FRIENDLY REMINDER: As this is a stress test, please anticipate uneven game performance and server instability, and note that restarts and downtime may occur without warning. We'll provide information regarding major service issues, should they occur, in the Beta News forum. For additional beta status updates, be sure to follow @PlayOverwatch on Twitter.

Beta Test Weekend strike team: prepare to attack!

From Friday, November 20 through Monday, November 23, we'll be conducting our first invitation-only Beta Test Weekend. During this three-day event, we'll be opening up Overwatch beta (for a limited time) to a lot more players from our Americas and Europe gameplay regions.

The objective: help us stress test our server hardware and technology . . . and make a few Plays of the Game in the process.

Our first Beta Test Weekend will begin on Friday, November 20 at 9:00 a.m. PST and end on Monday, November 23 at 9:00 a.m. PST.

To help us get the most out of this testing phase, we will be flagging accounts for the Beta Test Weekend a little early, during a scheduled maintenance on Thursday, November 19. We encourage all new recruits to use this additional time to download and install the beta client so you can be ready for action once servers come back online.

If you're selected to participate in this Beta Test Weekend, you'll see an Install button appear in the Overwatch tab of your Battle.net desktop app as well as an Overwatch Beta license in the YOUR GAME ACCOUNTS section of Battle.net Account Management.

You'll also receive a Beta Test Weekend invitation sent via email to your registered address; however, please note that these messages are sometimes slow to arrive.

During the Beta Test Weekend, all players (including those currently in the Closed Beta) will have access to the full roster of 21 heroes and a limited selection of maps: Hanamura, King’s Row, and Watchpoint: Gibraltar.

Since this is a stress test, we're primarily interested in your technical feedback, like how Overwatch runs on your system, your experience with the beta servers, critical bug reports, and other game-impacting problems. One of our goals is to push our hardware to the limit, so don't be surprised if you experience performance issues or run into unexpected downtime—that’s all part of the process.

For more information on our Overwatch testing plans, check out our original beta announcement

Before you begin, you'll first need to download the game. To install and play on November 20–23, please follow the instructions below. Note that if you're already in the Closed Beta, you do not need to repeat these steps or reinstall the game.

Step 1: Download the Battle.net desktop app, if you haven't already, and launch it.

Step 2: Log in using the Battle.net account that was flagged for Beta Test Weekend access.

Step 3: Click the Overwatch icon, located on the left-hand side of the Battle.net desktop app.

Step 4: Select your region from the drop-down menu, then click Install to begin the installation process.

Step 5: Once the Beta Test Weekend gets underway on Friday morning, click Play to begin!

If you're new to team shooters like Overwatch, you might want to first play through the in-game tutorial to learn the ropes. We also recommend checking out our Ability Overview videos to get a feel for how each of our heroes operate.

We've set up a few dedicated communications channels where Beta Test Weekend participants can discuss gameplay, report bugs, and talk about their experience with fellow players:

Stress Test Feedback – Share your feedback on heroes, features, systems, and more.

Stress Test Bug Report – Report any in-game bugs you find during gameplay.

Stress Tech Support – Report any technical issues you encounter while playing.

These forums will require a Beta Test Weekend license in order to post. As a result, please note that you'll no longer be able to create new threads or reply to existing topics once the Beta Test Weekend concludes.

Q. How long will the Beta Test Weekend last?

A. This Beta Test Weekend begins on Friday, November 20 at 9:00 a.m. PST and ends on Monday, November 23 at 9:00 a.m. PST.

Q. How will I know if I'm selected to participate in the Closed Beta?

A. If you are selected to participate in the Closed Beta, you'll see an Install button appear in the Overwatch tab of your Battle.net desktop app as well as an "Overwatch Beta" license in the YOUR GAME ACCOUNTS section of Battle.net Account Management.

You will also receive an invite via email. Invites will always be sent to the email address associated with your Battle.net account. To help avoid phishing attempts, if you believe you've received an invite, it's best to refrain from clicking on any links in the email(s) you receive. Instead, as noted above, you can verify that your account has been granted a Closed Beta license in Battle.net Account Management.

Q. How are Beta Test Weekend participants selected?

A. Beta Test Weekend participants are chosen from our Overwatch beta opt-in pool based on a variety of factors, including (but not limited to) your Battle.net region, when you signed up, your computer hardware specifications, and an element of luck.

Q. How do I opt-in to the Beta Test Weekends?

A. There is no special opt-in process for Beta Test Weekends. If you opted-in for the beta, you're all set!

As a reminder: To opt into the beta, visit your Beta Profile Settings page in Account Management, check the "Overwatch" box under "Beta Tests I'm Interested In," and then click "Update Preferences." Alternatively, you can also sign up by clicking here.

Please note that opting in will not guarantee you access to a Beta Test Weekend.

Q. Will there be any other ways to get into a Beta Test Weekend besides opting-in?

A. Not at this time. Also, please note that Overwatch beta keys do not exist. Access to Beta Test Weekends will be provided solely through account flagging.

Q. What gameplay regions are eligible for the Beta Test Weekend?

A. For this Beta Test Weekend, we will be inviting players from the Americas and Europe gameplay regions. For more information on which countries are associated with each of our gameplay regions, click here.

Q. What languages are supported in the Closed Beta?

A.The beta currently supports 10 languages: English, French, German, Castilian Spanish, Polish, Italian, Russian, Latin American Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese. Localization is not yet complete for all languages, however, so some content may still appear in English.

Q. If I get invited to the Beta Test Weekend, can I stream or create content about the game?

A. Absolutely! There is no non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for this Beta Test Weekend. You are encouraged to take screenshots, livestream your play sessions, record feedback videos—whatever your heart desires. The game is still a work in progress, though, so we appreciate your understanding when you encounter bugs, graphical errors, or other issues.

Q. Can I run tournaments with a prize pool during a Beta Test Weekend?

A. While the Beta Test Weekend is only three days long, you are welcome to run tournaments (with or without prize pools). However, given the size and scope of this phase of beta, we will not be issuing tournament licenses for large-scale events with prize pools over $10k. For smaller events, please review our Community Tournament Guidelines before you begin planning to make sure your community tournament is in compliance.

If you would like to begin discussing your tournament plans for after game launch, or have any other questions, feel free to reach out to tourneyinfo@blizzard.com any time.

Q. What happens when the Beta Test Weekend ends?

Following the end of this Beta Test Weekend on Monday, November 23, the beta will be brought offline for scheduled maintenance. During this maintenance, all Beta Test Weekend participants will have their beta access removed. At this point, these players will also no longer be able to create new threads or reply to existing topics in our beta forums.

Players with Closed Beta access will be otherwise unaffected and able to continue playing (and posting) as normal after maintenance concludes.

Q. Will any progress I make during the Beta Test Weekend carry over to the live game?

A. No. We've no plans at this time for your activity during the Beta Test Weekend to carry over.

Q.When is the next Beta Test Weekend?

A. There is no set date yet. When or if we choose to host another Beta Test Weekend will largely depend on our testing needs. However, the soonest we would host another Beta Test Weekend would be next year.

Q.If I'm selected for this Beta Test Weekend, will that guarantee me access to future Beta Test Weekends?

A. No. Being selected to participate in this Beta Test Weekend will not guarantee access to future Beta Test Weekends. On the flip side, it won't prevent you from being selected, either, or otherwise affect your eligibility in any way.

Q. If I'm selected for this Beta Test Weekend, will that prevent me from getting access to the Closed Beta?

A. No. Being selected to participate in this (or any future) Beta Test Weekend will not prevent you from being selected to participate in the Closed Beta, or otherwise affect your eligibility in any way. It won't increase your chances of being selected, either.

Q. What are the system requirements for the Closed Beta?

A. See below!

Minimum (targeting 30fps):

Operating system: Windows® Vista/7/ 8/10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)

Processor: Intel® Core™ i3 or AMD Phenom™ X3 865

Video: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 460, ATI Radeon™ HD 4850, or Intel® HD Graphics 4400

Memory: 768 MB VRAM, 4 GB System RAM

Storage: 7200 RPM with 5 GB available HD space

Recommended (targeting 60fps on Medium settings):

Operating system: Windows® Vista/7/ 8/10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)

Processor: Intel® Core™ i5 or AMD Phenom™ II X3, 2.8 GHz

Video: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 660 or ATI Radeon™ HD 7950

Memory: 2 GB VRAM, 6 GB System RAM

Storage: 7200 RPM with 5 GB available HD space

For the best performance, please be sure to update to the latest drivers available for your graphics card.

Due to potential changes, the system requirements for this game may change over time.

Q. What is the business model for Overwatch?

A. Overwatch is currently available for pre-purchase on Windows PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. For more information, visit www.buyoverwatch.com.

Q. When will the game be released?

A. Overwatch is set to release in Spring 2016.