[Update] Diablo 3 Beta - Available for everyone during the weekend!
Get the Beta-Client here.
Editor's Note: In writing this up for Hard News, Jared discovered that Blizzard isn't opening the beta up worldwide. Here is Blizzard's official position on the matter... "Due to regional differences and features of the stress test client, Korean players will not be able to partake in the stress test weekend. However, beginning the week of April 23, we will be conducting a separate, invitation-only closed beta test that will give players in Korea a chance to try out the game, along with players in the regions of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau." Because trying to stress test a Blizzard game in Korea is the equivelant of stress testing the rest of the world.
After all this back and forth concerning Diablo 3's skill-system, everyone will be able to get a taste of the latest version.
You will need to have an active Battle.Net-Account to play the Beta for free. This will only work during the weekend from April 20 at 12pm PST (8pm BST, 2pm CDT) to April 23 at 10am PST (6pm BST, 12am CDT). All five classes will be available and you can play 'till level 13 with your friends or, if you don't have any, alone.
You can download the 3.75 GB client here.
Keep in mind that this is a stress test so bugs, lags and the likes are to be expected. Let's just hope that Blizzard does not decide to scrap everything again. Happy slashing!
Diablo III launches on May 15.
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g1 DISCUSSIONS
Elrood
I don't know whether I skiped some quests but after 3 hours I was done. Was that really the whole first act? Another thing: Character pregression seems "okay" now, but every character is going to be pretty similiar in the first 15 levels or so. It also bugs me that there seem to be less skills overal (can't really take this for granted because it was just 13 levels) and that the whole process of character-progression feels a bit dumbed down. Like that it feels too automatic.
Atmosphere is pretty sweet I have to say and it didn't take long until the loot-hunger kicked in for me.
I'll buy Diablo 3, but I'm not sure whether I'll spend so much time with it as I did with Diablo 2.
Kuomon
From the point of view of someone who never played any of the previous Diablo games or expansions, I must say I've enjoyed my experience with the game so far. I'll probably need a better machine than my laptop if I seriously intend to play the final release though
Elrood
Ah yes, sorry Jared. I forgot to mention the part about Korea.
Nebularion
:( it says i don't have a license for Diablo 3, even though my battle.net account is active. maybe it will take some time before everyone gets the ability to go on... hopefully.
Barry the Awesome
are the servers down? unable to log in
Elrood
It's the second time now. However even if the servers are up you will need some patience (time) to actually log-in.
Garbalen
15 more minutes edit: 10.... :D
Garbalen
For anyone interested, Tera the mmorpg is open beta this weekend also.
Chikumo
Whoa, thanks for the heads up, I'm going to be busy this weekend :D
Angelwrath
OOOH, thanks for the tip! been wanting to try that! ... though i have D3 pre-ordered, still tough to decide which to play first >.> bye bye sleep, hello insomnia :D