Monday, February 22nd 2021

Blizzard Entertainment to Resurrect Diablo II in 2021 for PC and Consoles

Diablo II, one of the most acclaimed titles in PC gaming history, returns... and Hell has never looked better. Blizzard Entertainment today revealed Diablo II: Resurrected, the definitive remastering of Diablo II and its Lord of Destruction expansion—two hallmark entries in the company's genre-defining action role-playing series.

Diablo II was hailed by Time magazine as "arguably the best role-playing game of all time, the best dungeon-crawler of all time and the best PC game of all time." Diablo II: Resurrected welcomes back veteran heroes and invites a new generation of players to experience the game's sinfully dark storyline, thrilling loot chase, and visceral hack-and-slash gameplay with modernized visuals that take advantage of the latest gaming hardware.
Diablo II: Resurrected takes the 2D sprite-based classic and brings it into the present with full 3D physically-based rendering, dynamic lighting, revamped animations and spell effects—all stunningly delivered in up to 4K resolution.† All 27 minutes of the game's classic cinematics, chronicling the journey of the mysterious Dark Wanderer, are being remade—shot for shot—from the ground up. The nightmarish sounds of Sanctuary and its memorable soundtrack have also been reinvigorated to support Dolby 7.1 surround sound. By leveling up the game's audio and visual capabilities, Diablo II: Resurrected will showcase the depth of gameplay and hallmark designs that continue to entertain players around the world to this day.

"Diablo II was a pivotal game for Blizzard and millions of players around the world. With Diablo II: Resurrected, we're excited to bring this classic back to PC and also to consoles—with cross-progression on supported platforms—so that players can relive their memories, or experience Diablo II's timeless gameplay for the first time, on their platform of choice," said J. Allen Brack, president of Blizzard Entertainment. "With the new high-resolution audio and video in Diablo II: Resurrected, the game is as fun and engrossing today as it was twenty years ago."

For those who would prefer a more nostalgic experience, players will be able to freely switch back-and-forth between the modern graphics and the original experience at any time with the press of a button. While Diablo II: Resurrected may look like an all-new game, Diablo II's signature gameplay and systems are completely intact, quirks and all, adding a few highly requested quality of life improvements, such as a shared stash.

Diablo II: Resurrected features seven highly customizable character classes for players to choose from—the Amazon, Barbarian, Necromancer, Paladin, and Sorceress from the core game, as well as the Assassin and Druid from the included Lord of Destruction expansion. Players will be able to make each character their own by selecting skills and talent builds, crafting and socketing items, collecting complete gear sets, acquiring unique arms and armor, assembling Rune Word combinations, and much more.

Diablo II: Resurrected is an all-inclusive package containing a lifetime of adventures. It will take players to the deadly world of Sanctuary, where they will face Diablo, the Lord of Terror, and the forces of Hell through all four thrilling Acts of the original Diablo II campaign. They'll meet beloved mentor and scholar Deckard Cain, fight alongside the Archangel Tyrael, and encounter other pantheonic characters who have become an indelible part of gaming history. This edition also includes all of the content from the Lord of Destruction expansion, with the journey continuing into Act V, where players will brave the dangers of Mount Arreat before facing Baal, the eponymous Lord of Destruction.

Developed by Blizzard Entertainment and in-house studio Vicarious Visions, Diablo II: Resurrected will be coming later this year to Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. With cross-progression** between supported platforms, players will be able to play as their characters—and keep all their stuff—no matter what supporting platform they're playing on.

Brave souls can seek out more information, as well as opt in for a chance to participate in an upcoming PC technical alpha test, at www.diablo2.com.
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84 Comments on Blizzard Entertainment to Resurrect Diablo II in 2021 for PC and Consoles

#1
watzupken
In short, with nothing significant to show this year, they are "resurrecting" (better word that milk) a 2 decade old game.
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#2
Rowsol
Let's see if they fuck it up like they did with WC3.
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#3
xkm1948
yeah keep remaking old stuff, feed on that nostolgia instead of innovate. This is not the model I like from an old game developer. Wish folks are more like Valve in their push to new frontiers in gaming (Half Life Alyx!)
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#4
AsRock
TPU addict
Yeah lets push VR what most don't have yes must do this hahaha.
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#5
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
watzupkenIn short, with nothing significant to show this year, they are "resurrecting" (better word that milk) a 2 decade old game.
To be fair Diablo 2 is still a very good game.
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#6
ratirt
FrickTo be fair Diablo 2 is still a very good game.
One of the best. Seen some videos with the new graphics and it looks so damn great. I will buy this game when it is released.
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#7
ViperXTR
Indeed Diablo 2 is probably the best one, curious about the remake
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#8
Legacy-ZA
watzupkenIn short, with nothing significant to show this year, they are "resurrecting" (better word that milk) a 2 decade old game.
Yeah no, buddy, this title has been asked to be re-made by so many fans, this is an INSTANT buy from me when it comes out. I only wish they would do the same for the Diablo one.
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#9
Sithaer
Legacy-ZAYeah no, buddy, this title has been asked to be re-made by so many fans, this is an INSTANT buy from me when it comes out. I only wish they would do the same for the Diablo one.
Yup, this was asked for years now on the Diablo 3 forums and other places.

@Rowsol

Its not the same team that made WC 3 Reforged, ofc thats not a guarantee but this team so far had solid remasters/remakes.
Also its basically the old game 100% with a new visual engine running on top of it. 'the old game is still running in the background cause of mechanics'

Rest is just quality of life changes.
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#10
bug
I would gladly pay the €40 asking price. But this is highly dependent on whether they make battle.net a requirement or not, since I have no interest in multiplayer.
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#11
ratirt
bugI would gladly pay the €40 asking price. But this is highly dependent on whether they make battle.net a requirement or not, since I have no interest in multiplayer.
Any-day. I've spoken with my sis yesterday and she so excited about the Diablo 2 Remaster, she said she could even pre-order it now if it was available. I would have done the same thing.
I looked over the videos, and this game looks so damn awesome. Diablo 3 hasn't made such an impact like the Diablo 2 did. At least in my case.
Posted on Reply
#12
bug
ratirtAny-day. I've spoken with my sis yesterday and she so excited about the Diablo 2 Remaster, she said she could even pre-order it now if it was available. I would have done the same thing.
I looked over the videos, and this game looks so damn awesome. Diablo 3 hasn't made such an impact like the Diablo 2 did. At least in my case.
It is available for pre-order (eu.shop.battle.net/en-us/product/diablo_ii_resurrected), but between battle.net and W3:Reforged, I'm gonna need reviews first.
But yes, I have spent many hours in DII (met my wife in the process), I would gladly take it for another spin.

For bonus points, it would be nice if it had the ability to pick up old saves, I think I still have my install on the disk somewhere.
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#13
Dixevil
It won't require to be online, looking forward to this one.
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#14
Prima.Vera
already preordered.
This is way better news than Diablo 4 which is going to be released next year (maybe...)
Posted on Reply
#15
Vayra86
FrickTo be fair Diablo 2 is still a very good game.
Diablo 2 is very good playing it as a Portable version that just runs off a USB stick anywhere and still in glorious 800x600 at shit FPS.

Diablo 2 in this new rendition will be a major clusterfuck and will certainly not feel like the real thing. Its just technically impossible.

I'm taking my stance along with the naysayers and predict Blizzard has definitively lost its mojo. Diablo went to a casual franchise and has been since Diablo 3. D4 won't change that fact, but will try to fake it while serving another reskin of whatever idea remains of Diablo 3 'but improved while listening to the community'. A community that for the better half is just straight up super casual right now. They will get what they want. An 8 hour campaign with 4 classes we've all seen before in a campaign that is yet another rewritten version of what Diablo has always been.

Yawnfest. This franchise is dead like Mass Effect is dead. Revamped and simplified for a new generation of gamers, and unfathomably shallow if you've played something like it the way it should have been.
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#16
Prima.Vera
Bro --^, just watch some comparative (comparison?) videos before posting crap.
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#17
Vayra86
No, just stay a while and listen.
This magic wont remake itself, as much as we would both want to.

The framerate in the preview alone will kill it then and there. On top of that, did you notice the MASSIVE stutter in the video when a lot of enemies got struck? Mhm yeah they totally have the same robust engine behind this and it totally isn't just yet another D3 reskin much like D4.

I'm ready for Blizz to prove me wrong, but the last few releases they've done, both remaster and new, are not inspiring any confidence, no matter how hard they think they're pushing that nostalgia button. WC3 made that happen.

Posted on Reply
#18
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
Vayra86Diablo 2 in this new rendition will be a major clusterfuck and will certainly not feel like the real thing. Its just technically impossible.
You could be right of course, but it certainly is possible for it to be good. vOv FWIW it's from the studio that made the Tony Hawk remasters and they sre supposedly great.

Personally I probably won't play it though.
Posted on Reply
#19
bug
Vayra86Diablo 2 is very good playing it as a Portable version that just runs off a USB stick anywhere and still in glorious 800x600 at shit FPS.

Diablo 2 in this new rendition will be a major clusterfuck and will certainly not feel like the real thing. Its just technically impossible.

I'm taking my stance along with the naysayers and predict Blizzard has definitively lost its mojo. Diablo went to a casual franchise and has been since Diablo 3. D4 won't change that fact, but will try to fake it while serving another reskin of whatever idea remains of Diablo 3 'but improved while listening to the community'. A community that for the better half is just straight up super casual right now. They will get what they want. An 8 hour campaign with 4 classes we've all seen before in a campaign that is yet another rewritten version of what Diablo has always been.

Yawnfest. This franchise is dead like Mass Effect is dead. Revamped and simplified for a new generation of gamers, and unfathomably shallow if you've played something like it the way it should have been.
I don't disagree with your assessment of D3 (I remember back then I thought it was suicidal to release an RPG without multi-classing), but, at least on a declarative level, the idea is to re-release a D2 that's very close to the original. Their heart is in the right place, even if that doesn't guarantee success.
Posted on Reply
#20
Sithaer
FrickYou could be right of course, but it certainly is possible for it to be good. vOv FWIW it's from the studio that made the Tony Hawk remasters and they sre supposedly great.

Personally I probably won't play it though.
Not that I follow streamers that much but in the deep dive video with the developer interview they had LLAMA there and the dude played D2 for 20 years and in general he can be critical about Diablo related stuff.
He seemed fairly impressed and happy with what he saw and what the developers said.

Ofc he asked those question regarding the feel of the game and keeping it original and whatnot.
Its a bit long but worth to watch if someone is interested in the game or how the remaster is done/works.

That being said, while I think it looks great and all I'm not sure if I will play it seriously.
Most likely just try it out with 1 or 2 char for the nostalgia and thats it.
Already played D2 for 7 years or so and nowadays the droprate and that ammount of farming in D2 is just not for me anymore. 'Farming the right Anoints/gear in BL 3 is more than enough..'
Posted on Reply
#21
Legacy-ZA
Vayra86No, just stay a while and listen.
This magic wont remake itself, as much as we would both want to.

The framerate in the preview alone will kill it then and there. On top of that, did you notice the MASSIVE stutter in the video when a lot of enemies got struck? Mhm yeah they totally have the same robust engine behind this and it totally isn't just yet another D3 reskin much like D4.

I'm ready for Blizz to prove me wrong, but the last few releases they've done, both remaster and new, are not inspiring any confidence, no matter how hard they think they're pushing that nostalgia button. WC3 made that happen.

Now why did you have to go and put a screenshot of the game here? Now I want to install and play it. :O
Posted on Reply
#22
bug
SithaerThat being said, while I think it looks great and all I'm not sure if I will play it seriously.
Most likely just try it out with 1 or 2 char for the nostalgia and thats it.
Already played D2 for 7 years or so and nowadays the droprate and that ammount of farming in D2 is just not for me anymore. 'Farming the right Anoints/gear in BL 3 is more than enough..'
Hear, hear!
While nostalgic about the gameplay, I also hope they will tweak the drop rates. I have also sunk years into D2 and never saw any of the high-level runes (iirc, my highest rune was an ist or hel). Definitely not looking forward to that again.
Some level of farming is to be expected, of course.
Posted on Reply
#23
Sithaer
bugHear, hear!
While nostalgic about the gameplay, I also hope they will tweak the drop rates. I have also sunk years into D2 and never saw any of the high-level runes (iirc, my highest rune was an ist or hel). Definitely not looking forward to that again.
Some level of farming is to be expected, of course.
So far they said no, they stay the same as the original rates.

Sure you can get away with it if you don't want to have end game rune words like Enigma/BOTD/CTA/Infinity,etc.
After years of playing on Battle net during ladders/seasons, I think my highest was a Vex and everything else was traded on a third party site. 'traded with the forum's own currency that I got from trading there'

Nowadays I prefer to play solo and don't like to trade with others so no end game gear for me thats for sure, thats why I will just play it for the nostaliga then put it down most likely.
Also just becuse its pretty graphics, the 1000.th Baal/Chaos/Pit/Tunnel/Mefi/Andy run wont be any new or more fun. :oops:
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#24
Chrispy_
What have Blizzard done since Overwatch?
Anything?
/Tumbleweed.
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#25
Turmania
Oh reminds me of the days I spent with my trapsin and getting an enigma armour. I loved this game, still love it today, and will love it in the future as well. ageless.
Posted on Reply
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