It saddens us at Diablofans to have to announce this, but bad news is best served fresh. The target release window for Diablo III has officially been pushed into 2012.
Official Blizzard Quote:
We commonly use the term “soon” when referring to Blizzard releases, because we know that no matter how hard we’re working to reach a target, we’re not going to compromise and launch a game before it’s ready. For Diablo III, we were aiming to launch by the end of 2011. As we’re announcing globally today, our new target for the game is early 2012.
While this news might not be a complete surprise, I know that many of you were hopeful that Diablo III would ship this year. We were too. However, this week we pulled together people from all of the teams involved with the game to decide whether we felt it would be ready before the end of December, and we grudgingly came to the conclusion that it would not. Ultimately, we feel that to deliver an awesome Diablo sequel that lives up to our expectations and yours as well, we should take a little more time and add further polish to a few different elements of the game.
The upside of today’s announcement is that we will be running the beta test longer than we initially planned, which will allow us to invite more of you who have opted in.
For those taking on the Diableard challenge, we salute you -- and now fear for your well-being and personal hygiene. We hereby issue an official reprieve to all Diableard participants, including Blizzard employees, if you want to trim or otherwise manage the lower half of your face. We’d still love to see your beardly achievements, and we look forward to seeing more of your efforts as we move into 2012, but not to the detriment of your workplaces and significant others.
Thank you everyone for your support and anticipation for Diablo III. We’re still moving ahead at full pace, and we’ll be keeping you fully informed of any news and developments here at Diablo3.com, including the specific release date when the time comes, so stay tuned.
-Mike Morhaime
UPDATE: As you have likely noticed, the original Blue post has been deleted off of the Official Site. We'll wait for further word on the matter and update this post accordingly.
UPDATE 2: A fellow Diablo follower from another site was able to capture the linked post in its entirety. With this as further evidence, it seems the Blue post itself was in fact legitimate. As it looks, the post was promptly taken down shortly after its publishing.
A special thanks to Soul for bringing the image to my attention.
“We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about.” - Albert Einstein
The upside of today’s announcement is that we will be running the beta test longer than we initially planned, which will allow us to invite more of you who have opted in.
That's a terrible upside.
I've watched all of the Let's Play Force playthroughs, as well as a few others before that and I don't want to see any more of the start of Act 1, I want to save it now for when I play the full game. That, and it gets more and more aggravating each time, because the anticipation is killing me.
I can only imagine how it must be for the beta testers. They keep experiencing the game, but only until Leoric. So close, yet so far. Now they will have to wait three more months before the can continue. For three more months they can watch Leoric die and see that soul crushing 'Congratulations' screen.
'Here, have a lick of this brilliant new peppermint fudge, cookie ice cream desert with warm chocolate moose topping. Only a lick, no more for you, you will have to wait a few months to get the whole thing.'
No thank you, I'd rather not play the beta, Blizzard, you sadists.
A sad, sad day. I wonder though, did they rethink this? The article has been removed now. Something seems off.
Probably just wishful thinking.
I will admit I don't really understand why they would announce this now. It didn't need to be announced for quite some time and it comes when hype over the game has never been higher. Seems like a silly way and time to kill buzz for your game. Most people will still end up buying it, but still... what's the thinking behind announcing this now?
@kemid : i am not that sure atm .. i allready have some problems with the perma net connection , now the game gets delayed because of their "we dont need a open beta test because we can test a game like diablo with inside ppl " attitude ,--- incompetence right there in OUR face !!
I like how some people whines here that they don't understand why a game can take 5 years to do... I am sorry to tell you that but making a video game takes TIME. Arts, cinematics, design and coding isn't done in a day.... nor a year.
All those teams must converge on something and then make something of quality. A video game is not a product you manufacture quickly and put to production in the same year.
Also, yes true Blizzard said the Beta was going well. Remember that the beta was about stress test, not about bugs.... And the bugs so far have been huge. They were short on time when they announced a 2011 release. For those who thought it was really going to happen and that now QQ, sorry but pull your head of the sand and look at the truth. The game will be release when it will be ready. Did Blizzard disapointed so far?? Never, every game they did is and was of good quality.
Come on guys, just do anything else in the meantime, it is not like all your life depends on this game. There are so many things to do while the game doesn't come out that you will hardly notice the new delay.
HELL FREEZES OVER -- DIABLO® III TO SHIP IN EARLY 2012
IRVINE, Calif.-- Despite a sterling record of always hitting its release targets, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced that the expected launch window for Diablo® III, the next title in the company’s critically acclaimed series of action role-playing games, will be moving into early 2012.
"With every game we make, the temptation is always very strong to launch as soon as possible. However, we didn't put so many years of work into Diablo III to release a game that was almost ready," said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. "The beta test is going very well, and we look forward to making the most of the extra time we're taking to deliver an experience that lives up to our vision for the game and the expectations of our players. Next year is going to be an incredibly busy one for Blizzard, and we hope an incredibly fun one for Blizzard gamers."
Blizzard will use the additional time to extend the Diablo III closed beta test, which began September 20, potentially adding more testers than initially projected. Players who have an active Battle.net® account with any Blizzard game attached to it should visit Battle.net account management to opt in for a chance to participate in the beta test. Additional testing phases, as well as further details regarding the launch plans for the game, will be announced on the company’s Diablo III community website: www.Diablo3.com.
Official Press Release. =( I'm sad but hope they fix everything up nicely. So far I'm really liking the videos / streams i've watched.
Oooh my heart! First I watched Mufasa die, yet again(I love Lion King), and now this? I don't know how much more I can take. It saddens me because this was how I was going to use all my winter break time.
As long as that means they're making the game from great into Perfection, I'm all for it. Well, almost all.
It saddens us at Diablofans to have to announce this, but bad news is best served fresh. The target release window for Diablo III has officially been pushed into 2012.
Official Blizzard Quote:
We commonly use the term “soon” when referring to Blizzard releases, because we know that no matter how hard we’re working to reach a target, we’re not going to compromise and launch a game before it’s ready. For Diablo III, we were aiming to launch by the end of 2011. As we’re announcing globally today, our new target for the game is early 2012.
While this news might not be a complete surprise, I know that many of you were hopeful that Diablo III would ship this year. We were too. However, this week we pulled together people from all of the teams involved with the game to decide whether we felt it would be ready before the end of December, and we grudgingly came to the conclusion that it would not. Ultimately, we feel that to deliver an awesome Diablo sequel that lives up to our expectations and yours as well, we should take a little more time and add further polish to a few different elements of the game.
The upside of today’s announcement is that we will be running the beta test longer than we initially planned, which will allow us to invite more of you who have opted in.
For those taking on the Diableard challenge, we salute you -- and now fear for your well-being and personal hygiene. We hereby issue an official reprieve to all Diableard participants, including Blizzard employees, if you want to trim or otherwise manage the lower half of your face. We’d still love to see your beardly achievements, and we look forward to seeing more of your efforts as we move into 2012, but not to the detriment of your workplaces and significant others.
Thank you everyone for your support and anticipation for Diablo III. We’re still moving ahead at full pace, and we’ll be keeping you fully informed of any news and developments here at Diablo3.com, including the specific release date when the time comes, so stay tuned.
-Mike Morhaime
UPDATE 2: A fellow Diablo follower from another site was able to capture the linked post in its entirety. With this as further evidence, it seems the Blue post itself was in fact legitimate. As it looks, the post was promptly taken down shortly after its publishing.
A special thanks to Soul for bringing the image to my attention.
UPDATE 3: The post is back up on the Official Site.
Official Blizzard Quote:
The upside of today’s announcement is that we will be running the beta test longer than we initially planned, which will allow us to invite more of you who have opted in.
I've watched all of the Let's Play Force playthroughs, as well as a few others before that and I don't want to see any more of the start of Act 1, I want to save it now for when I play the full game. That, and it gets more and more aggravating each time, because the anticipation is killing me.
I can only imagine how it must be for the beta testers. They keep experiencing the game, but only until Leoric. So close, yet so far. Now they will have to wait three more months before the can continue. For three more months they can watch Leoric die and see that soul crushing 'Congratulations' screen.
'Here, have a lick of this brilliant new peppermint fudge, cookie ice cream desert with warm chocolate moose topping. Only a lick, no more for you, you will have to wait a few months to get the whole thing.'
No thank you, I'd rather not play the beta, Blizzard, you sadists.
Probably just wishful thinking.
I will admit I don't really understand why they would announce this now. It didn't need to be announced for quite some time and it comes when hype over the game has never been higher. Seems like a silly way and time to kill buzz for your game. Most people will still end up buying it, but still... what's the thinking behind announcing this now?
Was going to post this but got the closed message before I could...
Someone over at incgamers grabbed this screenshot. So yes It is OFFICIAL!
Seems pretty legit to me...
LINK HERE
They can't get hacked(Well they haven't yet as far as we know)... It was more than likely an "accident".
It's not there anymore cause it wasn't supposed to be up right then...
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/3552227/“Soon”_Was_Too_Soon_--_Diablo_III_to_Arrive_in_Early_2012_-9_23_2011#blog
All those teams must converge on something and then make something of quality. A video game is not a product you manufacture quickly and put to production in the same year.
Also, yes true Blizzard said the Beta was going well. Remember that the beta was about stress test, not about bugs.... And the bugs so far have been huge. They were short on time when they announced a 2011 release. For those who thought it was really going to happen and that now QQ, sorry but pull your head of the sand and look at the truth. The game will be release when it will be ready. Did Blizzard disapointed so far?? Never, every game they did is and was of good quality.
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/3552227
And the Official Press Release
http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company/press/pressreleases.html?id=3552229
Submit.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY????????????
Official Press Release. =( I'm sad but hope they fix everything up nicely. So far I'm really liking the videos / streams i've watched.
As long as that means they're making the game from great into Perfection, I'm all for it. Well, almost all.
I don't see how testing 1/3 of act 1 for this long will help anything really. SC2 was tested for competative PVP, thats a much longer progress.
As many said, I will buy it whenever it launch