This month arrives the last major gatherings for the release of Diablo 4, still scheduled for June 6. Blizzard’s beta testing phases are always very popular, and it’s the opportunity to judge the quality of the game, without necessarily having paid. Since their availability is very limited and the content available is important, it is better to prepare well.
Table of Contents
The dates and times of availability and the end of the beta
During this month of March, you can face the hordes of demons on Sanctuary during two major weekends:
- Early access to the open beta starts on Friday, March 17 at 5 p.m (Paris time) and ends on Monday, March 20 at 8 p.m.
- The open beta starts on Friday, March 24 at 5 p.m (Paris time) and ends on Monday, March 27 at 9 p.m.
Early download (pre-download) is scheduled, you can start it Mar. 15 for early access, and the March 22nd for the open beta. You must download 45GB, if you have a small socket, you will have to be careful. The good news is that you don’t need to download the open beta client a second time if you downloaded the early access version.
Platforms and Terms
Both beta sessions are available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC. Below you will find the system requirements. You can play at keyboard and mouse, or joystick.
Having an internet connection is required to play. Unfortunately, it has been confirmed that a Playstation Plus Subscription is required to participate in the beta on PS4 and PS5.
To gain access
The first step is to create one Battle.net accountor to own one.
To participate in the early access weekend on March 17, you need an access code. You can find the details below, but unless you’re lucky, or willing to put in some effort to use other methods, it’s easiest (but expensive) to pre-order one of the dematerialized editions of the full game, in this case it is automatic on PC, and there is no code to enter, you can install it directly. For the others once in possession of the precious code, enter it on the dedicated Blizzard page, while logged in with your Battle.net account. You can then participate from any platform as long as you use this account.
As the name suggests, the open beta weekend on March 24 is completely free to access as long as you’ve downloaded the beta client. We should nevertheless expect a huge influx of players, and thus possible blockages in the identification, or even delays, especially in the hours after the launch. It may be wise to schedule your playtime during quiet times (late at night, early morning), if you don’t plan on playing as much as possible during the beta.
Multiplayer and cooperative
Diablo 4 is cross-save and cross-platform, playable on any eligible platform, and most importantly, you can play with anyone. If your friends don’t have the game on the same console, it doesn’t matter, you can still play with them. A group can contain up to 4 players.
For console players, please note that the local couch coop is available, with 2 players. However, you also need a Battle.net account for the second player.
Even if you don’t have friends available or are interested in the game, know that Diablo 4 is here to stay perfectly playable solo. It’s definitely not a penalty. You will still encounter other players in the city and open world (but not too often). For the big open-world boss present in the beta, the game should automatically gather up to 12 players in the same instance.
The classes
I’beta early access, during the weekend of March 17, offers only 3 lessons : Barbarian, wizard and villain.
Over there open beta, the following weekend, will make the game’s 5 classes available : Barbarian, Sorcerer, Thief, as well as the Druid and the Necromancer. You’ll find their presentation below, an explanation of how they work, and some tips to help you choose the classes to play in the limited time you have available.
Diablo 4 open beta classes: overview and which one to choose?
Diablo IV Early Access and Open Beta put all 5 classes at your disposal: Sorcerer, Barbarian, Rogue, Druid, and Necromancer. Because time is limited, it is difficult to test everything. Here you will find information and selection tips in this guide with their strengths and weaknesses.
The game is not finished yet, the lessons are also being completed. So there is no official or even unofficial builder for the classes. At best, you can fall back on a talent calculator made by a fan, in English, and visually not very pleasant. It nevertheless has the merit of describing each class’s abilities and spells, giving you a more accurate idea of progression and gameplay. This can help you plan your character, if you’re motivated.
Beta content
Rejoice, because the beta is simply huge. In addition to the 3-5 lessons mentioned above, you will have plenty to do as there is a ton of content:
- There are 10 character slots available.
- Over there level limit is set to 25.
- The whole of prologue and act 1 of history are available.
- Over there first region of the open world, the Broken Peaks, is available. It is a vast mountain range, covered with snow and demons. It contains hundreds of points of interest, including a city, villages, 3 strongholds, more than 20 side missions and more than 20 side dungeons.
- A massive 12-player world boss, Ashava, appears multiple times during each beta.
While you wait to get your hands on it, read our impressions of Diablo 4, based on a version of the game that’s close to what the early access beta should offer. This should help you get a better idea of what to expect.
Awards
Participating in the beta is a reward in itself, but it doesn’t end there: you’ll be entitled to cosmetic rewards in the full game when it launches. For now, their French name is not yet known:
- The title First victim : Received for achieving Kyovashad with a character. It is the main town in the region, count about 30 minutes, or even less if you avoid detours.
- The title Early Voyager : Received for reaching level 20 with a character. It takes a few hours of play to reach this level.
Finally, the ornamental object Beta Wolf Pack : Also received after reaching level 20 with a character.
Content guide
There is a lot to do in the Broken Peaks, understanding everything and finding everything can take a while. You can discover our special guides during early access to the beta. Here’s an overview of some of the elements you can explore:
- take the horse
- The Altars of Lilith
- Silent chests
- The fame system
- Improving drinks
- Complete challenges
- The Codex of Power
- Explore the Broken Peaks map
- Defeat Ashava, the world boss, during his spawn times.
