Blizzard reveals the next Diablo 4 beta release date, letting players eager to get their hands on the next fantasy RPG know exactly when they can. Speaking at IGN Fan Fest, Diablo 4 game director Joe Shely told fans they’ll be able to play the next beta in March, along with the reveal of the game’s opening cinematic .
The intro cutscene is about as ominous as expected, following in the footsteps of the footage shown above. A group of adventurers, lost in the forest in the middle of a snowy blizzard, encounter a terrible and frightening misfortune. Honestly, you probably know exactly what to expect from Diablo at this point, and it certainly delivers in a generally dark way.
After the cutscene, Diablo 4 game director Joe Shely sits down with IGN host Ryan McCaffrey to talk a bit about the game and reveal news about its upcoming beta. He also reveals that his own created character will be included in the theatrical cutscenes, as we take a look at some of the in-depth creation tools that seem like a dramatic step up from previous offerings in the series.
“It’s part of the engine included in Diablo 4,” Shely explains, explaining how custom skins can appear in what appears to be a traditional, high-production Blizzard scene. It’s great to see how well the custom characters fit into the scene while maintaining the look of a pre-rendered cutscene.
Diablo 4 Beta is March 17-19 for players who pre-ordered the game. Diablo 4 Open Beta is March 24-26, during which all players can play. Progress will persist between beta weekends, but will be cleared before the full release. Shely says there’s no time limit on the beta, and players can reach level 25 and watch the entire prologue and first act, including the full campaign and side quests.
Shely also says the team is looking forward to incorporating player feedback over the two beta weekends, helping the team refine the game between the March beta periods and its June release. He also promises that players will get to see his character a bit more in the game’s story cutscenes during the beta.
We were looking forward to playing more after our Diablo 4 gameplay preview, so this is welcome news. Some players previously had access through closed beta testing, which was offered via limited email invites. Additionally, those who participated in the Diablo 4 tattoo tour will also have early access to the game.
You can check out the segment with Joe Shely below, which also includes the first look at the opening scene, as well as new gameplay, a discussion of what players can expect from Diablo 4 when the full game arrives on June 6, and some fan questions answered.
Be sure to be up to date with all Diablo 4 classes ahead of time so you know exactly what to expect when you get down to business. If you can’t wait for Diablo 4’s full release date, check out more of the best games like Diablo in 2023 to keep your pockets full of loot.