Blizzard lets you play on the public test realm of Diablo 4 starting today for the first time. There, you can directly try out what makes Season 4 so popular: the new itemization. However, you can only participate on PC.
What features are coming to the PTR?
- The most important feature on the PTR is the new item system of Season 4 with improved affixes, crafting, and guaranteed 925 loot starting at level 95.
- In addition, you will be able to test a revised Helltide, a kind of “Greater Rift” from Diablo 3, and Andariel as a new boss. There will also be numerous class adjustments.
- The actual theme of Season 4, however, will not be active, only the already known features. You can find the full patch notes for the PTR patch here.
So you can participate: To be able to play the PTR, you need access to Diablo 4 on PC. Currently, PS5 and Xbox cannot participate in the test. Download the Battle.net client and proceed as follows:
- Open the Battle.net app and select Diablo 4.
- Select the “Public Test Realm” from the dropdown menu.
- Click “Install” or “Play.”
- Choose any test server and create a new character.
If you have already completed the campaign with a character, explored the map, and found all Lilith statues, that progress will be transferred to the PTR.
There is also an NPC in Kyovashad where you can boost a new character to level 100. You will receive the necessary equipment and materials to test the endgame features directly.
You can leave feedback in the PTR forum. There you will also find a list of already known bugs, in case you encounter any. The community manager Adam Fletcher has already warned on X that the PTR version is not as “polished” as the live version of Diablo 4.
Recently, with the leaderboards, a coveted feature has been introduced:
Blizzard is extensively testing Season 4 before its release
The test phase runs from today, Tuesday, April 2, to Tuesday, April 9, exactly one week. The server should go live around 8:00 PM German time.
For the test, the release of the upcoming Season 4 has been postponed. Originally, April 16 was planned as the start date, but now Season 4 will be released on May 14.
Blizzard wants to properly test the new features, not only through the PTR but also internally, to ensure that the new season is as good as everyone hopes.
Season 4 is considered by many fans who have been disappointed with Diablo 4 so far as the big rescue – but also as the last chance. According to the current assessment of most experts and the community, what the new itemization brings is indeed extraordinarily good.
Whether Diablo 4 is really as “dead” as some critics claim is debatable. In the recent competition with Last Epoch, Diablo 4 temporarily lost some players, but many have since returned: Some players are returning to Diablo 4 after hundreds of hours in Last Epoch: This is what they say.
