War is business, and business is booming.
If you are a fan of deep, systems-driven strategy simulations, you’ll want to pay close attention. Italian independent developer Koro Pixel Studio (renowned for the psychological horror visual novel Loop//Error) and South Korean publisher Dark Product have officially opened playtest signups for their upcoming title, ARMS DEALER.
With a brand-new trailer showing off its high-stakes gameplay, this is your chance to get on the ground floor of a truly unique strategy game before it hits the market.
Check out the playtest trailer below to see AK-47 trading in action, and read on to find out how you can build your own underground empire.
What is ARMS DEALER?
Forget commanding divisions on the front lines or executing tactical manoeuvres in the mud. In ARMS DEALER, you do not fight the battles—you supply the people who do.
You begin your journey in a highly precarious position: carrying massive debt to people you should never have borrowed from in the first place. Your goal? Climb the ladder of the international black market, transition from small-scale trade to massive military hardware, and build enough wealth and influence that you become absolutely untouchable.
This is a cold, calculated economic simulation. As the developers put it: “There are no heroes. There are no good outcomes. There are only margins.”
Key Features of the Simulation:
- Deep Black Market Economy: Master the art of buying low and selling high. Exploit real-time global instability, watch market fluctuations, and profit off international conflicts.
- Scale Your Operation: Start small with individual transactions, eventually scaling up to massive, container-level international shipments.
- Underworld Negotiations: Rub shoulders with a cast of dangerous characters, including street gangs, rogue militias, corrupt government officials, and shady financiers.
- High-Risk Weapons Progression: Progress from simple handguns and rifles to armoured military vehicles, heavy tactical equipment, and eventually high-risk, unconventional weapons programs (biological, chemical, and nuclear technologies).
- Aggressive Debt Management: Utilise loan sharks to aggressively secure capital and grow fast—if you can survive long enough to pay them back.
- Permadeath Campaigns: Every decision carries weight. One intercepted shipment, one unpaid loan, or one bad deal can end your entire empire overnight.
What Kind of Dealer Will You Be?
The game is built to support multiple strategic playstyles:
- The Opportunist: Fast-moving and alert. You strike quickly during sudden market chaos, secure your profit margins, and get out before the authorities or rival gangs even know you were there.
- The Financier: Patient and analytical. You play the long game, using aggressive debt and clever financing options to your advantage to build a massive, logistically sound network.
- The High-Roller: The daredevil who bypasses minor trades entirely, constantly hunting for the single massive contract that could make—or immediately break—your career.
How to Join the Playtest
Playtest signups officially opened on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Because this is an early look at the game’s complex trading mechanics, places are strictly limited and are expected to fill up incredibly fast.
If you want to secure your spot, head over to the official Steam page, request access, and add the game to your wishlist:
Sign up for the ARMS DEALER Playtest on Steam
Will you survive the cutthroat world of the international black market, or will you end up at the bottom of the ocean? There’s only one way to find out.
Find out more here
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