Perhaps the one piece of information that we all want to know is how soon is soon™. Blizzard is known for their secrecy in this area in their development. Always ready to release the game "when it's done". Diablo III has been in development for multiple years now and known to the public for over three years. Now, looking back at Blizzard's history, three years after initial announcement seems to be the magical number for the game's release. However, it has now been over three years and there is still no release date for the game.
Although there is no announced release date, there are some clues and information as to when we can expect the game. The first time we had all hoped to hear some information on its release, or more specifically the beginning of beta was back during ActivisionBlizzard's May financial conference call. At the previous conference call, it was stated that there would be specific talk about the beta. We all listened eagerly as some hoped for the best and others stayed cautious. By the end of the call we had learned three facts... First, internal beta had started the week prior at Blizzard. The second was that they are still planning for a 2011 release. Lastly, Blizzard was planning on starting the beta in the third quarter (July 1 - September 30). Nothing else was mentioned during the call, leaving many unsatisfied, in the hopes that the exact public beta date would have been announced.
The most important thing to take from this call was that internal testing had officially begun. This is important because of a quote by Jay Wilson that the development team was planning on a six month testing phase. There has been a lot of speculation and debate about this quote as it was typically vague in Blizzard fashion. Many have assumed that there would be a six month public beta while others disagreed by the need for this length of testing. While clarification was never given, we can add this quote with the facts given during the call to assume that the internal testing is included in this six month testing time.
Moving on from this call, we have had a pretty slow few months of Diablo news. There were a few big hits like the Follower system and some Skillrune previews, but that remained it. Why does this effect Beta's release? It was stated by Bashiok that all systems would be revealed before Diablo's Beta would begin.
We will be announcing all of the game systems though before beta, so there are a few things left as far as reveals go.
While we do not know exactly how many and what systems remain to be revealed, it has been particularly slow on the news front and many have worried this is a sign that Beta and release are further off than some hope. Now, to counter this idea, we have recently got some news from Bashiok that plans are set to reveal some of this information. DiabloFans and other sites have been invited to go to Blizzard's headquarters for a first look at the beta. With this press event, DiabloFans will be able to release any information that we gain during this event to the public on August 1st. It turns out that Blizzard has planned on using DiabloFans and other sites as a way to help release information on the remaining systems.
Diablo: We've invited press to Blizzard HQ to help us make some important announcements on August 1st. What features do you hope/think we'll reveal?
So, we know that most if not all of the systems will be revealed on August 1. This information paired with the purposed beginning of beta would make it a safe guess that beta will be starting soon™ after the press event. Just how soon is up to speculation, but considering Sixen and Force will both have gotten to play the beta, it seems like it is ready to be launched.
With beta in full effect, where does Diablo's actual release stand? While it has been stated several times by different people since the conference call, it appears as though a 2011 release is still the goal for Blizzard. Of course, nothing is set in stone but the later the year gets and the continual use of this proposal only strengthens its validity. This means that there has not been any huge interferences or unseen problems that have delayed the game further since May.
Diablo: @zkep We're still shooting to have it out before the end of the year, but as always, we only want to release it when we think it's ready.
With all of this said and done, there is still no exact date on Diablo III's release. With a 2011 release date, that still leaves multiple months for its possible release. Moving on to more speculative thoughts, there is a clue as to a possibility on when we can expect to see the game. Perhaps the biggest mystery after Diablo III's release date is its story. Next to nothing has been mentioned about Diablo III's story except little clues and tidbits. However, on Amazon.com, a premature book made it on to the site sales listing. Titled "The Book of Cain", its description included the fact that lore of the Diablo III game would be revealed through this chronicling of our beloved Deckard Cain. With Blizzard wanting to keep the game's story a secret until release, it would seem that this book would have to be released near, during, or soon after the game's release. While the book was soon pulled off of the site, the release date given to those who pre-order the book was November 18 - 22. However, with the removal of the items, many customers contacted Amazon's support and one reply was:
Could this book hold the clue to when we will all get our hands on this coveted game?
Although there is no announced release date, there are some clues and information as to when we can expect the game. The first time we had all hoped to hear some information on its release, or more specifically the beginning of beta was back during ActivisionBlizzard's May financial conference call. At the previous conference call, it was stated that there would be specific talk about the beta. We all listened eagerly as some hoped for the best and others stayed cautious. By the end of the call we had learned three facts... First, internal beta had started the week prior at Blizzard. The second was that they are still planning for a 2011 release. Lastly, Blizzard was planning on starting the beta in the third quarter (July 1 - September 30). Nothing else was mentioned during the call, leaving many unsatisfied, in the hopes that the exact public beta date would have been announced.
The most important thing to take from this call was that internal testing had officially begun. This is important because of a quote by Jay Wilson that the development team was planning on a six month testing phase. There has been a lot of speculation and debate about this quote as it was typically vague in Blizzard fashion. Many have assumed that there would be a six month public beta while others disagreed by the need for this length of testing. While clarification was never given, we can add this quote with the facts given during the call to assume that the internal testing is included in this six month testing time.
Moving on from this call, we have had a pretty slow few months of Diablo news. There were a few big hits like the Follower system and some Skillrune previews, but that remained it. Why does this effect Beta's release? It was stated by Bashiok that all systems would be revealed before Diablo's Beta would begin.
Official Blizzard Quote:
We will be announcing all of the game systems though before beta, so there are a few things left as far as reveals go.
Official Blizzard Quote:
Diablo: We've invited press to Blizzard HQ to help us make some important announcements on August 1st. What features do you hope/think we'll reveal?
So, we know that most if not all of the systems will be revealed on August 1. This information paired with the purposed beginning of beta would make it a safe guess that beta will be starting soon™ after the press event. Just how soon is up to speculation, but considering Sixen and Force will both have gotten to play the beta, it seems like it is ready to be launched.
With beta in full effect, where does Diablo's actual release stand? While it has been stated several times by different people since the conference call, it appears as though a 2011 release is still the goal for Blizzard. Of course, nothing is set in stone but the later the year gets and the continual use of this proposal only strengthens its validity. This means that there has not been any huge interferences or unseen problems that have delayed the game further since May.
Official Blizzard Quote:
Diablo: @zkep We're still shooting to have it out before the end of the year, but as always, we only want to release it when we think it's ready.
With all of this said and done, there is still no exact date on Diablo III's release. With a 2011 release date, that still leaves multiple months for its possible release. Moving on to more speculative thoughts, there is a clue as to a possibility on when we can expect to see the game. Perhaps the biggest mystery after Diablo III's release date is its story. Next to nothing has been mentioned about Diablo III's story except little clues and tidbits. However, on Amazon.com, a premature book made it on to the site sales listing. Titled "The Book of Cain", its description included the fact that lore of the Diablo III game would be revealed through this chronicling of our beloved Deckard Cain. With Blizzard wanting to keep the game's story a secret until release, it would seem that this book would have to be released near, during, or soon after the game's release. While the book was soon pulled off of the site, the release date given to those who pre-order the book was November 18 - 22. However, with the removal of the items, many customers contacted Amazon's support and one reply was:
Source (Pityme2pac@Europe).Unfortunately, the release date for the item(s) listed below was changed by the supplier, and we need to provide you with a new estimated delivery date based on the new release date:
Deckard Cain "Diablo: the Eternal Conflict: The Illustrated Guide"
Estimated arrival date: December 19 2011
Could this book hold the clue to when we will all get our hands on this coveted game?
I also back this up that the game will be release on Dec. 15th cause I dont know if anyone saw it but there was a german site that leaked a Diablo 3 release date also. But it wasn't for the book, it was for the game and it also said December 15th, I remember this cause my birthday is dec. 16th!
This is the site: http://www.pcgarage.ro/jocuri/blizzard/diablo-iii-pentru-pc/
Reddit link: http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/ifjlq/diablo_3_release_date_12152011/
Plus I have this SUPER strong feeling that its coming out this year FOR SURE. I mean the devs already said they are in testing like this article said, plus then a couple months later... then this diablo 3 book gets leaked on amazon(this is also super strange, how does a company like Amazon, mess up on a product that is SOO HUGE, like if it was meant to happen? You guys ever think about that? I mean, Why would Blizzard even give them information about this book to begin with if its coming out in december? it just brings up so many questions... that start with why!)
But i really think this next meeting will explain it all! I really do, I mean its going to be at the Blizzard building! Its not even going to be at a big gaming conviction(which now that i think of it, you would think that they would release a date at a place like this, but to convert predict that, I guess Blizzard is inviting these news places from all over the internet to come, to make sure this release date, and other information gets to the public!(once again, anyone could easily do that if it was at like blizzcon, so who knows...Blizzard does there own things like always...
I dunno the company said the game is done a long time ago(http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/diablo-iiis-development-is-technically-completed), so I totally think that game is sooo MUCH on track to be released! I mean that website article was posted "March 1st 2011", I think since then they been testing the game. They said that they weren't completely finish, so I'm guessing they were just adding all the small things into the game that don't take long, or stuff that doesn't involve alot of code. I totally think that Blizzard would be coming out for a beta for sure, once this meeting comes around later this july. If anything, they should have done a Closed beta(to me this sounds totally possible). Then since so many people have doubts about this game releasing, or how its going end up, or play, they will have an open beta(just speculating... though). But I honestly can say, that IF they do a beta, I believe that there WONT be any HUGE problems with this game. I mean, its going to play out the same way like it did for Starcraft 2!
Another thing people might have forgotten, is that Blizzcon(there hasn't been one speculation on any of these diablo sites talking about Blizzcon, like if it isn't anything big to Blizzard, shit, releasing information about a beta, that seems to be some BIG HUGE information, but then again, they could just release info about features and play test at this meeting, and release date at blizzcon...i think i just predicted the future) never happen. I'm guessing that, this meeting will show websites the way the game works, how it feels and everything. So people can write about. Then once Blizzcon comes, thats when they will throw all the details about release date and everything!
I didn't re-read this...good luck, dont comment on my grammer its the internet, not english! be nice and just talk about diablo 3 instead and not a person whose slow!
yeah baby yeah! hahaha
Can't wait for the game to hit the shelves and experience the world of Diablo once again. One of the reasons why I believe it will be an epic game is Blizzard has accumulated so much experience through its other games (WoW especially) that they can apply to Diablo 3 when it comes to dynamics, mechanics and online competitive play. I'm talking about Diablo 3 PVP. Just can't wait! Lucky I bought a new PC this year and a 24" screen, and once D3 is released it will most likely be the only thing my GPU will render
Thanks again, for this fun read that somehow feeds my Diablo needs for a short time at least.
P.S. my guess is that the game will be released a week before the book shipping date. But we will see!
Hearing someone joined just to respond is probably the biggest compliment I could get. Thanks.
Yep, that's one of the videos I watched and barely noticed it but since it's mentioned I did saw it happened on the big red demon on the first few secs then I needed to focus to notice it on small demons. It did look annoying when it's noticeable but I'm sure it's something that we'll eventually adjust to. I'm with you guys I hope there's some kind of option but like what I've been saying to my posts lately that I will not judge any further since beta is just around the corner.
I used to have this old monitor that has 2 lines like a divider, it was annoying the first few weeks I had it. My eyes eventually adjusted to it and used that monitor for 4 years till I bought a new one.
As far as when the game comes out, I hope that it's this year, but if they make it I'd assume for a mid or late December release. I don't think it's realistic to expect any date before that, since the external beta has yet to begin, and they have stated that if there are significant issues found during it they will delay the game until they are fixed.
My birthday however is the 28th of December, so it would certainly be nice for the game to be out before that to be sure.
This makes me a lot excited! I hope it's the case with Diablo III, too.
@ScyberDragon: You're welcome and I think I will be visiting this site more often now. Good information and a nice atmosphere