Do You Have to Have an Account to Play "WoW" on the Test Server?

According to Blizzard Entertainment, the "World of Warcraft" Public Test Realm is a "special realm used to test patches before they're released to public realms." You must have an active "World of Warcraft" account at the time a test realm is announced to play "WoW" on the test server.

Availability of Test Servers

Test realms have a brief period of availability, generally before major patch releases. Once a content patch is announced for "World of Warcraft," Blizzard will publish the status of their Public Test Realms on the "World of Warcraft" main site.

Downloading Test Server Files

Just like downloading a content patch for a live server, you will need special files to play "World of Warcraft" on the test realm. Once the announcement for testing is made, you will find a link in your Account Manager to download the test client.

Copying a Character

When a test realm is available for play, you will have the option to copy any existing characters in your account. Copying a character from a live realm allows you to get a better idea of how the game should play, and it provides more accurate feedback for the development team.

References

• World of Warcraft: Public Test Realm (PTR) FAQ

Resources

• World of Warcraft: Official Site