Today, on September 23, Diablo 2: Resurrected is launching. The game, released in 2000, is now available as a remastered version not only on PC but also on PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch. MeinMMO is covering the release live and reporting on the start and any potential issues.
When does it start? The launch kicks off at 5:00 PM German time. At that point, you can start playing on all platforms and revisit Sanctuary again or for the first time. You can already start the preload to ensure you can dive right in at release.
The anticipation for Diablo 2 is high, which may lead to server issues. We will keep you updated if that happens. Resurrected can also be played in offline mode, allowing you to bypass most difficulties.
Learn more about the remaster of the Blizzard hit in our hub: Diablo 2: Resurrected as a Remaster – Everything you need to know about the release
Update 11:00 PM: The servers are back online, and the issues with disappearing characters should have been resolved (via Twitter). Blizzard will continue to monitor the situation.
Update 10:12 PM: There will be another emergency maintenance. The servers are expected to remain offline until 10:45 PM (via Twitter). According to Chief Rod Fergusson, the demand for Diablo 2 was significantly greater than expected, and they are now trying to create more capacity.
Update 8:50 PM: The World First Race is apparently interrupted due to ongoing issues, with most streamers awaiting a resolution to the problems.
Update 8:05 PM: Blizzard is still working on issues with creating new games. However, logging in should be possible again:
Update 7:50 PM: Currently, the servers seem to be running stable. For those able to log in or those who want to prepare, we have a beginner’s guide for Diablo 2 ready on MeinMMO.
Update 7:35 PM: The first players are logging back in. Apparently, the servers are online again. However, there seems to have been a small rollback, so some progress may have been lost.
Update 7:00 PM: The servers are being taken down for an unplanned maintenance. Online games will not be possible for the next 30 minutes. In the meantime, you should be able to play offline. Blizzard advises you to log out before the downtime if possible:
Update 6:42 PM: MrLlamaSC, the biggest Diablo 2 streamer in the world, as well as some of his colleagues are also unable to log in. The server issues apparently affect many fans worldwide.
Update 6:38 PM: Baal, the final boss of Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction, has been defeated. The first groups are now starting on the Nightmare mode of the game and the secret cow level.
Update 6:26 PM: The final boss of the base game, the Prime Evil Diablo, has been defeated. Only Baal remains in the normal mode of the World First Race. Meanwhile, the server issues seem to be subsiding somewhat. However, there are still problems, and Blizzard is simultaneously working on the problem of disappearing characters.
Update 6:18 PM: Another group has apparently defeated the server issues in the World First Race and has also taken down the third boss, Mephisto. They are currently ahead of the favorite MrLlamaSC and his team.
Update 6:10 PM: The developers are working on the server issues:
Update 6:03 PM: The server issues persist, and there appear to be global outages or overloads. Complaints about the connection are coming in from all over the world. However, some players are taking it rather calmly:
Update 5:53 PM: Some players are missing their created characters from their character lists. However, this does not mean that they have been deleted. This problem can occur when the connection to the server has not yet been established. Simply call the list again until the connection is established.
Update 5:45 PM: The servers are currently experiencing issues. Several players are being kicked out of their games or cannot log in anymore.
Update 5:36 PM: The second boss, Duriel, has also been defeated in the World First Race. Top players are now exploring Act 3, which has not been open for testing yet.
Update 5:30 PM: Players on PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch are partially looking for the option to link their accounts to Battle.net. This is necessary to play online or use coop. Visit http://blizzard.com/link and enter the code displayed to you on the console.
Update 5:25 PM: In the World First Race, the first players have already killed the Act 1 boss, Andariel, while others are still trying to log in or are fighting through the Act. Speedrunners are using techniques that involve splitting their group to explore faster.
Update 5:20 PM: There are reports from fans who are still unable to log in or connect to the server. Restarting the game on all platforms is said to help. For us, the trick worked on Xbox and solved the problem.
The offline mode should also work, but you cannot play with friends online in coop.
Update 5:07 PM: Some players on PC seem to have issues where the “Play” button does not illuminate. As a tip, you should restart the Battle.net client, after which everything should work.
Update 5:00 PM: The servers are online, and the first players are logging in. The World First Race begins. Have you been able to log in yet?
Update 4:30 PM: Half an hour until release, and so far there are no news about delays or server issues. Many fans are already waiting for the gates to open. How is the mood among you?
Update 3:03 PM: The expert explains which rune word you should definitely remember: Grief, which makes any weapon the best in the game. More about rune words will be coming soon here on MeinMMO.
Update 2:53 PM: The moderators explain once again what the World First Race is about. All available Uber bosses are to be defeated, with Baal being the target. For another boss, Uber Diablo, the community must first unlock it by selling enough Stones of Jordan.
Method has its own leaderboard for all participants, as there is no official leaderboard. However, participants must stream their progress.
Update 2:34 PM: MrLlamaSC, the hardcore fan who searched for the “holy grail” of Diablo 2 for 4 years, is joining. He explains that he is a bit nervous. The streamer is concerned about whether his long-practiced tactics will work or whether some of the bugs and features may have disappeared.
Update 2:30 PM: The stream for the World First Race starts with the pre-show. The moderators talk about their experience with Diablo 2 from 21 years ago.
What’s in the release? With Resurrected, you get access to Diablo 2 as well as the expansion Lord of Destruction. All 7 classes in the game are available to you, and all 5 acts, including the corresponding bosses, are presented in revamped graphics.
If you can’t decide, you can find our quiz to find out which class suits you here on MeinMMO. Have you made your decision yet? Check out our survey:
If you still can’t decide, we have summarized the pros and cons of the remaster for you here: Diablo 2 just before release: Why should you play it? The quick check
World First Race – Who kills all the bosses first?
Even before the release, some hardcore fans have intensely prepared for Resurrected. They have played the old version of Diablo 2 extensively to be the first to defeat all bosses and the particularly tough Uber versions.
All of this takes place within the framework of the World First Race, an event initiated by the WoW guild Method together with Diablo streamer MrLlamaSC. The pre-show starts at 2:00 PM, and the race begins at 5:00 PM. You can watch on the Twitch channel of Method. We have also embedded the stream for you here:
For newcomers, Diablo 2 should already offer enough. For the main story, you should roughly expect 20 hours, depending on class and play style. Afterward, it’s about grinding and improving your gear.
But even after the release, it is possible that more will follow. Although Diablo 2 has been around for 21 years, the development team has plans to deliver even more content:
