This weekend, Blizzard announced Diablo was getting a mobile version, by way of Diablo: Immortal. It lit the internet on fire – and not in the good way. Fans of the series let Blizzard know exactly what they thought of the idea of their beloved Diablo becoming a free-to-play microtransaction monstrosity, and what they thought can’t be reprinted here without the sailors who read the site blushing.
It’s an intense backlash that, somehow, the company didn’t see coming. Hopefully they’re all better prepared now, because they could be in for a lot more. In an interview with Digital Trends, Blizzard Co-Founder Allen Adham said that the company will eventually bring all of its games to mobile.
“Yea, so a few years ago with Hearthstone, it was designed originally for desktop, but as a happy sort of coincidence it worked well for mobile. That opened our eyes to a broader opportunity. Then it’s just been a question of surfacing the teams and resources and designs to make this happen.
I can say, without getting overly specific, that we have big plans for the mobile space. It’s a big initiative for us across Blizzard, and you can expect to see more mobile titles from us spanning all of our IPs at some point in the future. “
Honestly? I’m okay with mobile games, as long as they’re interesting, and the focus isn’t taken off the core products. Kingdom Rush developer Ironhide Game Studio has shown that a mobile Starcraft game could work with its own Iron Marines, while I’d have no problem with spinoffs of Overwatch (perhaps as a tactical team game?) or a new mobile Blackthorne infinite runner.
Or…just..like any Blackthorne…at all.
I do feel that the main stage at Blizzcon’s opening was the wrong time to announce a mobile version of a game that people have wanted a sequel to for ages, though I’ll be happy to give it a spin and then forget about its existence the second it starts suggesting I buy packs of gems to make the game remotely enjoyable.
Last Updated: November 5, 2018
Pariah
November 5, 2018 at 16:14
“The focus isn’t taken off the core products.”
That’s all I really care about. Mobile games are fine, just don’t ditch your core player base for wetter pastures, with whales and dolphins.
Kromas
November 5, 2018 at 16:33
Problem is this was not Diablo 3 mobile like hearthstone was. And it was the main announcement at a Blizzcon that PC gamers paid for to attend (okay and console overwatch drones).
Ghost In The Rift
November 5, 2018 at 16:35
Whats better then having to milk one cow??
Milking a whole decade’s worth of cows!!!
HvR
November 5, 2018 at 17:06
Milking a whale:
“Whales have mammary glands. The mammary glands of a blue whale are 1.5m long and each weigh about 250lbs (about the same as a baby elephant). Which is good as a whale calf can drink 200–400 litres of milk per day, depending on age and species.”
Ghost In The Rift
November 6, 2018 at 13:48
Dammit how did i get that so wrong and you so right!!!
theLastBorn
November 5, 2018 at 16:54
They should bring out Lost Vikings for mobile!
Geoffrey Tim
November 6, 2018 at 08:26
YES!
HvR
November 5, 2018 at 17:05
Arguing with the internet is like arguing with your girlfriend/wife sometimes you just accept the battle is lost, jy moet partykeer net jou bekhou besef jou voet was dwars ingesit en regroup met beter approach oor paar weke.
Also there is huge difference between taking a battle card game like Hearthstone and MtG mobile vs RPG and RTS mobile. The first lends itself to the continues transactional model as it is part of the original core game.
Admiral Chief
November 6, 2018 at 09:39
Blackthorne infinite runner!????!!!
You need to go to the corner, stay there, until I can decide what to do with you
@OddSockZA:disqus
Geoffrey Tim
November 6, 2018 at 09:57
Something a bit like Dead Run. I’d play the hell out of that.
https://youtu.be/5DDgHZOMHE8
Kenn Gibson
November 6, 2018 at 10:21
I would think that mobile is a bigger market? Especially in the east? People do know that games companies are businesses right, who have to make money? I was hoping for D4 but as Bliz stated they have multiple Diablo projects in the mix. Will wait, probably wont play immortal as I hate playing on mobile.
Craig "Crios" Boonzaier
November 6, 2018 at 11:33
Yes for Blackthorne.
Not keen on the Diablo: Immortal though, was the wrong time and place to announce it to the wrong people.
They are gonna have to PR this better.
Go the Elder Scrolls way, just give us a logo.