When does the Diablo 4 season 7 PTR release, and how to get access

The season 7 public test realm (PTR) for Diablo 4 allows you to test out the new seasonal theme, which this time harkens back to the Diablo 4 season 2.

Season 7 PTR players will be able to test out new powers alongside quality-of-life improvements like the highly requested Armory, which makes changing between multiple builds on the same character a breeze. Diablo 4 Season 7 won’t release on live servers until January 2025, but the season 7 PTR will open in early December 2024.

Below, we’ll give you the exact dates for the upcoming PTR testing period for Diablo 4 season 7, explain what you’ll be able to play, and tell you how to get into the Diablo 4 PTR.

When does the Diablo 4 season 7 PTR release?

The Diablo 4 season 7 PTR will run from Tuesday, Dec. 3, to Tuesday, Dec. 10. Blizzard has not announced a specific time for when the test realm will go live on Dec. 3 or when it will go down the following week. The studio will likely announce this information on their social accounts.

If the studio announces a direct time before Dec. 3, we’ll update this post.

How do you get into the Diablo 4 PTR?

To get into the PTR for Diablo 4, you’ll need to have a PC that can play the game. There is currently no console PTR. You’ll also need to be able to access Diablo 4 via the Battle.net launcher, which you can do if you own it through Battle.net or PC Game Pass.

Once the launcher recognizes that you own Diablo 4, you can click on the drop down, look for the “in development tag,” and select Public Test Realm. You’ll then need to download the PTR and wait until it’s up and available on Dec. 3.

Unlike some other games, the PTR is not a lottery system, and everyone who has access to the game on Battle.net is able to play the PTR without submitting an application to Blizzard. Just keep in mind that the purpose of this event is to give Blizzard feedback about the seasonal theme so that the developers can improve it before launch — it’s not just a demo.

What is coming to Diablo 4 in season 7?

Season 7 offers a mix of different kinds of “borrowed power,” meaning a temporary seasonal system that increases how potent your character is. Blizzard added systems like that to the game for the first three seasons, before making larger reworks to the game in the following seasons.

With season 7, there are two borrowed power systems, which harken back to the vampire powers in Season of Blood and the Malignant Heart rings in the game’s first season. But this time there’s a whole Witch Doctor theme around it, ala Diablo 3.

There are three kinds of Witchcraft powers for players to harness and improve their build: Eldritch, Psyche, and Growth/Decay. These powers are passive and some of them are Unique. There are also Occult gems, which players can slot into their jewelry to get new and exciting effects. Players can make progress on these new systems by completing Whispers for the Tree of Whispers and participating in Headhunts, a Helltide-like activity that takes over an area for a period of time.

In addition to these new seasonal offerings, the season 7 PTR will allow Vessel of Hatred players to try out new Runes, and all players can use new Legendary Aspects and Unique items to craft different builds. They can then save and swap these builds with the Armory, a feature players have been asking for since Diablo 4 launched last year.