Starcraft 2 news » Heart of the Swarm Beta Now Live!

The Heart of the Swarm beta test has begun! To be clear, this test will be for the multiplayer experience only. We will begin with a select group, including many players who assisted us in testing Patch 1.5, as well as some pro-gamers and press. Over time, we will add more and more testers into the mix. Beta test participants are not under NDA, so you’re likely going to see live streams of matches, screenshots, and casts of impromptu Heart of the Swarm throwdowns starting . . . mmm, NOW!

We will soon be inviting other players to participate. If you are interested in participating in the beta test, please make sure you are opted in for beta testing. You can do this by clicking "Beta Profile Settings" under the Account Management section of your Battle.net account. Note that the opt-in doesn't guarantee entry, but gives you a chance at joining the beta test. Signing up from a Battle.net account that’s actively playing StarCraft II will help your chances of being selected. Also, we'll be working with your favorite fansites and community personalities to give away more entries to the beta test, so keep an eye out for invites coming from the greater StarCraft community over the coming weeks.

Please note that our Customer Service department cannot provide beta access. Your appropriate avenues of entry will be the official beta opt-in (linked above), or future beta key giveaways and promotions.

We look forward to collecting your feedback.

 

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Beta FAQ

How are beta test participants selected from the opt-in pool?

Beta testers are chosen according to their system specifications and other factors, including an element of luck. Our goal is to have a wide variety of players and system types.

Will there be any other ways to get into the beta besides the opt-in?

We’ll be providing beta entry giveaways through various promotions on our sites, as well as through fansites and community VIPs. We’ll have more information available on these promotions as they happen.

How many players do you plan to invite to the beta test?

The number of players we invite will be based on our testing needs. If during the course of testing we determine we need more players to participate, we’ll invite more.

Which game content will be available in the beta?

To start off, we will be focusing on the multiplayer experience only. An exciting array of new units and abilities has been added to the terran, protoss, and zerg, and we’d like to have as many eyes on these new additions as possible.

Will [awesome features X, Y, and/or Z] be available in the beta?

Additional Heart of the Swarm features will also become available in future phases of the beta test. More details will be announced at a later date.

How long will the beta test last?

We have not determined an exact end date for the end of the beta test. We will notify participants when the beta test is nearing completion.

Will Mac users be able to participate in the beta?

Yes, Mac users will be able to participate in the beta at the same time as Windows users.

Which languages are supported in the beta?

While the Heart of the Swarm beta will be accessible in all regions, the languages supported for the beta will only include the following: English, German, French, and Korean. Support for additional languages in the beta may be added later.

Do I need StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty to participate in the beta?

No, you do not need to have purchased StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty to participate in the beta. Nonetheless, the degree to which you are an active Wings of Liberty player may impact your chances of being selected as a beta tester.

The Swarm is coming!

Please note: While the Heart of the Swarm Beta will be accessible in all regions, the languages supported for the Beta will only include the following: English, German, French, and Korean. Support for additional languages in the Beta may be added later.