Diablo 4 Open Beta Dates, Early Access, And Everything We Know

Diablo IV is out this June on both PC and consoles, and there are two different beta periods available to try the game out ahead of time. The first is an invite-only beta intended primarily for those who preordered the game and, for some reason, those who bought a KFC sandwich. The second beta will be open to everyone, and participating can reward you with some goodies for the final game. That first beta test kicks off very, very soon, so here's what you should know.

It's worth noting that progress from the early access beta will carry over to the open weekend, but not to the full game when it launches later in the year, so don't worry about getting too attached to your character. For everything else, you can read below for more details on what to expect and when you'll be able to jump in.

Diablo IV closed and open beta dates

The early access weekend will be held from March 17-19, with preorders being the entry ticket to this first phase. Blizzard did confirm last year that a select number of participants will be able to participate as well, provided that they followed the right steps to register back in October. If you did apply but you didn't receive an email by November 18, then sadly, you didn't make the cut and will have to wait until the open beta runs from March 24-26. Pre-load will be available roughly one week before the start of the beta.

For both sets of dates, the beta will kick off at 9 AM PT / noon ET and run until the ending date at noon PT / 3 PM ET.

If you pre-purchased the game digitally, early access to the open beta will automatically be available on your chosen platform. For anyone who did receive their early access code, you'll need a Battle.Net account in which to redeem it. You'll need to follow these steps to activate the code:

• Go to the Diablo beta website
• Log in or create a Battle.net account
• Enter your code here and select your gaming platform from the drop-down menu
• A success page will then confirm that your code was valid and it access will be added to your account on PC
• For console players, a platform-specific code to download the Beta will be emailed to the address linked to your Battle.net account closer to the start of the early access weekend

Diablo IV beta platforms

Blizzard is rolling the Diablo IV beta out to a wide variety of platforms, as you'll be able to play on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.

Beta downloading for the early access period begins on March 15 at 9 AM PT / noon ET on all platforms. The open beta's early downloading period is at the same time on March 22, but those who have already downloaded the initial beta client do not need to re-download it for the open beta.

Couch co-op will be available for the beta period, as well, on both Xbox and PlayStation platforms. Both players have to use their own Battle.Net accounts to enable this, and can have up to 10 characters during the beta period.

Beta PC specs

Both the minimum and recommended PC specs for the beta have been revealed. Note that these are subject to change when the full game launches.

Minimum

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 or AMD Radeon R9 280
• CPU: Intel Core i5-2500L or AMD FX-8100
• Memory: 8GB RAM
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: SSD with 45GB free
• Internet: Broadband connection

Recommended

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 370
• CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K or AMD R3-1300X
• Memory: 16GB RAM
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: SSD with 45GB free
• Internet: Broadband connection

What to expect from the Diablo IV beta

Everything in the prologue and Act 1 of the Diablo IV beta can be accessed, including the main campaign missions and extra quests. This slice of the game will let you explore the first zone, Fractured Peaks, and you'll be able to reach level 25 with your character. Blizzard says that the beta will allow for players to experience the core gameplay, and while some bugs are to be expected, feedback from the beta will be evaluated ahead of Diablo IV's final release.

Progress will not carry over to the full game, but those who reach level 20 in the beta will get the Beta Wolf Pack, a cosmetic reward that puts an adorable wolf pup on your back. Those who reach level 25 will also have a chance of having themselves immortalized in the La chapelle des Jesuites as part of a giant Diablo fresco.

You'll be able to try out some of the main quests, which focus on your conflict with Lilith, and there will also be side quests available in the beta. There will also be special Altars of Lilith available on the map, which, when completed, give you permanent stat boosts.

A world boss, Ashava, will also be available during the beta period. It will spawn four different times--once a Saturday--giving those in both beta periods a chance to fight it. There will also be smaller World Events and large Legion Events, the latter of which are meant to be completed with other players.

Which classes are included?

During the early access period, there will be three classes to choose from, and this will expand to all five classes for the open beta. The initial beta will include:

• Barbarian
• Rogue
• Sorcerer

The second, open beta will also add Druid and Necromancer.

For more on the game, you can check out everything that we know about Diablo IV.