It’s been an eventful few weeks for Blizzard Entertainment, which has recently come under fire for the controversy that resulted following a post matchHearthstoneinterview where theGrandmaster Champion Ng Wai ‘Blitz’Chung was bannedover his Pro-Hong Kong sentiments. It isn’t the first time Blizzard has come under fire from fans, as one of the more memorable incidents came almost one year ago at BlizzCon 2018, and many still remember that exact debacle surrounding theDiablofranchise.
At this point, it’s been nearly 8 years sinceDiablo 3originally launched on PC, and fans remain hungry for any new details or information on what’s next for the franchise. While the game has since been ported to nearly every available platform, fans were convinced that BlizzCon would be the perfect venue to announceDiablo 4. Adding a bit of fuel to the fires of speculation was a special skin for theOverwatchcharacter Sombra, which essentially turned her into the Demon Hunter class fromDiablo 3.
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Unfortunately, Blizzard decided that it was the perfect time to show off a mobile game calledDiablo Immortal, a decision that did not go over well with the community. The presentation quickly turned into a debacle, highlighted by a fan asking if the announcement was an April Fools Joke to which a developer replied that everyone has phones. That particular exchange became a rallying cry for fans who believe thatBlizzard is out of touch with its fanbase.
Naturally, the first thing that likely comes to mind in order to qualify as a big announcement is the long awaitedDiablo 4reveal. In response to last year’s backlash, Blizzard Co-Founder and Executive Producer Allen Adham and Production Director Dan Elggren confirmed thatDiablo Immortalwas just one of themanyDiabloprojects in active development. While the duo didn’t outright reveal any details or specifically sayDiablo 4in the interview, it was heavily implied as they hoped fans would remain patient in the meantime.
Shockingly, reports also came out that Blizzard was initially planning on showingDiablo 4before eventually pulling it in favor of theill-timed mobile titleDiablo Immortal. Blizzard has denied those claims, but it stands to reason that if an announcement was being prepared last year, then perhaps an additional 12 months of development time makes an announcement at BlizzCon 2019 all the more plausible.
Although it may not be as big asWorld of Warcraft,Diabloremains an immensely popular series for fans. Prior to its release in 2011,Diablo 3managed to break several pre-sale records and even topped Activision-Blizzard’s day-one PC sales record. While the game’s launch was marred by technical issues, problems, andthe controversial Auction House mechanic, through hot fixes and updates, the game not only recovered but would go on to become a standout title. Part of that recovery was due in large part to theReaper of Soulsexpansion which added numerous quality of life updates including the well received Adventure mode.
Expectations for BlizzCon 2019 continue to tick up as the event draws closer and it’s clear that last year has seemingly stuck with the company over the past 12 months.Blizzard appears to be readying big announcementsat this year’s show in large part to make up for last year. It’s unclear what this could entail, but for many fans, the time appears right for a properDiablogame to reappear.
While many are thinking the announcement could be forDiablo 4, others believe that anOverwatch 2revealis a possibility.Overwatch 2has been rumored and teased for a while now, with it reportedly being focused on PvE. It wouldn’t make much sense for it to be a direct sequel, given that it initially launched in 2016, so many think this could be some type of spin-off or an additive mode.
Whatever Blizzard is planning, the company has clearly upset a majority of its fanbase through disappointing reveals from last year to the more recentcontroversies surrounding Hong Kong. The company is keeping its cards close, but aDiablo 4reveal or announcement would go a long way in potentially patching up relations with fans who felt alienated by all the bad PR. Whatever the case may be, fans don’t have too much longer to wait as BlizzCon 2019 kicks off on Friday, November 1.
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