Editing Overwatch beta

The '''''Overwatch'' beta''' was the beta test phase of ''[[Overwatch]]'', beginning on October 27, 2015.<ref name="O">{{tw|https://twitter.com/PlayOverwatch/status/659055246618943490|2015-10-27|PlayOverwatch}}</ref> 

The beta closed on May 9, 2016.<ref>2016-05-05, [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/167351-Overwatch-Open-Beta-Begins Overwatch Open Beta Starts Today]. ''The Escapist'', accessed on 2016-05-05</ref>

Following the in-house alpha test, the beta test was the phase in which the game was opened up to a select number of invited players outside Blizzard for testing and feedback purposes.<ref>[http://us.battle.net/overwatch/en/blog/19932055/|Overwatch Closed Beta Now Live]. Blizzard Entertainment, 27 October 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.</ref> The beta temporarily closed by the end of 2015.<ref>2016-01-22, [http://us.battle.net/forums/en/overwatch/topic/20421003773#1 Closed Beta Update – January 21, 2016]. ''Blizzard Entertainment'', accessed on 2016-01-23</ref> The beta re-opened on February 9, 2016, with an all-new progression system, two new maps, one new game mode, several hero balance updates, and the introduction of bots.<ref>2016-02-04, [http://overwatch.blizzplanet.com/blog/comments/overwatch-closed-beta-returns-february-9 Overwatch Closed Beta Returns February 9]. ''Blizzplanet'', accessed on 2016-02-06</ref>

As of November 2015, 7 million people had signed up for the beta.<ref>2015-11-03, [http://overwatch.blizzplanet.com/blog/comments/over-7-million-players-signed-up-for-overwatch-beta Over 7 Million Players signed up for Overwatch Beta]. ''Blizzplanet'', accessed on 2015-11-06</ref> By the beta's end, 9.7 million people had played the beta.<ref>2016-05-13, [http://au.ign.com/articles/2016/05/12/97-million-people-played-overwatchs-open-beta 9.7 MILLION PEOPLE PLAYED OVERWATCH'S OPEN BETA]. ''IGN'', accessed on 2016-05-13</ref>

==Closed beta==

The game's public beta began on October 27, 2015, shortly after 5pm UT.<ref name="O"/> The beta started simultaneously in the Americas and Europe regions, with Asia to be added later.<ref name="O"/><ref name="OB"/> Upon the start of the beta, ''Overwatch'' swiftly became top game on Twitch.tv, quickly reaching more than 200,000 viewers in total.<ref>https://imgur.com/b9G64wU</ref>

While the main closed beta pool was very limited, special stress test weekends allowed larger numbers of players to participate:

*''Closed Beta: The closed beta was composed of a small number of testers who had regular access to the public beta test. Feedbackwas based solely around gameplay. The number of beta testers in the closed beta was very limited, in order to ensure succinct feedback.

*''Beta Test Weekends: This feedback was based primarily around hardware and tech. The number of maps and heroes available was limited. The purpose of these surges was to stress test the game's servers.<ref name="OB">2015-10-15, [http://us.battle.net/overwatch/en/blog/19919176/overwatch-beta-coming-soon-10-14-2015 Overwatch Beta Coming Soon]. ''Blizzard Entertainment'', accessed on 2015-10-16</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
;Forums
* [http://us.battle.net/forums/en/overwatch/21446649/ Official beta feedback forums (US)]
* [http://eu.battle.net/forums/en/overwatch/18056909/ Official beta feedback forums (EU)]

;Announcements
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnRpV4V5H0w&feature=youtu.be Developer Update | Welcome to Beta! | Overwatch] (2015-10-27)

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