"Diablo 4" is about to undergo dramatic changes as an action-RPG, and you can be the first to play this massive update starting today through Blizzard's "PTR" (Public Test Realm).

From April 2 through April 9, PC players using the Battle.net launcher (but unfortunately not Steam players) will be able to play Blizzard's redesigned Loot, including two new crafting systems that let you customize items to your liking Progressions can be tried out.

The PTR will not have all the changes implemented in Season 4, such as the unique seasonal mechanics, but it will have new items, class balance changes, and a new endgame dungeon that you can try out and provide feedback on before the finished update goes live on May 14 You can try it out and provide feedback before the final update goes live on May 14.

Blizzard has given us a date when we will be able to play Diablo 4's Season 4 PTR, but they have not stated an exact time. My guess is that it will be available for download and play around 10am PDT / 1pm EDT / 7pm CEST.

There is currently no way to preload the PTR before then.

Anyone who owns the PC version of Diablo 4 through Battle.net or Game Pass will be able to download and play the PTR for Season 4. All you have to do is change the game version in the app and download it.

Here's how to download and play Diablo 4 PTR:

The focus of the Season 4 PTR is to test how to get and improve your loot at maximum levels. To save everyone's time, Blizzard will allow any character to instantly boost to level 100 through the NPC "PTR boost" in Kyobashad.

You must first complete the game's prologue and skip the campaign in the character select screen options; Blizzard has stated that this may no longer be necessary in the next few days when the PTR update takes place. Then head to Kyovashad in Fractured Peaks and talk to the PTR Boost NPC. Then select the dialog option to boost your character to the maximum level.

Boosted characters will receive a number of bonuses to help with testing:

Blizzard also notes that you can keep creating new characters to stack these rewards on your PTR account.

Additional skill points, paragon points, and potions unlocked by completing regional Renown goals will carry over from the regular game, as will cosmetic unlocks. And remember, nothing in the PTR carries over to the real game.

There are over 10,000 words in the Diablo 4 Season 4 patch notes, but you will find more changes as you play. You can't upend the loot mechanics in an action RPG without having a ripple effect on everything else in the game. Your gear, classes, and builds will be much different than they have been since the game's launch and even in the last season, when they effectively threw Diablo 4 back into the 2.0 era.

The biggest changes seen in the Diablo 4 Season 4 PTR include:

The PTR will end next Tuesday, April 9. Then on May 14, Season 3 will transition into Season 4; Blizzard has yet to announce what will be unique about the season, but we should hear about it by the end of the month.