Overwatch beta invites are being sent out?

[Deleted]

facebook.com/buffed/photos/a.382060460918.166902.21425480918/10153060959890919/?type=3&theater&__mref=message_bubble

"Guess which Beta Keys are coming in right now! Hint: Its not WoW Legion" - From a german games website which mostly talks about Blizzard games, mmos etc.

That is, if they are telling the truth. They say "Beta Keys" which I highly doubt since they are now using Account invites for Alphas/Betas right?

Also this: twitter.com/Blizzard_ANZ/status/646839663286554624

Maybe we are getting close to a official release date of the Alpha/Beta, what do you guys think?

[Val the Moofia Boss]

Maybe we are getting close to a official release date of the Alpha/Beta, what do you guys think?

Blizzard gave fansites and streamers beta keys to giveaway to promote the game. They could easily do the same thing with Overwatch.

We know that Overwatch was going to have a beta on a "Fall the 10th", so that could be this month or next month, right after Blizzcon.

[Sesshomaru]

Reposting the links above so it'll be easier to click them.

German facebook-site containing a sentence and picture of Overwatch

Original German post of the facebook link

"Ratet mal, welche Beta-Keys bei uns gerade reinflattern! Kleiner Tipp: Es ist nicht WoW Legion"

As I don't speak German, I used google translate to translate the sentence above, which becomes this in English:
Tradu was kind enough to translate the sentence. Updating it over the old one:

"Guess which beta keys we've just received(technically "are receiving right now")! Hint: it's not WoW Legion"

The twitter link refers to Aussies (and Kiwis) to sign up as it's coming "soon".

Sounds peculiar, if I may say. Although buffed.de do in fact post information only containing Blizzard games, you could say it's rather weird them "confirming" such, unless they've been cleared by Blizzard to give out the picture and that sentence.

I just hope we won't have to wait until Blizzcon in order to get into the beta and start testing.

- - - Updated - - -

Blizzard gave fansites and streamers beta keys to giveaway to promote the game. They could easily do the same thing with Overwatch.

We know that Overwatch was going to have a beta on a "Fall the 10th", so that could be this month or next month, right after Blizzcon.

They've given MMO-Champ a few keys during multiple WoW betas. Heck, I won a MoP beta key here on the forums by a random lucky draw, which is how they usually do it. Chaud, I mean.

[lockedout]

facebook.com/buffed/photos/a.382060460918.166902.21425480918/10153060959890919/?type=3&theater&__mref=message_bubble

"Guess which Beta Keys are coming in right now! Hint: Its not WoW Legion" - From a german games website which mostly talks about Blizzard games, mmos etc.

That is, if they are telling the truth. They say "Beta Keys" which I highly doubt since they are now using Account invites for Alphas/Betas right?

Also this: twitter.com/Blizzard_ANZ/status/646839663286554624

Maybe we are getting close to a official release date of the Alpha/Beta, what do you guys think?

Hearthstone had "beta keys" I sold mine for a few hundred dollars during the first wave of invites.

[Tradu]

As I don't speak German, I used google translate to translate the sentence above, which becomes this in English:

Basically what it's saying is "Guess which beta keys we've just received(technically "are receiving right now")! Hint: it's not WoW Legion". The google translate is kinda funny, though(mostly because it's really bad)

[Lery]

My goodness, they're just now getting to open beta? They announced this game over a year ago! Can you imagine if Apple announced the next iPhone and did not release it for over a year. Blizzard is a strange egg.

[Val the Moofia Boss]

My goodness, they're just now getting to open beta? They announced this game over a year ago! Can you imagine if Apple announced the next iPhone and did not release it for over a year. Blizzard is a strange egg.

Blizzard is Blizzard.

[Hitei]

My goodness, they're just now getting to open beta? They announced this game over a year ago! Can you imagine if Apple announced the next iPhone and did not release it for over a year. Blizzard is a strange egg.

Diablo 3 was announced in 2008 and not released until 2012.

[Mormolyce]

I assumed there'd be:

1) Streamers/game sites/etc preview access (already happening)

2) Friends & family alpha (may already be happening)

3) Technical alpha (guessing will be announced or begin at Blizzcon)

4) Closed beta (might be soon? ish?)

5) Open beta (god knows when)

[taubut]

My goodness, they're just now getting to open beta? They announced this game over a year ago! Can you imagine if Apple announced the next iPhone and did not release it for over a year. Blizzard is a strange egg.

The very first iPhone was announced January 9, 2007 and didn't release until June 29, 2007.

[Mormolyce]

My goodness, they're just now getting to open beta? They announced this game over a year ago! Can you imagine if Apple announced the next iPhone and did not release it for over a year. Blizzard is a strange egg.

I guess there'd be a lot of angry chafing of hipster beards against turtlenecks.

[Kathranis]

I don't think Blizzard is actively flagging accounts yet. They might be contacting streamers, press, fansites, etc. to make preparations for that, though.

Man, I really hope I get in with the first wave of invites. I got into the first wave for Hearthstone, and I've tested every WoW expansion since Wrath, but it took forever for my account to get flagged for Heroes of the Storm.

[Mormolyce]

I got into the HoTS alpha but only late beta for Hearthstone. No idea how that works.

[Barnabas]

My goodness, they're just now getting to open beta? They announced this game over a year ago! Can you imagine if Apple announced the next iPhone and did not release it for over a year. Blizzard is a strange egg.

Overwatch could be in beta stage for years even after the general public plays it and thinks it's good enough.

[Jester Joe]

Diablo 3 was announced in 2008 and not released until 2012.

I think you just crushed my hopes and dreams for Overwatch being close.

[xero5141]

The very first iPhone was announced January 9, 2007 and didn't release until June 29, 2007.

I'm not sure I see your point, being that 5 months isn't over a year.

[Deleted]

On topic of development...

It's all because Blizz is using their own engine - at least as far as I know (never heard anything that would suggest otherwise). You can put a game like Overwatch "mechanically" speaking in less than a few months (from start to finish) using UE4 for example. It's the assets like models, maps, sprites and business model implementation that takes real time. Still, using UE4 you can end up with a very playable version (closed Beta at least) in about a year.

Creating your own game engine is not an easy feat, people don't realize it but you spend more time on fixing conflicts/bugs than actual development of new features. Hardware/driver compatibility, features overlap and interaction, "server side" infrastructure - databases, hell sometimes even hitboxes alone can cause months of delay or post launch issues (I'm looking at you Valve..). That's why Blizz is "not fast" in delivering games.

Sometimes I question developer's decision to not use "ready to use" options like UE4. There is much work "already done", like hardware compatibility or features like "destructible" objects or multiplayer platform. Not to mention there is no limit upon expanding them. Heck, you can even write whole module up from the scratch if you are not pleased with "standard issue".

I could understand if Overwatch would be bringing us some "breakthrough" mechanic or unprecedented graphical advantage, but honestly, take it from a developer: there is not even one feature in Overwatch that you couldn't find in ready to go engines like UE4 and just copy&paste it to your project.

So yeah, good for them for creating new engine, but was it worth the time/money spent? Only if they have some more plans for it beyond Overwatch...

[Collected]

I could understand if Overwatch would be bringing us some "breakthrough" mechanic or unprecedented graphical advantage, but honestly, take it from a developer: there is not even one feature in Overwatch that you couldn't find in ready to go engines like UE4 and just copy&paste it to your project.

I think if the development studio is big enough and has the resources to create an engine then it's always going to pay off for them in the long run. They have full control over it. The moment they pick up another engine they're limited and they also have to deal with the whole "Oh that Blizzard game that uses the Unreal Engine". It's just not Blizzard. They pride themselves on making sure their products are highly polished. I don't think they could really achieve that to their own internal standards if they were using an out of house engine or resources.

I mean sure.. for a small game studio.. it makes absolute perfect sense to pick up an engine. No brainer. But Blizzard are huge. They can write their own engines using in house talent and not take a hit for doing it. They have the time and they have the resource whilst their other games continue to make them a profit.

Also remember Overwatch was originally intended to be their next MMO before it evolved into what we see today. So the original engine work may have been with the intention of a 10 year+ MMO project.

[ErothTV]

In Prague, at the EURTB 2015 event, Blizzard was asking fansites and so on for bnet accounts and stuff for the invites.

As Valyrian stated, most likely, they will also receive later the Beta Keys to share with the audience.

[mmboko]

Havent received one ... I am signed tho... no idea if they occured already