Diablo III beta testing has begun

Closed beta testing for the long-awaited Diablo III has begun, Blizzard has confirmed, as the game enters what it describes as the final stages of development”.

The beta allows gamers to play through the entirety of Act I either independently or in co-op. Five hero classes are selectable.

It is only available in English.

"This closed beta test is an important milestone for us as we enter the final stages of development on Diablo III," Blizzard CEO and cofounder Mike Morhaime in a stated.

"Our goal is to create the best action role-playing game experience to date, building on everything we’ve learned since the release ofDiablo IIand incorporating the powerful features of the new Battle.net platform. We hope players enjoy participating in the beta test and we look forward to hearing their feedback."

A release date for Diablo III has not yet been announced.