Blizzard’s not having a good year right now, thanks to the heavy hand of China creating a PR nightmare for the developer in the wake of several demonstrations calling for Hong Kong to return to its more independent roots from the mainland authority. Amidst all that backlash, the annual BlizzCon event still looms large for the company and with less than a month to go they’ll be looking to divert attention back to their games.
They’ll need some heavyweight announcements as well after BlizzCon 2018 saw their community recoil in disgust over the announcement of a Diablo mobile game as opposed to a proper fourth chapter in the devil-hunting saga. That announcement might finally be given the stage it deserves alongside a little something extra, if rumours pan out to be true.
Industry insider Metro (Who has broken Blizzard news before) reckons that Diablo 4 will be officially revealed next month, alongside a completely remastered version of the classic Diablo 2:
These leaks line up with reports from Kotaku last year, whose own sources declared that Diablo 4 had been in development for years and was due for a reveal at the infamous BlizzCon 2018, before delays scuppered that plan and the show instead started with a look at Diablo Immortal. A reveal that gave birth to the infamous “you guys all have phones right?” moment that didn’t exactly go down well with fans.
The Diablo 2 announcement is new stuff, although it’s not entirely unexpected. If the success of World of WarCraft Classic is any indicator, there’s still plenty of gold to be mined in them hills of nostalgia.
Last Updated: October 22, 2019
Pariah
October 22, 2019 at 08:31
They really don’t have a choice this year but to announce D4. With last year’s fiasco and the whole Hong Kong saga, if they don’t get some kind of ‘win’, then they’re going to be buried under a pile of shit for a long time, PR-wise.
Llama In The Rift
October 22, 2019 at 08:48
https://media2.giphy.com/media/xUOxeXsWhw6DCW1cSA/giphy.gif When i find Diablo Immortals on my phone.
Pariah
October 22, 2019 at 08:48
Urgh don’t you just hate it when you sleep-download a trash game onto your phone?
Llama In The Rift
October 22, 2019 at 09:08
Oh yeah totally….like can’t remember how many times i woke up to find Clash of clans on my phone….I find it irksome
For the Emperor!
October 22, 2019 at 08:48
D4 to release with only 3 classes available! Probably ? They will need to release a very solid game with enough content from the get go. And also not lock the gear behind higher chapters or auctions! I remember needing gear from Inferno act 2 and 3 to get my Barbarian through act 1, while my wizards just rofl stomped it with gear from the lower difficulty…
Admiral Chief
October 22, 2019 at 09:27
Get your phones ready
HvR
October 22, 2019 at 09:45
I have Xiaomi, Blizzard will be proud
CrAiGiSh
October 22, 2019 at 09:28
Meh …
Another game of fighting Diablo and his none stop resurrection …
OH, and angels hate you for helping.
Original Heretic
October 22, 2019 at 09:37
Considering how lacklustre D3 was, IMO, and after Blizzard’s recent crap, D4 doesn’t excite me one bit
Craig "Crios" Boonzaier
October 22, 2019 at 11:54
I’m torn between my yearly tradition of getting a virtual ticket and enjoying the con for the weekend and the potential new info versus not supporting Activision anymore.
Why cant some big wig with too much money buyout Blizzard from Activision.
HairyEwok
October 22, 2019 at 12:19
Member when they said last year diablo 4 may also be announced, and we got Diablo Immortal. Member?
https://media.giphy.com/media/3oKIPgvPwXi2ZAIS5O/giphy.gif
Yozzie
October 22, 2019 at 08:39
Personally I think I waited long enough for this game, year after year greed got in the way because of Activision. They had their chance, and they blew it in more ways than one. I’ll happily rather buy a new PoE pack. No more blood money for the China pandering corporate pig that is Activision Blizzard.
Pariah
October 22, 2019 at 08:39
PoE is majority owned by Tencent (80%). By the way.
Yozzie
October 22, 2019 at 08:39
Well would you look at that. Guess i’m just giving up on gaming as a whole then xD
Pariah
October 22, 2019 at 08:48
For the ARPG itch there are 2 in-dev games to keep an eye on: Wolcen and Last Epoch. Wolcen feels amazing to play and it has great combat, but needs content. Wait for release, obviously, but it’s promising. Last Epoch shows promise for build diversity but is still in early dev. Again, wait for release, but keep your eyes on those two.
Jacques Van Zyl
October 22, 2019 at 09:08
Oooh, adding these to to a watch list.
I’ve been enjoying Grim Dawn a fair bit lately.
Pariah
October 22, 2019 at 09:09
GD is good fun, and the build diversity is amazing. Though it’s a bit slow-paced for some, and the legendary drop luck once you hit 100 sort of determines what your next character is going to be. Still a great game. Haven’t played in a while though.
Jacques Van Zyl
October 22, 2019 at 09:27
I’m on my first character, grinding towards 100 still. But hot damn do I love my dual wielding, fire/lightning shooting outlaw! It looks and feels badass to play XD
Dresden
October 23, 2019 at 04:33
The Oathkeeper is a game changer! Mixed that up with Demolitionist (Shieldbreaker) and my char is literally a spinning, fiery tank of destruction!
Jacques Van Zyl
October 23, 2019 at 08:01
That sounds amazing! Damn, I’d love some people to play this with just to see their character builds. Though, ew, people.
Craig "Crios" Boonzaier
October 22, 2019 at 11:54
Can confirm, GD is lotsa fun, currently working my way towards my first 100 with a lvl 94 Cabalist vitality focused with drain essence. Also, so many other toons just cuz of the build diversity.
G8crasha
October 22, 2019 at 10:04
I don’t even remember Diablo 2 to be dead honest!
On the topic of Blizzard, who would be keen for a Warcraft SP game without any MP/CO-OP/GAS BS?