Blizzard also experienced a leak for the upcoming Diablo 4. In an earlier alpha test, an hour of gameplay was shared via a Discord chat group. The video found its way onto Reddit and it spread like wildfire. Blizzard has recently started its closed beta test for Diablo 4 and players have received invites for it. Those invited into the beta test will need to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement as part of the deal. This means that any gameplay information should be kept confidential and can’t be shared with anyone. However, the NDA has not prevented testers from leaking information for Diablo 4. We also managed to find several of the leaked videos that have been circulating online.
Invite and gameplay information leaked
The email invite itself is confidential but players have been sharing information about how they got into the closed beta. Most that were chosen to participate have extensive Diablo 2: Resurrected and Diablo 3 experience. Blizzard made it clear, when the closed beta was announced, that it would be prioritizing players who have put in a significant number of hours into the game. Testers have not only shared how they received invites but also little tidbits about the end-game content on the Diablo Subreddit. One Reddit user described the game’s combat system as “smooth and responsive”, saying that it “feels better out the gate” when compared to Diablo 3. Another user commented about the “extremely deep” skill tree. But, not everyone has positive things to say. Although it sounds like nitpicking, one user felt disappointed that the Necromancer class resurrects a human corpse even when you’re up against monster mobs.
Video gameplay leaked
There are reports that video gameplay footage has been leaked by one tester. The original Reddit post has since been taken down but we have managed to track down the video on Twitter. There are five videos in total with an average length of around forty minutes each. The videos are posted on a file-sharing website and are likely the ones alluded to in the Reddit post that has been removed. The language setting for the game footage is Russian and we do not have any way of translating the text into English. One of the gameplay videos shows off the Necromancer class. My initial impression from the footage is that the game looks and feels like a modern Diablo title. The gameplay is solid and the graphics look amazing from what I saw. Blizzard has expressly said that the closed beta is focusing on the end-game content so as not to spoil the main storyline. It is as if they are expecting that someone would ultimately leak video footage during the closed beta. They were right in choosing not to have a closed beta test for the story campaign, as leaked videos for the game are already spreading. It is understandable that Blizzard still wants to keep the game under wraps with NDAs. Any negative impressions of the game may affect the interest of players in purchasing Diablo 4. The invites to the closed beta will continue until November 18 according to reports. If you aren’t so lucky, a public beta test will happen in early 2023. We expect the public beta to arrive after the pre-order announcement for Diablo 4. Diablo 4 is coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in 2023.
