Diablo IV Beta Is Coming This Month (Diablo IV Beta Starts May)

Blizzard’s highly anticipated hack and slash sequel Diablo IV is on its way and later this month we’ll get our first taste of the game in the form of a beta test. The Diablo IV Beta: Server Test Slam that starts May 12th will give players a chance to experience a slice of the PvE endgame content and provide valuable feedback to Blizzard ahead of the game’s eventual release.

Diablo IV Beta Details

Blizzard has announced that the Diablo IV beta test will run from May 12th through May 16th. The test will focus on endgame dungeons and rifts, and players participating will be able to create and level up to three characters to max level 50. The beta will have randomized endgame dungeons and greater rifts to conquer.

Beta Rewards

Blizzard is offering rewards to players who participate in the beta test, including cosmetic rewards, a banner, a pet, and an exclusive portrait frame that will carry over to the full game upon release. Participants will also receive a Legendary shield at launch as a ” beta tester” reward.

How to Access the Beta

Players who want to participate in the Diablo IV beta must opt-in for a chance to be selected. Opting in does not guarantee access – Blizzard will invite a subset of opted-in players. To opt-in, players navigate to the Setting menu in the Blizzard desktop app and click “Opt-in for Beta Tests”.

Complete Description

The Diablo IV beta test will give fans their first real taste of how the upcoming sequel plays. While the beta will focus mainly on endgame content, players will get a feel for the darker and more grim setting, the more impactful character abilities, and the new open world zones that promise a more exploratory Diablo experience. The beta test will also help identify bugs and balance issues that Blizzard can address ahead of the game’s full launch.

Diablo IV Review: An Exciting Return to Form for the Iconic Franchise

Diablo IV aims to bring the franchise back to its dark Gothic roots to please longtime fans while also introducing new features to appeal to a modern audience. After the more colorful and arcade-like Diablo III, Diablo IV promises a grimmer, grittier world with a heavier emphasis on story. The game will also feature an open-world endgame focused on exploration and adventure.

Setting and Story – The story takes place decades after Diablo III and focuses on Lilith, the daughter of Mephisto, who is seeking to destroy Sanctuary. The world is in ruins and overrun with demons, giving the game a darker, more ominous atmosphere inspired by earlier Diablo titles. The return to this bleaker tone focuses the story on the classic struggle of mankind against the forces of evil.

Gameplay – The core hack and slash fundamentals remain, but abilities have been redesigned to feel more impactful. An innovative mastery system also allows for deep character customization. The open-world endgame brings a nonlinear, less instanced structure for a more immersive Diablo experience. The wide variety of zones also allows for more variety and replayability.

Classes – Five familiar classes return at launch: Barbarian, Sorceress, Druid, Rogue and Necromancer. Each features upgraded skills and new abilities befitting their themes. With the ability to dual class and the mastery system, character builds should offer tremendous variety.

In summary, Diablo IV shows great promise in recapturing what makes the series beloved while updating it for a new generation. The return to a darker, more serious tone focused on story will likely excite longtime fans, while the innovative endgame and enhanced abilities promise to keep gameplay fresh. If Blizzard can stick the landing on the core gameplay loop and combat, Diablo IV could be a worthy successor to Diablo II in bringing the franchise back to its former glory. With the beta scheduled for this month, we won’t have to wait much longer to experience Diablo IV for ourselves and judge if it indeed delivers on its promise.