What is a Beta version?
The so-called “Beta” version is a continuation of the Alpha version. A Beta version of a title is ultimately an almost finalized version that could be defined as the final MMO. It has the potential to offer a great idea of what the finished project will look like. As a rule, the Beta version is entrusted to several users whose main mission is to see all the bugs and problems of the mod. As with the Alpha versions, there can be many Beta versions, depending on the amount of feedback from users. In the end, the Beta version is the test version before the game even appears. It should be noted that for many players, having access to a beta version of a game is a real honour. Indeed, a beta is the culmination of years of hard work, and the gamer who can play it sees it as a reward from the publishers.
Origin, specificities and objectives of a beta
Beta is a letter of the Greek alphabet. This term comes directly after the letter alpha which, in the video game world, means the prototype stage of a game. Thus, an alpha version of a title means that it is still in its early stages, whereas a beta version is slightly more advanced and is generally used to iron out bugs in the game while the developers optimise its content. The indie game world is increasingly using the economic concept of selling alpha or beta versions to make a lot of money in the coffers. The most famous example of an indie game that has built its success on the sale of its alpha and beta versions is obviously Minecraft.
Indeed, Mojang’s game, which everyone knows, was financed thanks to an alpha version of the game that proved to be extremely promising. This was then transformed into a beta version with content that was debugged and optimised until the finalised version appeared at the end of 2011. Filled with patches and DLC, the beta remains crucial in the development of a game.
Thus, the main function of a beta version is to test the game on a multitude of points such as gameplay and bugs. It is important to know that MMOs often organise beta test phases, the purpose of which is to test the robustness of the servers so that they can withstand the official release of the game. There are two types of beta: The closed beta (with a reduced number of gamers) as well as the open beta (all gamers can test this non-final version of the title) which often takes place shortly before the release of the game.
See also >> Glossary