Beta  

After initial development, and after Alpha-testing, a new game will enter Beta-testing. At this point the testing is usually opened up for play by some limited group, or Closed Beta, which is intended to shake out most of the worst bugs.

Assuming it survives, it will eventually enter Open Beta, where they will invite would-be players to join the test server and help them find more bugs while stress-testing the servers under a more realistic load.

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