Official Blizzard Quote:
Update - 11/18
We've recently completed a revised version of the Diablo II 1.13 patch that removes the increased stash size. A larger stash will unfortunately no longer be a feature included in patch 1.13 due to the previously mentioned concerns. As higher priority work continues on Warcraft III we're hoping to complete our quality assurance tests for the 1.13 patch in the next few weeks. But as always, the types of issues that may appear and take higher priority are rarely foreseeable. We continue to plan a release based on our best intentions.
If it is indeed true that increased stash size is now no longer in the picture (see Patch 1.13: Larger Inventory for Diablo II), every top request made by fans when Blizzard ran its fan-request patch marathon (see Tell Blizzard Your #1 Diablo II Patch Note) earlier this year has been denied so far, with the possible exception of skill resets, which we have received no further conformation or details on since it was hinted at:
- Increased stash size, which is the cause of the current delay as they take hardware and server considerations in to thought, is so far essentially confirmed [highlight](now debunked)[/highlight].
- No increased resolution- it would require "fundamental change" to the game and would have to account for faster player traveling issues (like being able to Teleport or Jump farther), spawning monsters on a larger scale around the player, and monster aggro would have to be taken in to account.
- No new end-game content. Bashiok noted that with this patch it would not be possible to add it, although there was no inkling of whether or not it would or would not be included with any future patch.
As far as why the expanded stash upgrade was also nixed, it was apparently due to outdated hardware and software, as hinted at before:
Official Blizzard Quote:
The service is designed specifically for the requirements of the game. Meaning that specific hardware has and continues to be used because the game was designed to run on it. The limitations now are that this hardware is pretty old, the storage capacity is more than enough to hold the data from an increased stash size, but at peak load can the service and database actually handle the ability to record all the data without fault? The feeling is probably not.
Now, that's only a reasonable doubt. If we were to throw caution to the wind and see if it works anyway the teams that would be responsible for cleaning up the mess are hard at work on completing the new Battle.net for StarCraft II. We're just not willing to bet the manpower that it will work and potentially impact one of our next major game releases.
The question then comes up that why don't we just upgrade the hardware? As I sort of hinted at this isn't off the shelf hardware and we can't simply throw in some new parts and hope it all works. It would be months of work, again, by teams of people that we simply aren't willing to remove from their current tasks.
Yet again, Blizzard raises the pretense that the patch could be expected in the next "few weeks" and is now on hold due to more "higher priority" issues concerning Warcraft III patching, when progress was said to pass over to Diablo II's patch (see WCIII Patch is Up- Diablo II Patch 1.13 Soon to Follow?) since the PTR went live for WCIII some time ago.
On the flip side, this may mean the patch will come along sooner without complicated additions to work in to massively-outdated server technology and software.
Whether this patch will continue to hold the nearly decade-faithful player base of Diablo II in sway is yet to be seen, but in light of recent events, it may be that this news will meet a frothing pot of dissatisfaction for those who have been waiting for months for not only this patch, but years for basic fixes for many issues with Diablo II.
(Astion first posted about it- see here for the original thread.)
How would this be a scam lmao
Man im pretty pissed that its taking this long...a meaningful update being delay info is pretty annoying...No new content, no increased stash....what are they gonna change besides balance and glitches?
Well said, Fable teased up too far and release something unfinish and something that doesn't reach the hope they created to us.
Blizzard will reach the hope we have, just wait and be patient.
Balance, bug and glitches is enough and they have a big work to do because the game is extremly not balanced well.
Other question ?
What is FG system ?
If you're like me and don't play D2 consistently 'cause of work, school, etc., you can sell out in one ladder season, go MIA for a few months and then buy back in.
Thanks... great idea !! extremly good if it's implemented directly in-game. I so disliked trade in d2....
So what is "Auction House" ??
This might be a bit OT but I'll answer...basically, if you've ever used e-bay an auction house is like that. Players put items into a "market" and can set a bid price and/or an "buy it now" price. Other players then buy the items for gold. When items sell the money is sent to you and the auction house takes a cut for selling. WoW uses this system and I honestly have to say it is one of my favorite things about the game.
If they botch a WC III patch or don't release one that's promised...
- All the old Mac users will cry a little on the inside.
- Everyone else will uninstall and go back to playing WoW.
If they botch a SC1 patch or don't release one that's promised...
- People will grumble and go back to waiting for SC2 while playing SC1 on bnet with friends.
If they botch a WoW patch/expansion (again)...
- People will complain to blizz with emails, phonecalls, and in-game yelling.
- They will also all keep paying $15/month to blizz, forever, no matter what.
If they botch a Diablo patch or don't release one that's promised...
- We will rise up with demons summoned from the lowest pits of hell and march to California with pikes and torches!
- Blood sacrifices must be made! Slaughter all those that stand against the burning ... fans.
Just saying... you'd think the 1 group you wouldn't want to anger is the crowd that plays the dark, bloody, gory, violent, mature rated game.
Then, the question must be, what feature will patch 1.13 provide to justify the 6 months of development?
You're in to dueling, though? We have a new subforum for PvP in D2 under the Diablo II forum if you want to check it out It's new, though. Not much there yet.
This is a game many of us bought a decade ago.
We haven't put a dime into it since.
We're getting more free content. I've never heard of a company updating their games, for FREE, this far along after the release.
Take your time Blizzard..thanks again for all the hard work you put into your games.
Meh...we've just gotta kill time til the patch is released....
With that said, they should concentrate on getting their next title out. The announcement of D3 should have come along with the announcement to end of any development of D2. They are a good hearted company and are doing this for the fans, but as I see it and they likely see it at this point its just not worth it.
just my three cents
People fail to realize that PC gaming is NOT dead, blizzard is just sleeping.
Who else remembers when SC:BW and D2LOD and WCIII AND WOW were all top hits?
You used to be able to type a random string of keys "asdfadfhadfgsDFASFDH" as the gamename in d2, and it would already exist!!
or a run would say "dankbaal-002" 1 person. When you join, it would be full.
Remember having to wait anxiously for hte joingame list to refresh? Now its just 15 games, 8 bots and 7 people looking for ptorches.
Do you know how much $ Blizzard made with WOW ?!
This is good thinking ! I'm agree
They can afford to put out a new game every 5 years if they want, because that game will sell, and make them cash hand over fist, for that 5 year period.
It's called quality, and dedication to their fanbase.