Blizzard, the studio behind World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo, has been embroiled in a scandal for some time. This could affect future sales as many fans now doubt whether they should still support the gaming studio. One of the heads of Diablo 2 Resurrected has a clear message for everyone who is hesitating.
This is what Blizzard says: In an interview with Axios (via Axios), Design Director Rob Gallerani spoke about the remaster of Diablo 2 and the difficulties of the past weeks. Specifically, it is about fans who are unsure whether they should buy Diablo 2.
Many are looking forward to the remaster, but the sexism scandal currently overshadows the release. Gallerani says: ‘It was really concerning to hear all these things and we really want to support our colleagues and staff.’
Addressing the fans, he says they should now do ‘what feels right.’
So those who do not want to buy Diablo 2 should apparently not do so. However, the dialogue with the community is important: ‘We have heard a lot of really positive things, but I don’t think that will ever go away. We will always have to ask.’
What is the scandal about? In July 2021, Activision Blizzard was sued by a California agency for allegedly fostering a so-called ‘frat boy culture’ – roughly: strongly sexist behavior, especially towards women.
There are reports of cocaine in the bathroom and sex in the lounge. The scandal escalated further and has put the community in an uproar.
Ultimately, Blizzard CEO J. Allen Brack even resigned from his position. Instead of him, there is now a new duo at the top. We’ve summarized more about the scandal for you here:
- Activision Blizzard allegedly shredded important documents
- What needs to change after the Blizzard shock – video talk
- The game director of Diablo IV and 2 other key staff members are gone
Diablo 2 Resurrected – The first new game since the scandal
What is Diablo 2 Resurrected? Diablo 2 Resurrected, the remaster from the renowned studio Vicarious Visions, is the updated version of the 21-year-old ARPG classic. The main feature of the remaster is the new, modern graphics, for which even the cutscenes have been revamped.
Resurrected will include all content that has been released since 2000 – including the expansion Lord of Destruction and all 7 classes. The spirit of the game is meant to be preserved.
Therefore, the team has changed as little as possible, although Resurrected will not be exactly as you remember it. Some bugs have been fixed, and there are even discussions about new features:
Diablo 2 remains extremely popular among fans and is still actively played even after 21 years. It is considered a milestone in the ARPG/Hack’n’Slash genre and serves as the direct inspiration for more recent hits such as Path of Exile.
When is Diablo 2 coming out? The release for Resurrected is scheduled for September 23, 2021. The launch is set for 5:00 PM CEST. For the first time, Diablo 2 with Resurrected will be released not only on PC but also on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
You can find all important information about the release in our hub: Diablo 2: Resurrected as a remaster – everything you need to know about the release
