StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void's closed beta test is now underway on PC and Mac. Blizzard is currently inviting players to try out the long-awaited expansion's multiplayer modes.
"Beta testers are chosen according to a variety of factors, including their system specs, recent StarCraft 2 activity, and an element of luck," Blizzard announced. "When selecting individuals during each round of invitations, our goal is to have a wide variety of players and system types."
If you were selected for the beta, you'll see an option in the StarCraft 2 region selection drop-down menu of the Battle.net desktop app called "Beta: Legacy of the Void." You'll also get an email from Blizzard at the email account tied to your Battle.net account.
Blizzard is directly adding beta access to accounts rather than distributing beta keys that you need to redeem. In other words, if you've received a key in your email or see a website claiming to be giving them away, it's a scam. There are a lot of people out there trying to trick you into giving them your account information so be careful.
"Further down the line 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 on these promotions as they approach."
Blizzard will be sending out the invites in waves to ensure the stability of the game's servers. For a chance at getting into the beta, opt into testing through your Battle.net account. In your account management, find the section called "Beta Profile Settings" and make sure the box for StarCraft is checked. You don't need to own StarCraft 2 or previous expansion Heart of the Swarm to be eligible. As Blizzard said, though, an active SC2 player has a better chance of getting into the beta.
Once you've opted into the beta, it's time to play the waiting game. If you bought tickets to BlizzCon 2014 (including Virtual Tickets) or the StarCraft 2 WCS 2014 Global Finals, you'll have priority access over everyone else. Even with priority access, though, Blizzard hasn't provided a firm date when you'll be invited.
If you haven't gotten into the beta yet, you'll at least be able to watch ample gameplay footage from the test. As with previous Blizzard betas, Legacy of the Void's test doesn't have a non-disclosure agreement in effect so players can stream footage and share any details they learn. Blizzard is also allowing organized competitions during the beta.
"We welcome anyone to run online events with less than $10,000 USD or equivalent in prizing. Keep in mind that the purpose of the beta is to test and gather feedback, so we cannot ensure that units, maps, spells, and other features will be fully balanced. We also cannot promise that beta servers will be up and available during the time of your event. Due to the nature of the beta, any organizer that wishes to run an onsite event, or an event with $10,000 USD or more in prizing, will require explicit approval from Blizzard Entertainment."
Legacy of the Void's beta test lets players try out the expansion's competitive multiplayer, which features several new units for all factions. They can also test the co-op Archon Mode, in which two players share their resources and units.
