Blizzard has released Diablo 4 2.0 in the Public Test Realm for users to explore. Here’s everything you need to know!
Diablo 4, the fourth main instalment of the popular action RPG series, is set to release a new update available on the Public Test Realm (PTR) for players from September 4 to September 11, 2024. This is in anticipation of the Season 6 updates coming later this year on October 8, 2024, alongside the Vessel of Hatred Expansion.
The new updates aim to improve the game overall, and since its release a couple of days ago, we’ve seen several positive reviews. Read on for the lowdown on the Diablo 4 2.0 Public Test Realm.
Diablo 4 2.0 Public Test Realm: Everything You Should Know About It
The Diablo 4 2.0 overhaul patch, set to be released alongside the expansion on October 8, 2024, is now live on the Public Test Realm as of 6 PM BST / 1 PM EDT on Wednesday, September 5. You can now install the PTR patch and play it ahead of the official release date.
This patch primarily addresses many of the issues Diablo 4 players have raised, such as itemization, upgrading, and offerings within overworld content and events. While you’ll need to create a new character and restart the game to experience these changes, the reviews so far suggest it offers a significantly improved game experience.
The following are the updates coming with the Diablo 4 2.0:
- Leveling Adjustment: On the new patch, Paragon Points will now be tied to your Realm, not individual characters. This means all Paragon Levels earned are shared across your characters on the same Realm.
- New Difficulties System: World Tiers are now called Difficulties, with four Standard levels: Normal, Hard, Expert, and Penitent, each offering increasing challenges up to Level 60. As you progress, you’ll earn more Gold and experience, with Expert unlocking after the prologue and Penitent at Level 50. Then you’ll need the Torment Difficulties, which are directly connected to the Pit.
- Paragon System Update: The patch has brought updates to Glyphs, moving their upgrades from Nightmare Dungeons to the Pit, with a new system that offers more control over upgrade speed and rewards. Paragon Points earned by leveling up have also been increased from 200 to 300, and each class now has an additional Paragon Board, while the Glyph Rank cap is raised from 21 to 100.
- Item Quality Rework: Ancestral Items now drop starting from Torment 1, always at Item Power 800, and come with at least one Greater Affix, making them highly sought-after for the endgame. But Sacred Items will no longer drop, and existing ones will be marked as legacy, while non-Ancestral items are capped at Item Power 750 and can be Masterworked up to 4 times.
- Revised Skill Tree: Each class now introduces a new skill, such as the Barbarian’s Mighty Throw and the Sorcerer’s Familiar, offering new directions for your build. Alongside this, the patch adds five new Passives per class.
- Runewords: A New Source of Power: Runewords, available only with the Vessel of Hatred Expansion, let you boost your character’s power by combining Ritual and Invocation Runes. Starting September 6, you can test them in the Public Test Realm, where Runes drop from monsters and can be acquired from the ‘PTR boost’ NPC.
- Wander Boldly with Party Finder: Party Finder helps you locate allies in Sanctuary by listing your desired party type, game activity, and location. You can access it via the Map, in-game Menu, or emote wheel to find parties for various activities like Nightmare Dungeons and Endgame Bosses.
The Public Test Realm will run for a week, allowing players to thoroughly explore the game and give feedback to the developers to adjust before the patch finally goes live in October. You can report your feedback in-game by pressing the ESC key and using the Report a Bug menu or on the Diablo 4 PTR forum.
How to Access the Diablo 4 2.0 Public Test Realm
According to the patch’s official guide post, you can access the patch 2.0 by following the steps below:
1. Launch the Blizzard Battle.net app and choose Diablo IV from your Games list.
2. Click the version drop-down menu above the Play button and select the Public Test Realm option.
3. Select Install to download the PTR client; it will turn into a Play button once ready.
4. Next, click Play to log in to the PTR and select one of the available Test Servers.
Also, if you play Diablo via PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate user, you’ll be able to access the PTR with the same approach as other Battle Net users. Simply launch the Battle Net client through the Xbox App, then continue to access the PTR through the client.
After that, enter the game and start exploring!
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