Blizzard shares Diablo IV opening cinematic and open beta details

[Shawn Knight]

The big picture: Diablo IV fans have a lot to look forward to as Blizzard recently dropped the game's opening cinematic and shared details about the upcoming open beta. The in-game intro sets the stage for one of the most anticipated games in years and fortunately, gamers won't have to wait too much longer to get their hands on it.

Those who pre-purchase Diablo IV for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series or Windows PC will receive early access to the open beta starting March 17 and running through the 19th. The standard open beta will commence the following weekend, from March 24-26.

The open beta will consist of the prologue and the entirety of act one including the first zone, Fractured Peaks. Blizzard will enact a character level cap of 25 during this period although gamers are welcome to continue "ripping through demons" until the open beta ends.

Those who purchased the game digitally will automatically have access to the open beta when the time comes. If you have an early access code, you'll want to follow the redemption instructions to ensure you don't miss out.

As with any beta, players might experience performance issues, outages or other hiccups that impact the overall experience. Blizzard said it will evaluate feedback following the open beta and make changes as needed.

In the interim, Blizzard is planning to host its first developer update of 2023 on February 28. The livestream will start at 11 a.m. Pacific, with lead world designer Art Peshkov, lead systems designer Meng Song, and game director Joe Shely elaborating on the game's stronghold and armor systems. We'll also learn more about the open beta, we're told.

Assuming no further delays, Diablo IV is on track to launch on June 6, 2023. Interested parties can pre-purchase the standard edition for $69.99, the deluxe edition for $89.99 or the ultimate edition for $99.99. The deluxe and ultimate editions include up to four days of early access, which would put you in the game starting June 2.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/97666-blizzard-shares-diablo-iv-opening-cinematic-open-beta.html

 

[Peter Farkas]

$69.99... pff

 

[m4a4]

Well, jumped to the YT vid, thinking it was a full-on cinematic (pre-rendered). It's just an in-game cutscene (with your character) with less detail than I was expecting for a game from Blizzard in 2023...

Darn. I was hoping it was one of their famous CGI ones...

 

[yRaz]

$69.99... pff

$100 for 4 days of early access. I usually wait a week or two before a game comes out to see some real reviews from it. $100 to beta test a game for the people $70 is just absurd. I also thought Diablo 3 was really bad but, admittedly, I only played for the first 2 weeks and NEVER picked it up again.

 

[Slappy McPhee]

Who honestly cares at this point? I personally won't purchase any AVBl products unless the buyout by MS happens.

 

[mrvco]

So you pay $69.99 in advance to have access to the beta for a handful of days so you can report bugs and then wait for three months hoping they can fix the bugs by launch day and don't decide to delay the release because you reported so many bugs?

Wow. I guess this is what we get for refusing to spend all of our money in the D3 Auction House.

 

[Shaitan]

Lol, never touching any Blizzard game again. Maybe if Starcraft 3 somehow appeared I couldn't help myself, or even a starcraft based shooter, but this will never happen. Other than that... meh. Mobile games are a no go, I refunded both Warcraft 3 reforged and Diablo 2 resurrected, the first one is a piece of sh1t and the other one censored b00bs, made the Amazon look like an old crone and removed the LAN game. As for the Diablo Immortal, I'm not touching that crap and nothing with pay to win will entice me into giving my hard earned money to greedzard.
The way they treat their employees is nothing but more reason to avoid them like the plague, not least he asking price for an online only game is ludicrous.

 

[Athlonite]

Damn Cain got himself a good tan but I don't want to see it for 69.95

 

[Zinixo]

No thanks, not interested in anything by blizzard/ activision anymore.