Kotaku: Beta Watch

ArenaNet Rings in the Year of the Dragon With Guild Wars 2 Beta Details

Mike Fahey — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST

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We may be four weeks into 2012, but it's the first day of the Year of the Dragon, which sounds like a perfect day to get a better idea of when we'll get a chance to play the most anticipated, dragon-bothered massively multiplayer online game of the year, Guild Wars 2. More »

The Secret World Beta Signups Are Really Live This Time

Mike Fahey — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:40:00 EDT

After last week's countdown ended with absolutely nothing happening, Funcom gets its act together and starts taking beta registrations for real-world supernatural MMO The Secret World. More »

Funcom Welcomes Enlightened Players to The Secret World Beta

Mike Fahey — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:40:00 EDT

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After an agonizingly long wait, Funcom has finally opened up beta signups for The Secret World, the modern day supernatural massively multiplayer online role-playing game where nothing is as it seems and every dark legend comes true. More »

The Secret World Steps Into the Light Next Spring

Mike Fahey — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:40:00 EDT

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Funcom's massively multiplayer supernatural conspiracy game for the PC gets an April 2012 target today at Gamescom, along with a new trailer and news about how you can sign up to participate in beta testing events. Intriguied? More »

Don't Miss Your Chance to Impersonate a Gotham City Impostors Beta Tester

Mike Fahey — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:20:00 EDT

Slip on some blue tights, smear on the grease paint, and fill out a form forthe chance to beta test the upcoming Batman-themed online multiplayer shooter Gotham City Impostors, now seeking eager players across all three platforms. Sign up already! More »

Confessions of a Beta Testing Addict

Mike Fahey — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EDT

Commenter gametr4x loves hunting for bugs in PC games so much, he's got multiple email accounts set up so he can apply to beta tests to his heart's content, but it only took one account to be featured in today's Speak Up on Kotaku. More »

Hellgate Open Beta Welcomes Careful Demon Slayers

Mike Fahey — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:40:00 EDT

T3 Entertainment's relaunch of the online multiplayer demon hunting PC game Hellgatekicks off its open beta phase today, inviting players in North America do help rid the world of the hellish hordes starting tonight at 7:30PM Eastern. More »

Uncharted 3's Beta Wanders Out of the Desert Next Month

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 31 May 2011 01:00:00 EDT

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Beginning on June 28, certain PlayStation 3 owners will be given access to a multiplayer beta for the upcoming Uncharted 3. More »

Grab Your Hellgate Beta Keys While They're Hot

Mike Fahey — Mon, 23 May 2011 18:30:00 EDT

The closed beta test for the soon-to-be-revived Hellgate kicks off next month, and T3 Entertainment has your closed beta keys. Hit up the Hellgate website to secure one for yourself and relive the horror. More »

Now Everybody Can Play APB Again for Free

Mike Fahey — Mon, 23 May 2011 13:00:00 EDT

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Proof that you can't keep a moderately okay multiplayer online game down, GamersFirst launches the open beta testing phase for APB: Reloaded. Welcome back to San Paro! More »

Diablo III Welcomes Players to Beta Hell This Summer

Mike Fahey — Mon, 09 May 2011 17:00:00 EDT

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Fans around the world have been waiting for their chance to play Diablo III since the game was announced back in June of 2008. During today's Activision financial results conference call, Blizzard boss Michael Morhaime pinpointed a three-month window for the Diablo III beta. More »

There's Resistance 3 Beta Access In Specially Marked Copies Of SOCOM 4

Mike Fahey — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EDT

Players picking up SOCOM 4 for the PlayStation 3 on April 19 get a bonus in the form of early access to the Resistance 3 beta test. Just make sure the front of the box looks like this. More »

This Is Why You Should Sign-Up For The Darkspore Beta

Mike Fahey — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST

In case our hands-on with Darkspore's action-packed single-player and competitive multiplayer battles weren't enough to whet your appetite for the game, perhaps the full beta trailer will do the trick. More »

Become A Dragon Age Legend On Facebook

Mike Fahey — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST

It's time to sign up for the closed beta for Dragon Age Legends, EA 2D's Facebook companion to Dragon Age II, where players can earn exclusive items for use in the console game. More »

The DC Universe Online Beta Ends With Epic Battles

Mike Fahey — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:20:00 EST

The DC Universe Online beta goes out with a bang today, with tonight's cataclysmic "Battle of the Legends" paving the way for the MMO's January 11 launch. Will you side with Batman and Superman, or The Joker and Lex Luthor? More »

Team Fortress 2 Enters Public Beta

Mike Fahey — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST

Valve is throwing on ongoing public beta test for Team Fortress 2, and everybody that owns the game is invited! More »

Get In Line For The Rift Closed Beta

Mike Fahey — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:20:00 EST

Eight primordial forces struggle for domination of the world of Telara, and you can experience that struggle for yourself by signing up for the first closed beta event for Trion Worlds' Rift, kicking off at the beginning of December. More »

Battlestar Galactica Online Rockets Into Closed Beta

Mike Fahey — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 15:20:00 EST

The battle for the future of humanity is joined, as MMO developer Bigpoint reveals the launch of the closed beta test for browser-based MMO Battlestar Galactica Online. Get a peek at what fashionable humans and Cylons will be wearing this fall. More »

The First Round Of Crysis 2 Multiplayer Testing Is Xbox Only

Mike Fahey — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EDT

The first round of invitations to the Crysis 2 closed multiplayer beta test are going out, indicating that this first session is a strictly Xbox 360 affair. More »

How To Get Into The Killzone 3 Beta

Mike Fahey — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:20:00 EDT

The public beta test for Killzone 3 starts on October 25, and we've got the low-down on how to get in. First step: Pay for PlayStation Plus. More »

The Medal Of Honor PC Open Beta Is Go

Mike Fahey — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:20:00 EDT

Care for a first-hand look at how the PC version of EA's Medal of Honor multiplayer stacks up to Call of Duty? Three days of free multiplayer play is now underway. Did renaming the Taliban make a difference? More »

DC Universe Online Knocked Into Early 2011

Mike Fahey — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 14:30:00 EDT

Not even the combined powers of all of DC's super heroes could keep Sony Online Entertainment's DC Universe Online from being pushed back to early 2011, but new beta testing details cast light to the game's blackest night. More »

Free-To-Play Free Runner FreeJack Enters Open Beta

Mike Fahey — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:20:00 EDT

FreeJack is a parkour MMO that looks like Jet Grind Radio, only without the skates, and starting tomorrow you can test it out. More »

Final Fantasy XIV Beta Is No Go

Mike Fahey — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:20:00 EDT

Who's ready to get the Final Fantasy XIV open beta party started? Not Square Enix. More »

How To Succeed As A World Of Warcraft: Cataclysm Beta Tester

Mike Fahey — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EDT

Getting into the World of Warcraft: Cataclysm beta is all about having fun and experiencing new content, right? Wrong! Machinima.com sets Cataclysm beta testers straight in this guide to winning the World of Warcraft: Cataclysm beta test. More »

Assassin's Creed Brotherhood Multiplayer Beta Is A GameStop Exclusive

Mike Fahey — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:20:00 EDT

Want to get into the North American Assassin's Creed Brotherhood PlayStation 3 pre-launch multiplayer beta test this September? Then you're going to have to preorder the game through GameStop. More »

There's A Battlefield 3 Beta Invite In Your Medal Of Honor Limited Edition

Mike Fahey — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:20:00 EDT

EA sweetens the deal for players picking up the limited edition of the modern-day Medal of Honor reboot on October 12, with a beta invite for DICE's highly anticipated Battlefield 3 in every package. More »

Star Wars: The Old Republic Testing Begins

Mike Fahey — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:40:00 EDT

If you've not signed up for a chance to beta test BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic, now would be a good time, as the process of putting the eagerly anticipated MMO through its paces gets underway. More »

StarCraft II Beta Patching, Phase Two Imminent

Mike Fahey — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:20:00 EDT

A new patch for the StarCraft II beta test has hit Europe, raising hopes that the promised phase two of the test will be starting shortly. More »

Final Fantasy XIV PC Gets Two Release Dates

Mike Fahey — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:20:00 EDT

The first steps players take into the world of Eorzea will be wide ones, as Square Enix reveals two September release dates for Final Fantasy XIV on the PC; one for the normal edition, and an earlier one for the lavish collector's edition. More »

StarCraft II Beta Extended

Mike Fahey — Fri, 28 May 2010 14:45:00 EDT

Originally set to end on Monday, May 31, Blizzard is extending the StarCraft II beta test until Monday, June 7, in order to prepare for the final round of beta testing. Whatever, more StarCraft II! More »

How To Opt-In For The World Of Warcraft: Cataclysm Beta

Mike Fahey — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:20:00 EDT

The closed beta test for World of Warcraft's Cataclysm expansion is just around the corner, and Blizzard is encouraging players to opt-in for their chance at early access. Here's how you do that. More »

Getting Started With The Halo: Reach Beta

Mike Fahey — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:30:00 EDT

The Halo: Reach beta is finally live, and we've assembled some handy information to help you get started in what could be the biggest console game beta ever. More »

Mytheon Open Beta Launches With Fabulous Prizes

Mike Fahey — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 11:40:00 EDT

Petroglyph's massive multiplayer online action strategy game Mytheon has entered open beta, with a laptop, iPod Touches, and iTunes gift cards up for grabs for those who give the game an early go. More »

GameStop Has Your StarCraft II Beta Invite

Mike Fahey — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:40:00 EDT

Several readers have pointed us towards the listing for StarCraft II on GameStop's website, where preorders now snag you an invite to the eagerly anticipated strategy game's beta test, as long as you agree not to cancel your order afterwards. More »

Savage Take On Defense Of The Ancients Enters Open Beta

Mike Fahey — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:20:00 EDT

Savage developer S2 Games is ready to bring its take on the Defense of the Ancients Warcraft III scenario to the masses, with the launch of the Heroes of Newerth open beta. More »

A Bizarre Expansion To The Blur Beta

Mike Fahey — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EDT

Activision and Bizarre Creations continue to refine the online experience of upcoming combat racer Blur, increasing the rank cap and allowing testers to unlock new cars, challenges, and mods. More »

Now Everyone Can Be A Lord Of Ultima

Mike Fahey — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:30:29 EDT

EA's web-based strategy revival of classic RPG series Ultima has entered open beta, with thousands of players fortifying their towns for the inevitable invasion by everyone imaginable. Will you join the fray? More »

Play Need For Speed World For Free... and a Little Work

Mike Fahey — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EDT

Do you feel the need to speed constantly with a whole bunch of other people? Black Box Studios has kicked off the closed beta test for Need for Speed World, adding thousands of testers over the next few months. More »

LEGO Universe Beta Ready To Brick Your Computer

Mike Fahey — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:40:00 EST

NetDevil's massively-multiplayer LEGO Universe has reached the closed beta testing stage, with invites flooding the inboxes of beta test hopefuls across the country. More »