Kotaku recently reported that Blizzard is still being tight-lipped about any official release date for Starcraft 2 in 2009 and that there's simply no chance we'll see Diablo 3 released this year. I doubt this comes as any surprise to most of you at this point, but there is mention that we will definitely see one big Blizzard title this year.
"What is it? Blizzard COO Paul Sams wouldn't confirm whether that game is, indeed, the first chapter of the StarCraft II trilogy, only confirming that "Blizzard intends on delivering one front line release per year." Activision Blizzard has factored that mystery game into its estimated earnings for 2009.
"You can see that is contemplated," Sams said during the company's earnings call. "Which title is being released this year, we're not saying."
Considering that StarCraft II appears to be the game closest to completion, we'd think the real-time strategy could make a 2009 release. Diablo III? No way. And while Blizzard did say it has "substantial expansions" planned for World of Warcraft this year, we'd find it hard to believe a retail expansion on par with Wrath of the Lich King will be ready for December."
Blizzard COO Paul Sams also told Kotaku that Battle.net 2.0 and the Starcraft 2 Beta are on there way in the next few months:
"According to Blizzard COO Paul Sams, the StarCraft II beta is likely just months away. Two months? Ten months? We hope it's not the latter, especially since we're counting on the first entry, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty to hit sometime this year, if only for sanity's sake.
While Blizzard is cagey on locking down a date, Sams says that we'll get a taste of the next iteration of Battle.net when the StarCraft II beta goes public. Exactly what changes Blizzard will be adding to the online matching service that "support online tournaments, eSports, and enhanced communication between players" haven't been confirmed."
Good to know we've at least got some exciting things in the pipeline to look forward to this year. I definitely can't wait to see Battle.net 2.0. Here's hoping it's only a few months away!
I honestly would have preferred not to know it was even in production... if it's going to take another whole year or more...
Should have waited till this yr to say something, cuz by the time the game actually comes out I'lll be tired of waiting... I already check everyday for updates... but man... be better off if I never knew, atleast then I wouldn't be getting all excited, and then realize that I have to wait even longer, given how long we've alll already had to wait, I am sad now..
they said there would be one WoW expansion each year, so my bets would be for this.
Other than StarCraft 2 of course, it should be very close to beta so till the end of the year it should be released.
Since its confirmed that Diablo 3 wont be out this year, i guess we can start expecting it by the first quarter of 2010.
Yay, something from our friends Blizzard this year. woot. woot. If it's D3 (which it isn't) or sc2 i'll be happy, if it's a wow thing, then we'll that'll do too.
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“There’s no going back now,” he said during an interview in a Manhattan hotel where Blizzard was showcasing their newest games. “We’re very happy with how the art style is. The art team’s happy. The company’s happy. We really like this art style, and we’re not changing it.” - Blizzard. :thumbsup:
Blizzard has already said that they will be announcing battlenet 2.0 with starcraft, which means it is coming out before D3 since both games will be using it. So D3 will definitely be next year.......crap.
It would be cool if battlenet 2.0 was applied to D2, but that seems unlikely.
I guess I'll have to start playing the starcraft series to hold me over.
Personally, even if they won't give an actual release date, I think Blizzard should release minimum and ideal requirments for D3. It would be good for the economy 'cause I'm not buying a new computer (and I desperately need to) until I find out what they are.
I have a strange feeling that D3 will either fall to the fate of Duke Nukem, or by the time it is finally released it would have been hyped up so much that noone really cares anymore/ it won't be able to meet our expectations.
I just hope that it will be worth the wait...9 years since any update is enormous considering the immense success that Diablo I and II had back then.
This announcement also explains why the updates on their website are small and unfrequent!
I have some news for you guys..
I work for bestbuy and they already told our store it will be in stock on 11/3/09. this is OFFICIAL; or it would say winter 09. It?s in our system & I can preorder it as well for $59.99. thats of couse assuming nothing goes wrong of course in the beta testing, or we may have to wait a little longer. but its great to finally have an estimated date set in stone... so this leads us to the question of when is d3 guna be ready? my guess is sometime spring/summer of 2010. but its still way to early to tell. & i can only imagine how much it will cost... im assuming $49.99-99.99
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Blizzard COO Paul Sams also told Kotaku that Battle.net 2.0 and the Starcraft 2 Beta are on there way in the next few months:
Good to know we've at least got some exciting things in the pipeline to look forward to this year. I definitely can't wait to see Battle.net 2.0. Here's hoping it's only a few months away!
While I refuse to believe d3 will not come out in 09' I now accept it.:mad:
Good old tight lipped blizzard.
EDIT: Not to sound ignorant, but will 2.0 work on DII servers? Or... am I dreaming?
Hopefully the beta will be out by then.
PS: By the way I just have a gut feeling that D3 will probably come out in 2010 and not 2011.
Really? I was thinking very late 2010 or early 2011. Very depressing when you try to think from the most realistic point of view possible.
I honestly would have preferred not to know it was even in production... if it's going to take another whole year or more...
Should have waited till this yr to say something, cuz by the time the game actually comes out I'lll be tired of waiting... I already check everyday for updates... but man... be better off if I never knew, atleast then I wouldn't be getting all excited, and then realize that I have to wait even longer, given how long we've alll already had to wait, I am sad now..
Other than StarCraft 2 of course, it should be very close to beta so till the end of the year it should be released.
Since its confirmed that Diablo 3 wont be out this year, i guess we can start expecting it by the first quarter of 2010.
It would be cool if battlenet 2.0 was applied to D2, but that seems unlikely.
I guess I'll have to start playing the starcraft series to hold me over.
This announcement also explains why the updates on their website are small and unfrequent!
I work for bestbuy and they already told our store it will be in stock on 11/3/09. this is OFFICIAL; or it would say winter 09. It?s in our system & I can preorder it as well for $59.99. thats of couse assuming nothing goes wrong of course in the beta testing, or we may have to wait a little longer. but its great to finally have an estimated date set in stone... so this leads us to the question of when is d3 guna be ready? my guess is sometime spring/summer of 2010. but its still way to early to tell. & i can only imagine how much it will cost... im assuming $49.99-99.99