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Bashiok pointed many reasons for the differing looks despite them being the same area. First off, it is important to note that the difference has nothing to do with any sort of day/night cycle. As already mentioned, the game will not feature any such mechanic. Instead, the lighting is specially designed for each area to create a specific tone to the particular environment. Bashiok began with a very simple explanation for the differences.Basically, the lighting phase of that area was possibly never completed at the time of the initial release and therefore it looks different. Not working linearly would explain how an environment could be done but not completed.

However, this is not the only possible reason. Bashiok commented on several other situations that may be effecting this difference. Again noting the reiterative process, Bashiok commented on this as a possibility. It is possible that with some play testing, the development team was not happy with the lighting in this area. With the first version being much darker, it is possible that the team wanted to reflect a brighter sun drenched desert than previously designed. Going back and making these changes shows the dedication that the development team is putting in to perfecting the game.

While there will not be any day/night cycle, that does not mean that every time you visit an area it is going to look the exact same. Rain, snow, sand storms, and other environmental weather will be in place in each area causing some drastically looking environments. As Bashiok said, the first one could be under the influence of a sand storm causing the blocking out of the light and creating a muck darker looking desert. Interestingly, the weather will come and go changing how we will experience each area every time we visit it. While these weather patterns existed in Diablo II, they certainly seem to be more drastic in Diablo III.

Lastly, Bashiok responded that it may be a combination of all three of these factors causing the difference in looks. No matter what the reason, this does give us a glimpse out just how much work is being put into creating this game. The stages of the development of each area is being handled by different people to ensure the utmost quality is being applied. Then, the team goes through the area over and over again to make sure the game is exactly how they want it to be. Lastly, ensuring that their is still randomization to the areas, weather patterns are being created to change how we experience the area. Hopefully, this well-rounded and in-depth development process will give us a game that we all want to play for years to come.