diff --git a/core/assets/bundles/bundle.properties b/core/assets/bundles/bundle.properties
index 7799e73de5..91d894c46c 100644
--- a/core/assets/bundles/bundle.properties
+++ b/core/assets/bundles/bundle.properties
@@ -605,6 +605,7 @@ setting.publichost.name = Public Game Visibility
 setting.chatopacity.name = Chat Opacity
 setting.playerchat.name = Display Player Bubble Chat
 public.confirm = Do you want to make your game public?\n[lightgray]This can be changed later in Settings->Game->Public Game Visibility.
+public.beta = Note that beta versions of the game cannot make public lobbies.
 uiscale.reset = UI scale has been changed.\nPress "OK" to confirm this scale.\n[scarlet]Reverting and exiting in[accent] {0}[] seconds...
 uiscale.cancel = Cancel & Exit
 setting.bloom.name = Bloom
diff --git a/core/src/io/anuke/mindustry/Vars.java b/core/src/io/anuke/mindustry/Vars.java
index 9b0593cc33..2d8f4f83c0 100644
--- a/core/src/io/anuke/mindustry/Vars.java
+++ b/core/src/io/anuke/mindustry/Vars.java
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ public class Vars implements Loadable{
     public static void loadSettings(){
         Core.settings.setAppName(appName);
 
-        if(steam || "steam".equals(Version.modifier)){
+        if(steam || (Version.modifier != null && Version.modifier.contains("steam"))){
             Core.settings.setDataDirectory(Core.files.local("saves/"));
         }
 
diff --git a/core/src/io/anuke/mindustry/ui/dialogs/HostDialog.java b/core/src/io/anuke/mindustry/ui/dialogs/HostDialog.java
index ffa0ee3eb4..a9a1049aac 100644
--- a/core/src/io/anuke/mindustry/ui/dialogs/HostDialog.java
+++ b/core/src/io/anuke/mindustry/ui/dialogs/HostDialog.java
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import io.anuke.arc.graphics.*;
 import io.anuke.arc.scene.ui.*;
 import io.anuke.arc.util.*;
 import io.anuke.mindustry.*;
+import io.anuke.mindustry.game.*;
 import io.anuke.mindustry.gen.*;
 import io.anuke.mindustry.ui.*;
 
@@ -76,6 +77,12 @@ public class HostDialog extends FloatingDialog{
                         });
                     }));
                 }
+
+                if(Version.modifier.contains("beta")){
+                    Core.settings.putSave("publichost", false);
+                    platform.updateLobby();
+                    Core.settings.getBoolOnce("betapublic", () -> ui.showInfo("$public.beta"));
+                }
             }catch(IOException e){
                 ui.showException("$server.error", e);
             }
diff --git a/core/src/io/anuke/mindustry/ui/dialogs/SettingsMenuDialog.java b/core/src/io/anuke/mindustry/ui/dialogs/SettingsMenuDialog.java
index f7e873305c..62e1afda7c 100644
--- a/core/src/io/anuke/mindustry/ui/dialogs/SettingsMenuDialog.java
+++ b/core/src/io/anuke/mindustry/ui/dialogs/SettingsMenuDialog.java
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import io.anuke.arc.scene.ui.TextButton.*;
 import io.anuke.arc.scene.ui.layout.*;
 import io.anuke.arc.util.*;
 import io.anuke.mindustry.core.GameState.*;
+import io.anuke.mindustry.game.*;
 import io.anuke.mindustry.game.EventType.*;
 import io.anuke.mindustry.gen.*;
 import io.anuke.mindustry.graphics.*;
@@ -227,7 +228,7 @@ public class SettingsMenuDialog extends SettingsDialog{
 
         game.checkPref("hints", true);
 
-        if(steam){
+        if(steam && !Version.modifier.contains("beta")){
             game.checkPref("publichost", false, i -> {
                 platform.updateLobby();
             });
diff --git a/desktop/src/io/anuke/mindustry/desktop/DesktopLauncher.java b/desktop/src/io/anuke/mindustry/desktop/DesktopLauncher.java
index 1cfcce2fd5..bff0615ca0 100644
--- a/desktop/src/io/anuke/mindustry/desktop/DesktopLauncher.java
+++ b/desktop/src/io/anuke/mindustry/desktop/DesktopLauncher.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import io.anuke.arc.scene.event.*;
 import io.anuke.arc.scene.ui.*;
 import io.anuke.arc.util.*;
 import io.anuke.arc.util.Log.*;
+import io.anuke.arc.util.io.*;
 import io.anuke.arc.util.serialization.*;
 import io.anuke.mindustry.*;
 import io.anuke.mindustry.core.GameState.*;
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ public class DesktopLauncher extends ClientLauncher{
     public DesktopLauncher(String[] args){
         Log.setUseColors(false);
         Version.init();
-        boolean useSteam = Version.modifier.equals("steam");
+        boolean useSteam = Version.modifier.contains("steam");
         testMobile = Array.with(args).contains("-testMobile");
 
         if(useDiscord){
@@ -129,7 +130,13 @@ public class DesktopLauncher extends ClientLauncher{
             }
 
             try{
-                SteamAPI.loadLibraries();
+                try{
+                    SteamAPI.loadLibraries();
+                }catch(Throwable t){
+                    Log.err(t);
+                    fallbackSteam();
+                }
+
                 if(!SteamAPI.init()){
                     Log.err("Steam client not running.");
                 }else{
@@ -144,6 +151,19 @@ public class DesktopLauncher extends ClientLauncher{
         }
     }
 
+    void fallbackSteam(){
+        try{
+            String name = "steam_api";
+            if(OS.isMac || OS.isLinux) name = "lib" + name;
+            if(OS.isWindows && OS.is64Bit) name += "64";
+            name += (OS.isLinux ? ".so" : OS.isMac ? ".dylib" : ".dll");
+            Streams.copyStream(getClass().getResourceAsStream(name), new FileOutputStream(name));
+            System.loadLibrary(new File(name).getAbsolutePath());
+        }catch(Throwable e){
+            Log.err(e);
+        }
+    }
+
     void initSteam(String[] args){
         SVars.net = new SNet(new ArcNetImpl());
         SVars.stats = new SStats();