What is beta for games?

A ‘beta‘ version refers to a near complete version of a game that is made publicly available prior to the full launch for testing and feedback purposes. Beta versions represent the final stage in the development process before the game‘s official release.

A Brief History of Beta Testing in Gaming

Public beta testing has long been part of game development, but the practice has evolved significantly over the past decade.

In the early 2000s, closed technical betas were common, restricted to small groups under NDA. The focus was purely on functionality testing before launch, not public demos. Open public betas were rare, and usually lasted 1-2 weeks.

But over the years, betas have become more open and expanded in duration. The average beta test length increased from just 11 days in 2015 to over 5 weeks in 2019 according to analysis firm QuanticFoundry.

Several factors drove this trend of longer, more open beta periods:

• Online connectivity – testing server infrastructure became crucial
• Games as service model – frequent updates require constant testing
• Marketing – betas used to build hype and grow community
• Data – analytics from large beta tests used to fine-tune games

Today, open betas lasting 1-3 months are common for major titles across PC and console platforms. Closed technical tests still occur but focus on infrastructure vs. publicly accessible content betas.

Types of Beta Tests

There are a few common types of beta tests:

• Closed Beta – Access restricted to small group, under NDA, technical focus
• Open Beta – Open to all, large-scale test, publicity focused
• Technical Beta – Testing servers, infrastructure, limited content
• Console Beta – Beta running on console platforms like Xbox or PlayStation

Platforms like Steam have robust beta features developers can utilize as well. Google also runs betas for its Stadia streaming service to test new functionality.

Beta Test Duration for Major Titles

Why Betas Matter

Beta testing has become a critical part of the game development process in recent years for several reasons:

• Provides real-world testing at scale beyond internal teams
• Thousands of beta testers can uncover issues and bugs that developers missed
• Testing on a variety of PC setups rather than standardized in-house equipment
• Opportunity to test server infrastructure and stability under heavy loads
• Early feedback on gameplay, balance, progression systems while there is time to tweak and adjust
• Chance to build hype and community around the game pre-launch

For online multiplayer titles and games-as-a-service, having a large beta test audience has become essential both for technical reasons and establishing a player base.

But perhaps most importantly, betas create crucial feedback loops. Developers get insight into what needs work based on user data and testing. Features can be added, modified or removed based on beta reactions.

Betas vs. Early Access

Beta testing is distinct from other forms of early access like Steam‘s Early Access program. Early Access provides early prototypes and works-in-progress to players while development is ongoing.

Betas represent a more polished and nearly complete version leading up to launch. However, the lines have blurred recently as some games stay in ‘beta‘ for months or years while continuing to add features.

Why Open Betas Have Proliferated

In the past decade, open public betas have largely replaced closed technical tests. There are several advantages driving this:

• Broader testing – 10,000s of testers instead of 100s provides more data
• Diverse hardware configurations – Testing on consumer setups versus standardized in-house rigs
• Marketing – Chance to build hype and attract press
• Community – Engaging fans early fosters advocacy and loyalty
• Streaming – Influencers and personalities streaming betas is marketing
• Engagement – Beta participation reinforces purchase intent

However, some developers have pushed back against the idea that betas are just glorified demos for marketing. While generating publicity is a side effect, rigorous technical testing remains the priority.

Controversies Around Beta Length

The recent trend of open betas lasting months rather than weeks has sparked some debate in the industry.

On the one hand, longer tests provide more meaningful data, especially for complex online games. Developers argue additional time is needed to implement feedback.

But others contend bloated betas are often excuses for delays and crunch. Some players also feel "beta burnout" sets in after weeks of early access diminishing excitement for launch.

There are merits to both perspectives. Short, polished betas likely result in higher quality launches aligned with marketing cycles. But the technical needs of ambitious multiplayer experiences justify more extensive testing.

As with all development decisions, moderation and balance based on project scope is ideal.

Technical Considerations for Multiplayer Beta Tests

For online multiplayer games, beta tests are vital to simulate real launch conditions and find technical issues.

Some key areas betas evaluate:

• Server stability – can servers handle peak concurrent users without crashing?
• Network code – is latency and hit registration smooth for fast-paced games?
• Matchmaking – are matchmaking times fast and ping fair?
• Scalability – can server capacity expand as needed to maintain performance?

Unlike solo games, minutes of server downtime at launch could mean losing players forever. So developers aim to have infrastructure battle-hardened through lengthy beta periods under load.

Tips for Running Effective Beta Tests

Drawing from industry experience, here are some tips for developers planning beta tests:

• Set clear, measurable goals – what specifically needs testing?
• Keep it short and focused for traditional beta periods
• For longer tests, gather constant feedback, patch often
• Funnel testers to critical areas – maps, modes, progression
• Provide channels for testers to give feedback
• Track data on stability, usage metrics, system performance
• Expect things to break and prepare contingency plans
• Have a transition plan as beta ends to keep testers engaged

The Evolving Role of Betas

Looking to the future, betas will likely continue evolving in their implementation if not fundamental purpose. For example:

• Beta periods for testing major DLC content patches before wide release
• Using betas to test planned microtransactions and monetization
• Shorter ‘beta seasons‘ throughout development to provide iterative feedback

The biggest risk for lengthy beta periods is exhausting some of the excitement before launch. Bursty tests with downtime in between may be a solution.

Game development has also seen some studio backlash against over-reliance on analytics, so balancing beta feedback with creative vision will remain crucial.

Conclusion

In summary, beta testing seems poised to remain an integral part of game development despite some lingering drawbacks. The scale and complexity of modern gaming demands rigorous public testing.

As studios aim to release games as services instead of set-in-stone products, the beta model provides an early window into post-launch updates. This feedback loop between developers and players will only grow more important over time.