Report: Diablo 3 beta details likely in August

The timing of a Diablo 3 press event points to details of the beta test coming on August 1, with the beta still seemingly on-track to roll out in Q3 2011.

42

The uncertainty of Diablo III's release date hurts us all, but a beta test may be coming to serve as a soothing balm. MTV Multiplayer reports that details from an upcoming July press event for the game are embargoed until August 1. That assures that the beta won't take place before then, since it would undermine the games press in attendance.

However, it also points to a likelihood that the beta launch will be detailed sometime in August, hopefully to roll out within that month. This isn't confirmed, of course, but Blizzard has previously said it aims to roll out the beta in Q3 2011. August fits comfortably in that time frame.

Blizzard has also previously expressed hopes to launch Diablo 3 in 2011. If it misses that target, the company plans to release two games in 2012: Diablo 3 and StarCraft 2: The Heart of the Swarm.

Editor-In-Chief
Filed Under
From The Chatty
  • reply
    June 23, 2011 9:45 AM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Report: Diablo 3 beta details likely in August.

    The timing of a Diablo 3 press event points to details of the beta test coming on August 1, with the beta still seemingly on-track to roll out in Q3 2011.

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 9:48 AM

      Uhh.. shit.

      Time to fire-up ebay. Would be cheaper just to go to Blizzconn.. :/

      • reply
        June 23, 2011 10:06 AM

        Assuming they give out beta keys at Blizzcon - last 2 years they haven't given out keys for anything.

        • reply
          June 23, 2011 12:46 PM

          they gave diablo 1000 beta codes last blizzcon i think.

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 9:57 AM

      I wonder if Blizzard are considering launching it to coincide or at least conflict with TOR? That would certainly be a spanner in Bioware's works.

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 9:59 AM

      [deleted]

      • reply
        June 23, 2011 10:07 AM

        [deleted]

      • reply
        June 23, 2011 10:10 AM

        I bet D3 will only be on PS3 if it hits consoles. I'm sure MS hates the idea of having b.net on 360

        • reply
          June 23, 2011 10:16 AM

          [deleted]

        • reply
          June 23, 2011 10:22 AM

          [deleted]

        • reply
          June 23, 2011 12:23 PM

          They have Valve and EA games. What's the difference?

          • reply
            June 23, 2011 2:15 PM

            Valve doesn't have Steam on the 360 like it does with Portal 2 PS3. But yeah, almost every EA game requires you to login to their servers with a different account. No different from what bnet would be on console.

      • reply
        June 23, 2011 10:12 AM

        PC gaming for life! What's all this crazy talk about Blizzard and consoles.

        • reply
          June 23, 2011 10:32 AM

          Amen to that! Diablo 3 for the pc first and foremost and consoles can suck it.

        • reply
          June 23, 2011 10:52 AM

          Well, they did begin as a console developer so it's not that unusual even though they primarily make PC/Mac games now.

          • reply
            June 23, 2011 11:00 AM

            Console if they bring back a Rock N' Roll Racing HD for the platforms... Online Multiplayer, and world editors. Also Lost Vikings 3 would be sweet on tablets.

          • reply
            June 23, 2011 1:22 PM

            That's like saying Hitler started out as a decent economy reformer.

            Blizzard have been developing PC Only titles for upwards of 10 years now...think their "console roots" are pretty much dead. Good riddance I say, not many companies around these days that have the balls to just turn out quality PC Only titles.

        • reply
          June 23, 2011 12:33 PM

          I like consoles fine, but i wouldn't want a game shoehorned onto any platform it doesnt fit . Diablo on playstation was garbage.

        • reply
          June 23, 2011 3:43 PM

          [deleted]

          • reply
            June 26, 2011 2:38 AM

            Sorry, but no.

            Any RTS worth talking about requires mouse+keyboard and as far as things like Diablo on consoles go, just no. It's just impractical.

      • reply
        June 23, 2011 1:09 PM

        [deleted]

        • reply
          June 23, 2011 1:38 PM

          No, no, let them bring their control pads. I want to see this. It'll will be a PvP experience that will leave them twitching for days!

      • reply
        June 23, 2011 1:37 PM

        FUCK YOU BLASPHEMER.

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 11:38 AM

      I can't wait to start the beta in august, I get into pretty much every beta, so I'm pretty confident on being in the first wave. Maybe because I actually beta test the game instead of just play it... bug reports, forum posts, etc. Don't forget if you get in you're a tester, not just playing a demo folks.

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 11:39 AM

      Man, just when I was getting over my anticipation I read this.

      It is a bit of a non-news item though, being as it is that everyone already knew what was in the article and it didn't confirm anything we didn't already know.

      As for D3 being out this year, I can't see it happening, and it kills me to say that :( I just wanna play it so I can get on with my life, lol.

      • reply
        June 23, 2011 12:35 PM

        oh god me too man. all this waiting is killing me.

      • reply
        June 23, 2011 12:40 PM

        [deleted]

        • reply
          June 23, 2011 1:23 PM

          I got into the first wave of the SC2 beta, maybe I'll be uber-lucky and get into the D3 one. I doubt it though...I was surprised as hell I got into the SC2 one, I never get any good luck when it comes to shit like this.

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 12:14 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 12:21 PM

      holy shitfuck. we need an updated calendar with release dates - this fall/winter is going to be crazy.

      • spl legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
        reply
        June 23, 2011 12:23 PM

        Don't worry, you won't be seeing Diablo 3 this year.

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 12:47 PM

      I want it now!

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 12:48 PM

      I haven't been keeping up very much, have they ever revealed any further details about their arena PVP stuff? The videos I saw when it was announced looked like it was going to be primarily 30 second to 2 minute long round based TDM.

      Everybody spawns in a room with each other, charges in and last team standing wins.

      The Diablo 3 website makes it sound like that's the only official mode, but they're thinking about other unranked modes (which probably means nobody will play those).

      I would love to see a new ARPG with multiplayer like Nox had. FPS style game modes from an isometric perspective. Larger DM maps, CTF maps, stuff like that.

      • reply
        June 23, 2011 2:12 PM

        I think they aren't focusing on this so much because it would would be crazy hard to balance. They are putting it in for a fun diversion, not for a real competitive game. They have said many times PvE balance decisions will always win over PvP.

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 2:15 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 2:36 PM

      They better not fuck Mac gamers again like they have done over and over with their betas. Basically they will only give out invites to PC users, and then only offer the Mac download a month or so after the beta comes out.

      • reply
        June 23, 2011 2:52 PM

        I wish Mac gamers would just give it up. Just use bootcamp and install windows already.

        • reply
          June 23, 2011 3:15 PM

          Why? I don't want to spend $150+ just to play games. When Microsoft sells a special "gaming only" version of Windows that doesn't come loaded with all the bullshit I don't need I might consider it, but even then rebooting sucks donkey dick.

          • reply
            June 23, 2011 3:50 PM

            [deleted]

            • reply
              June 23, 2011 3:54 PM

              Why? I spent the money on a PS3 and now I can play even more games than I can if I had spent on it on Windows. Sure I will miss on some PC exclusives, but it balances out with the PS3 exclusives. Windows is not worth my time, end of story.

              • reply
                June 23, 2011 4:06 PM

                You'll miss out on the D3 beta too.

                • reply
                  June 23, 2011 4:08 PM

                  Probably not, it will just take me longer to get in. I just wish Blizzard would treat their beta invites as platform agnostic, it's kind of retarded that they basically give out only PC invites and then assume those PC users might also have a Mac to test out the game on.

              • reply
                June 23, 2011 4:06 PM

                Yeah, well, game devs feel the same way about Mac so oh well have fun!

                • reply
                  June 23, 2011 4:09 PM

                  Actually it's game publishers that feel that way, not game devs. Most devs want to make their game on as many platforms as possible so people can enjoy their game as much as possible. It isn't very practical though and they don't get enough money to do it so they have to limit that. Ultimately all the best developers put their games out on Macs.

                  • reply
                    June 23, 2011 4:19 PM

                    LOL, this post reeks of Apple fanboi arrogance. Get over yourself and buy a Windows license if you want to get in early on the D3 beta, and stop fucking whining.

                    • reply
                      June 23, 2011 4:25 PM

                      And guess what? It is fundamentally easier to develop on the Windows platform due to the tools that Microsoft has provided. Sure, using a Apple product is great, but developing for one is not so much.

                      • reply
                        June 23, 2011 4:30 PM

                        I will give you that, the DirectX tools and stuff like that are really powerful these days, it's really sad how far behind Apple is with support for gaming. Besides the technical challenges, I think a gaming dev would still want their game on OS X if they could achieve it, but most don't have the money or the time.

                    • reply
                      June 23, 2011 4:42 PM

                      So, we should apply that logic when games don't come to PC, or there is a long delay? Tell PC games to STFU and buy a console?

                      • reply
                        June 23, 2011 5:39 PM

                        Pretty much. It sucks for us, but it's where the money is.

                      • reply
                        June 23, 2011 11:00 PM

                        I'm pretty sure that logic has been tossed around in every "When is RDR coming to PC?" thread in the last however many months it's been since release.

                • reply
                  June 23, 2011 5:56 PM

                  Really? Odd. Valve doesn't seem to think so any more.

              • reply
                June 23, 2011 4:25 PM

                "Blizzard better not fuck users of an OS lesser known for its gaming content because i refuse to pay for a product which is better known for its gaming content"

                You realise that the idea of a beta is usually for developers to test their product and not to keep consumers "happy" .. right? One of the bonuses of beta releases with games is it gives the consumers a taste of what to expect, usually for free.

                I'm not a Mac user hater, but stop being a fucking bitch.

                • reply
                  June 23, 2011 4:29 PM

                  Wasn't really bitching, just more venting. You are right though they aren't required to do anything to make me happy, it's just a wish of mine.

      • reply
        June 23, 2011 4:30 PM

        how is making available a version for your system 'fucking mac gamers'

        • reply
          June 23, 2011 4:32 PM

          By not giving out invites to Mac users. My beta profile on their site is set to Mac OS X, and they will never give me an invite because of it. I suspect if I just forged a Windows profile I would get an invite (especially once they start giving them out more rapidly in the last phase).

          • reply
            June 23, 2011 10:32 PM

            How do you know you won't get an invitation?

            • reply
              June 23, 2011 10:36 PM

              Frankly, why should a hardware platform that is relatively homogeneous need much beta testing? It's not like there are millions of hardware and driver configurations you have to deal with when it comes to MacBooks.

          • reply
            June 23, 2011 10:32 PM

            You have Solitaire to play. What's the problem? Only kidding. That does suck that Mac gamers don't get betas.

            • reply
              June 23, 2011 10:59 PM

              Isn't that just part of the cost of being a "Mac gamer"? I mean, in doing so, you're knowingly making a decision to not take part in the non-console platform with the most games.

              I seriously doubt there are any Mac gamers who didn't realize they were giving up access to the vast majority of PC games by going Mac.

              • reply
                June 23, 2011 11:13 PM

                Most honestly don't care. Aside from WoW and Starcraft 2, almost all the people I know on Macs play console games.

                • reply
                  June 23, 2011 11:17 PM

                  And on topic, this is a ridiculous argument. Beta testing on the lead platform first, then work on the OS X port. Makes sense.

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 3:12 PM

      in general: fuck betas. Who want's to have all their shit deleted?

      • reply
        June 23, 2011 3:16 PM

        I just want to play Diablo 3, man. That's all. I want it now. I want it yesterday. I sure as hell want it in 2011.

        • reply
          June 23, 2011 3:17 PM

          I do too. I do too. But in addition to playing, I want to *not* have my character wiped. That's why I can never do these betas with the rest of yous. :(

          • reply
            June 23, 2011 5:48 PM

            i dont care!! I will start a brand new class when the game comes out. I beta tested diablo 2 and it was the best time of my life. My friends were so jealous.

      • reply
        June 23, 2011 10:22 PM

        Jesus Christ! There are some retards in this thread

        Betas are for BETA TESTING so when the game comes out it's not a buggy piece of shit.

        • reply
          June 23, 2011 11:17 PM

          Jesus Christ! let me rephrase since you seem to have trouble deciphering the content of my post. Fuck *participating* in Betas. I understand what they're for. You all right?

    • reply
      June 23, 2011 11:22 PM

      The best thing about the beta announcement is that it raises hope D3 will be available for xmas or shortly thereafter.

      If I got a beta invite I would probably actually sell it. I want to experience the final game fresh, exciting and unknown.

Hello, Meet Lola