Start with the demo if you want to try Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok today. The April 2026 open beta was a pre-launch network and mechanics test, not the current access route. The live demo is available on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Steam; it lets you test story, quests, tutorials, and cross-platform matchmaking before deciding whether the full game or an Upgrade Kit is right for you.
The one catch that changes how you use it: demo progress does not transfer to the full game. Clear it for the rewards and for an informed purchase decision—not as a head start on your permanent save.
Official gameplay image via the Steam Endless Ragnarok Upgrade Kit page.
Pick your access route
| Your situation | Best route | What it tells you | Do not expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| You have never played Relink and want to see whether the combat clicks. | Download the demo. | The early story, controls, character feel, and a small set of quests. | A full-game save to carry over. |
| You want a few co-op sessions before buying. | Play Quest Mode in the demo. | Four test quests, including crossplay matchmaking. | Every endgame system or permanent progression. |
| You are looking for a beta sign-up or old playtest build. | Treat it as an archive, then use the demo or full release. | What Cygames tested before launch, including the new Summon mechanic. | An active beta entitlement. |
| You already own Granblue Fantasy: Relink. | Compare the Upgrade Kit on the same platform. | The expansion path for an existing base-game owner. | A second platform copy. |
| You do not own the base game. | Buy an Endless Ragnarok full edition after the demo. | The base game plus the expansion entitlement. | The Upgrade Kit alone to run the game. |
For the store links and what is inside each demo mode, use the dedicated Endless Ragnarok demo access guide. If your question is specifically about the old event, the open-beta archive keeps that context separate from live access advice.
What the current demo is actually good for
The demo is not merely a trailer with a controller in your hands. Cygames lists three practical ways to test the game:
- Story Mode gives you an early slice of the base game's story. Use it to decide whether you enjoy the movement, target tracking, and character pacing without committing to a large combat system all at once.
- Quest Mode lets you play solo or with others. There are four quests total: clear the three initially available quests to unlock Sephira's Sanguine Glimmer, the fourth quest, which introduces Summons.
- Tutorial Mode covers exploration and combat controls. Run this before judging a character as awkward; action-RPG timing and shortcuts are often the real barrier in a first session.
Every completed demo quest grants a reward that can be claimed in either the base game or Endless Ragnarok after release. That makes a full clear worthwhile even though the save itself does not move over.
A 45-minute first-session plan
Use this short route to answer the questions that matter before purchase.
- Spend ten minutes in Tutorial Mode. Learn dodge, guard, camera and skill inputs. Change only one control setting at a time so you know what helped.
- Play the Story Mode opening. The goal is not to rush it; notice whether you can consistently read enemy attacks and whether a character's rhythm feels natural.
- Run one Quest Mode mission solo. This shows whether your own positioning and skill choices make sense without team noise.
- Run a quest through matchmaking if co-op is why you are interested. The demo supports crossplay matchmaking, so this is the right time to test your connection and preferred role with real players.
- Clear the remaining available quests only if you are still considering a purchase. Unlock the fourth quest and try Summons. They are a major new battle tool, so this is more useful than replaying the opening until it is perfect.
- Make the purchase decision from ownership, not hype. Existing Relink owners should check the Upgrade Kit on the platform where they own the base game. New players should choose a full edition that includes it.
What carries over—and what does not
| Item | Carry to the full game? | Why this matters |
|---|---|---|
| Demo save data and character progress | No | Treat character experiments and quest clears as practice. Do not grind expecting a launch advantage. |
| Quest-completion rewards | Yes, claimable after release | Clear each quest at least once if you expect to buy the game. |
| Your learned controls and party preference | Yes, in the useful sense | Write down the character and settings that felt best; they give you a cleaner full-game start. |
The demo saves automatically, but it does not support manual save/load. If its cleared-save data is erased, its rewards cannot be claimed. The low-risk habit is simple: do not delete the demo's save until you have claimed the rewards in the version you bought.
Beta information is useful—but only for the right question
The open beta announcement was published on April 17, 2026, before the full release. Cygames described it as a way to try the Summon mechanic and help test network performance, functionality, and launch issues. That makes old beta guides useful for learning what was tested, but a poor source for current download instructions, progression advice, or balance expectations.
If a guide tells you to register for a playtest, pause and check its date. Use current demo pages for access, then use the Endless Ragnarok overview for the full-game decision. Once you own it, the systems hub is the better route for Conflux, Chaos quests, and build progression.
Common access mistakes and fast fixes
"I expected the demo save to continue in the full game."
It will not. Claim the completion rewards, then begin the retail game as a fresh progression run. Avoid wasting your last demo session on repeated farming; spend it testing the character or co-op situation you will actually use.
"My friends are on different platforms. Can we test together?"
Use Quest Mode matchmaking in the demo. Cygames lists crossplay matchmaking there, so it is the best low-commitment test. Coordinate platform, region, connection quality, and online-service access before assuming a failed match is a combat or account issue.
"I own Relink already. Should I download the demo anyway?"
Only if you want a no-risk look at the new mechanics or want to test co-op with a friend. Otherwise, check the Upgrade Kit on your current platform. It requires the base game and upgrades an existing copy on the same platform; it is not a standalone download.
What to do next
- Want the exact stores, modes, and reward details? Read the Endless Ragnarok demo guide.
- Deciding whether the expansion fits your library and play style? Start with Endless Ragnarok: official start here.
- Already installed and ready to build toward harder content? Visit the Endless Ragnarok systems hub.
