Diablo 4’s closed beta, despite a relatively warm reception, suffered from a number of technical issues. A Blizzard Entertainment representative comments on these issues and shares the studio’s future plans.
Last weekend (March 17-19), some players got a chance to try out Diablo IV as part of a closed beta. If the test version of the new flagship series from Blizzard left a very positive impression with the community, it is not without minor and major setbacks.
Among the problems that plagued players were of course those related to the technical aspects of the title. Fans complained, among other things, about the long timeouts or unstable connection to game servers.. Aware of these problems, Blizzard Entertainment has decided on it.
Decisive guarantees for developers
In an interview with nme.com, Diablo brand manager Rod Fergusson addressed the technical issues affecting the game, which is currently in testing. He began with a brief digression related to the specificity and meaning of the word “beta” in the industry.
“Today the word beta has been misunderstood, where people are starting to call things beta which is (actually) marketing beta, and that’s just another term for a demo. It’s not dubious. our whole case. Our beta is actually testing our technology, especially on the server side. We had a bit of a rocky start on Friday,” Fergusson said.
Addressing specific allegations and further development plans for Diablo 4, Fergusson claims that the experience gained by the developer during the pre-release tests of the game, is to lay the groundwork for a more enjoyable and appropriate launch.
“We released six patches over the weekend, fixed dozens of issues, and all of that work will pay off next weekend, and then we’ll prepare for release. Sometimes as a player it can be a little frustrating, but you have to recognize that you are helping us make the game launch a lot better,” added Fergusson.
The studio representative’s words focus on the very essence and legitimacy of pre-launch testing. Hopefully, they turn out to be a valuable lesson for the developer that, in Fergusson’s words, translates into a more enjoyable experience for the audience at the actual launch.
Diablo 4 Open Beta Test
Last week’s beta wasn’t the only test session Blizzard has planned for Diablo 4.. From March 24 to 26, the title will be available to anyone who wants to participate in open testing.. On this occasion, a special trailer promoting the event appeared online.
The open beta will undoubtedly be a great challenge and a key test for the game’s network infrastructure.
In turn, the full version of Diablo IV will be released on June 6 this year. It will be available for PC and PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 consoles, as well as Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.