Saturday, February 20, 2021
Diablo 2: Resurrected has finally been announced. Here's what you need to know about the upcoming remaster.
Diablo 2 is a masterpiece of the action roleplaying game (ARPG) genre, and many longtime fans of the series are no doubt thrilled with confirmation, after many years of rumors and disappointments, of Diablo 2: Resurrected. Yes, this time it's actually happening. Here's everything we know so far about Diablo 2: Resurrected.
What's new with Diablo 2: Resurrected?
It's official. Diablo 2: Resurrected has been announced at BlizzCon 2021. Yes, it's really, really real. The remastered game has a great-looking announcement trailer (posted just above), which shows off the gorgeous (and new) 3D graphics built for 4K. All classes, including those from the Lord of Destruction expansion, are shown off, which demonstrates that all the classic content should be here for us to enjoy.
Originally released all those years ago on PC, Diablo 2: Resurrected is also now coming to consoles. Yes, it looks like you'll be able to play on Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch along with PC and carry your progression across platforms.
If the new 3D graphics aren't really your style, you will be able to switch back to the original look. The original game remains untouched, which bodes well for the modding community. Sound effects and soundtrack have been touched up, and there will now be 7.1 surround sound support. And don't worry about those crusty old cinematics; they've been remade from the ground up to match the rest of the game.
Diablo 2: Resurrected is pegged for an expected 2021 release date.
What is Diablo 2: Resurrected?
Diablo 2: Resurrected is a remake of the legendary ARPG from more than 20 years ago. The dark, brooding story, the gothic art design, and the incredibly addicting gameplay loop are coming around again for another shot at saving Sanctuary. If you're concerned that Diablo 2 could end up in the same disrespectful state as Warcraft 3: Reforged (which earned the nickname Warcraft 3: Refunded), there is some good news.
Development studio Vicarious Visions recently merged with Blizzard Entertainment, following ownership by Activision since 2005. Vicarious Visions worked on the stellar remakes of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2, which we awarded a perfect score in our review.
While Blizzard's own "Team 1" mishandled Warcraft 3: Reforged and was reportedly working on Diablo 2: Resurrected, the group has been dismantled following the merger with Vicarious Visions. If rumors are true, it now appears that Vicarious Visions will be handling the Diablo 2 remake. This bodes well for the possible remaster.
Diablo 2: Resurrected gameplay and features
Extra/Shared stash space in the PlugY mod.
We now have an announcement trailer with some juicy bits of info, but overall Information about Diablo 2: Resurrected is still thin. We're all imagining the same game we love, albeit with updated graphics, better user interfaces, and plenty of quality of life changes that we've already seen plenty of from the modding community. Larger and shared stash space, automatic gold pickup, refreshing potions, unlimited or specialized arrows, and bolts, and gem or rune stacking would be more than welcome.
The game is still very playable, and most of its core systems will hopefully remain. The ability to choose PVP or PVM, the ability to quickly team up with random players, and the hosting of public and private lobbies for Baal runs, or trading will hopefully still be as or more accessible than before.
Both Diablo 2 and its expansion Lord of Destruction are included in the remaster, now confirmed after seeing the announcement trailer.
David Brevik, project and design lead for the original Diablo 2 game more than 20 years ago, laid out in a mid-2020 livestream some of the issues surrounding a potential remake. The main takeaways here, paraphrased, are that it is certainly possible to remaster the game, though it likely wouldn't be the same game with a fresh coat of paint. He mentions that many of the game's assets were corrupted and lost during development all those years ago, and he also notes that none of the original team are still around to decipher code and balancing.
Original Diablo 2 is still very popular, whether playing the vanilla version or with the best Diablo 2 mods installed. It looks like the original game will remain intact, which means those who don't like the remaster will be able to find sanctuary as it has always been.
Is Diablo 2: Resurrected coming to Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch?
Yes, Diablo 2: Resurrected is coming to Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch alongside a PC release. Best part? Cross-progression for all systems means you don't have to pick a platform and stick with it. This is great news, as we've already seen how well Diablo 3 works on Switch (and the other consoles).
When is the Diablo 2: Resurrected release date?
There's no definitive answer for when Diablo 2: Resurrected will release other than in 2021. Expect more news to come out of BlizzConline as the weekend progresses.
If you'd like to get an early look at the game, be sure to opt into the tech Alpha at Blizzard's website.
The Top Of The ARPG Pyramid
Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction
Still great and playable
It might be 20 years old, but Diablo 2 and its Lord of Destruction expansion are still beloved by many PC gamers. Best part? There are a bunch of mods that make the game better than ever.
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