Diablo 3 Patch 1.0.5 Now Available in the Public Test Realm

For the first time in the rather short history of Diablo 3, Blizzard has set up a public test realm for the game's upcoming patches, currently allowing players to try out the upcoming update 1.0.5 for the role-playing dungeon crawler.

Since Diablo 3's launch in May, Blizzard has released many updates that solved various problems, bolstered security, and, like with patch 1.0.4 added new features, including the Paragon system.

Now, the studio is working hard on the next big update, patch 1.0.5, which, for the first time ever, can be tried out by regular players on a special Public Test Realm.

In case you're unfamiliar with the notion, a PTR is a special version of the game world that's running the latest test build. Players can try it out and are asked to submit any bugs and feedback to the studio in order to make sure that the final version of the patch won't cause any issues.

"PTRs are a very valuable tool for our development teams -- when you participate, share your feedback, and submit reports, we can squash more bugs and ensure that the patch we release is of the highest quality possible. Patch 1.0.5 will mark the first time we've performed a public test for Diablo III, but we’re planning to conduct public tests for most (if not all) future patches," Blizzard said.

Entering the Diablo 3 test realm is quite simple, as the studio has posted a quick guide below.

How to Participate:

To participate in the public test, you must have a Diablo III game license attached your Battle.net account that’s in good standing (i.e. it hasn’t been suspended or banned). While the 1.0.5 PTR is only available in English, French, German, and Korean languages, accounts from all regions are eligible to participate.

Step 1: Create a PTR account by logging in to your Battle.net Account Management page. Select your Diablo III game license, and then click "Create a PTR account."

Step 2: Download the client from the Diablo III landing page, or from your Games Download page in Account Management.

Step 3: To play on the PTR, simply launch the PTR client and log in normally. You will be connected to the PTR server automatically.

Character Copy:

The option to copy your existing Diablo III characters from your live account to the PTR will be available and can be done directly through the PTR client. However, only one region per account can be copied at a time. So, if you choose to copy characters from your account in a different region, any previously copied PTR characters will be lost.

Blizzard also posted details about two major new features in Diablo 3 patch 1.0.5, in the form of Monster Power and Infernal Machine, which will both offer some much needed challenge to veteran players that have already mastered the game's grueling Inferno mode.

New System: Monster Power
Similar to the “Players 8” command in Diablo II, Monster Power is a system designed to give players more control over how challenging enemies are in each difficulty. With this system, players can choose to increase the health and damage of monsters according to different “power levels” and in return they’ll receive scaling bonuses to experience (for heroes levels 1-60) as well as boosts to Magic Find and Gold Find (for heroes in Inferno) which will stack above the 300% cap. The option to increase Monster Power will be available to all players starting at level 1 in the Quest Selection window, and can be adjusted separately for Normal, Nightmare, Hell, and Inferno difficulties.

New Event: Infernal Machine
The Infernal Machine is a device that will allow level 60 players to battle "uber” versions of some of Sanctuary’s most nefarious bosses. While the rewards for defeating these bosses will be great, some assembly is required. Only the most powerful Nephalem can unlock the secrets to building the Infernal Machine, but once forged the device can be used to open portals to special encounters featuring not one, but two bosses which have been augmented from their original versions, both in terms of difficulty and appearance. Defeating each boss pair will provide players with extra items and gold, as well as a chance to find components for a new Legendary ring.

As of yet, Diablo 3 patch 1.0.5 doesn't have a concrete release date.