure playtests. The main considerations are plan-specific eligibility and limits, variable pay-as-you-go costs, and arranging console support separately. Studios should match their team size, target platforms, and expected playtest volume to the relevant plan before choosing.