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Challenge Rift - Week 70

Challenge Rift Week 70 is live! If you are curious how Challenge Rift builds are chosen each week, you can view this official blog post!

Diablo At BlizzCon 2018

Blizzard has released a Blog detailing some of the Diablo news (or lack thereof) at BlizzCon 2018. The following section seems to indicate that Diablo 4 is indeed being worked on, but they aren't ready to announce it just yet:

"We know what many of you are hoping for and we can only say that 'good things come to those who wait,' but evil things often take longer. We appreciate your patience as our teams work tirelessly to create nightmarish experiences worthy of the Lord of Terror."

What are your thoughts on this news, and what Diablo news do you think will be announced at this years BlizzCon? Let us know in the Comments!

Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment (Official Post)

 

BlizzCon 2018 is almost here and we’ve seen a lot of rumors flying around about our plans for Diablo at the show. These are very exciting times—we currently have multiple teams working on different Diablo projects and we can’t wait to tell you all about them . . . when the time is right.

 

We know what many of you are hoping for and we can only say that “good things come to those who wait,” but evil things often take longer. We appreciate your patience as our teams work tirelessly to create nightmarish experiences worthy of the Lord of Terror.

 

While we won’t be ready to announce all of our projects, we do intend to share some Diablo-related news with you at the show.

 

November 2 will be an especially diabolical date—not only is it the first day of BlizzCon, it’s also when Diablo III arrives on the Nintendo Switch. If you’re planning to pick up the game (the digital download will be available starting at midnight on launch day) and are joining us in Anaheim, be sure to bring your console. We’d love to slay some demons with you on the show floor.

 

Again, we want to thank you for your patience and support. We are eternally grateful to you and the millions of other Diablo fans around the world whose passion for this franchise inspires us and keeps our fires burning.

 

We’ll see you in hell . . . and at BlizzCon!

As is tradition, the period right before BlizzCon is rife with hopes, dreams, and speculation about what Diablo news will be revealed at this year's show. Every single bit of media from Blizzard is being heavily scrutinized in search of hints regarding what might be announced, but the truth is right now all we have to go on is chiefly rumors and speculation. That being said, I've made a list of Diablo related announcements that could pop up at BlizzCon 2018, as well as my thoughts on how likely they are to happen.

Diablo Netflix Series

Rumors have been circulating for a while now about a potential deal with Netflix to produce a series based within the world of Diablo. The lore nerd within me would love a follow up series based around Wrath that would help flesh out the history of Sanctuary, the High Heavens, and Burning Hells. But how likely is it?

Realistic Prediction:

We saw just a few weeks ago that apparently the rumors are true and that Blizzard is actively in talks with industry professionals to explore a potential Diablo series. We can look back at 2006 when Universal and Blizzard announced the Warcraft movie, but didn't discuss any details until BlizzCon 2007, where they featured a single piece of concept art. This lends a tiny bit of precedent in that if Blizzard is comfortable with moving forward on a deal with Netflix, BlizzCon would be the perfect time to announce it. On the other hand, if we're looking to the Warcraft movie as an example, the initial press release for the film was made jointly with the studio. Trying to line that up with BlizzCon may be harder than we give credit to. I'm not going to hold my breath on this one.

Diablo Mobile

This rumor started a few years ago and continues to be brought up as a joke response in threads speculating on what shape the future of the franchise will take. But does it have any basis?

Realistic Prediction:

Despite the persistence of this rumor, there has been no evidence to support it at all. No credible rumors or leaks have ever been seen about it, and scrutiny over the multitude of Unannounced Diablo Project postings also haven't lent themselves to suggest any kind of mobile project in the works. While I'd be presently surprised by a mobile game set within Sanctuary, I don't see this happening in 2018.

Diablo III Updates

There have been rumors that earlier this year the primary responsibilities for Diablo III were handed from Team 3 over to Classic Games. With the press tours of the Switch port being headed by Pete Stilwell, Senior Producer of Classic Games, it lends a lit more evidence that this is true. What does this mean for the game itself? That means that Blizzard can have Team 3 focus on the Unannounced Project(s) while still providing a level of support for Diablo III. By the time BlizzCon rolls around, it'll have been over a year since the last the time the game received any meaningful updates (Patch 2.6.1), and it's likely time for some quality of life changes for the game. We've seen with Season 14 & 15 that Blizzard has been using some of the past community buffs, with the final ones to be reused simply being EXP increases or Legendary drop rate boosts. If Blizzard were to change it up and create something entirely new, Season 16 would be the perfect time for it and any announcements at BlizzCon would still give a little over a month for a PTR and testing before the proposed ending of Season 15 in December.

Realistic Prediction:

I expect at least a roadmap of what Blizzard intends for the future of Diablo III and what we can expect in terms of continued patch support (or lack thereof). At a minimum I could see a minor patch with something new for Season 16, as a season of 2000% Legendary drop rates sounds like it'd be fun for a bit but get stale fast.

Diablo I/Diablo II Remaster/Remake

Now this is where things begin to get interesting. There have been rumors of a Diablo remaster since before the announcement of the Starcraft remaster. Back towards the end of 2015, Blizzard started hiring for an Art Outsource Supervisor with the description of: "Classic games is seeking a skilled artist to help revitalize StarCraft, Warcraft III, Diablo II, and our catalogue of other classics." The community started to wonder if Blizzard was actively looking to bring back their some of their older titles. Last year's release of the Starcraft remastered edition was proof that they have been working towards this end. Now the question is, will Blizzard bring this treatment to Sanctuary? And if so, which title? While most fans think of Diablo II when they think of "Diablo" as a whole, that one may be a bit trickery to pull off.

Realistic Prediction:

We've heard from David Brevik, one of the original creators of Diablo, that the original source code for Diablo II is likely lost. That would nix any plans of remastering the title. This doesn't rule out a remake however, but it would require a lot more work to reverse engineer the game. To me, the more likely scenario will be a remake/remaster of the original Diablo. We've also seen a lot of Diablo I imagery in the BlizzCon goodie bag, the 'leaked' thumbnail of the Starcraft Vinyl Virtual Ticket video, and the BlizzCon 2018 Key Art featuring an old-school Diablo design. Also, if either title would have to be remade from the ground up, Diablo I would be the easier title to develop. Out of all of the possibilities for this year's announcements, I'm placing a remake or remaster of Diablo I or II as the most probable.

Diablo IV

Diablo IV is probably Blizzard's worst kept secret. While they haven't official announced what any of the multiple unannounced projects are, this has to be one of them. It's the secret no one talks about, but everyone just kind of knows anyways. The question is, will Blizzard officially announce it this year? And if so, will it mimic 2008's announcement of Diablo III and have a preview of gameplay, but no actual playable demo? Or will it follow suit with all of Blizzard's announcements since then and have a demo to coincide with the announcement? We had our first inkling Diablo IV was development back in Dec. 2015 when Blizzard posted their first job for an Unannounced Diablo Project. While it's been almost three years, we have to remember that development started for Diablo III back in 2001 immediately following the release of Lord of Destruction. I don't expect another 11 year development cycle, but Blizzard is likely to take their time with this title and try their best to not only live up to the expectations set by Diablo III but also live up to the nostalgia many in the community still hold for Diablo II.

Realist Prediction:

It's really hard to say with this one. I almost feel that just announcing that it's in development with no further information, a la WoW: Classic, would actually be beneficial for them, as it'll at least deliver on all the hype that has been building since the Future of Diablo video that was release this summer. At the same time, Blizzard has been burned in the past with Project Titan, Starcraft: Ghost, and, to an extent, the long development cycle of Diablo III as well. This is has caused them to be far more conservative with game announcements and I feel that might hold back Diablo IV's unveiling until "it's ready". I'll give this one a coin flip. We all know they're working on it, they know we know they're working on it, they know we really, really want it, but Blizzard does things their way and it might not always make sense to us.

(P.S.  D4 won't be called Reign of Terror)

We won't have to wait much longer to learn what all Blizzard has in store. BlizzCon 2018 starts November 2.

Neinball (@NeinballGamer) is a content creator for Diablo Fans and a horadrim in training. Whether he's relaxing on Zegema Beach, fighting servants of the Corpse-God in the 41st millennium, or quelling Rebellions in the Outer Rim, his passion always brings him back to slaying Demons in Sanctuary.

BlizzCon Floor Map

The floor map for BlizzCon 2018 has been revealed by Blizzard. The biggest change from previous years seems to be a re-oriented Mythic Stage setup in Hall D with a Diablo III Demo area and "Horadric Retreat" section. Curiously, there is also a large open unmarked area just to the left; however, it could just be there for accommodating the amount of foot traffic in and out of Hall D.

Nintendo Switch Bundle

A Diablo III: Eternal Collection bundle is coming to Gamestop on the second of November for $359.99. It features a custom Diablo III themed console, carrying case, and it comes with the Diablo III: Eternal Collection! You can order it here.

A Nintendo Switch Diablo III: Eternal Collection Bundle is coming exclusively to @GameStop on 11/2 for $359.99 MSRP! Includes a Diablo III themed #NintendoSwitch console and dock, carrying case, and a download code for the game. https://t.co/8dNNKhA9v8 pic.twitter.com/Qmg5tYjzia

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) October 15, 2018

The Legendary Hunt Begins

Blizzard is hosting a Legendary Hunt across the internet and a few real-world locations! You can win copies of the game, real-life legendaries from Volpin Props, or even the Diablo III: Eternal Collection Nintendo Switch Bundle!

Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment(Official Post)

 

Whether you’re a Diablo veteran or a complete newcomer, chances are you love treasure. To get you in shape for Diablo III Eternal Collection on the Nintendo Switch, we’re inviting you on a treasure hunt. Get ready to stretch those loot-chasing muscles and get your hands on some sweet (and very real) rewards!

 

We’ve hidden items across the internet (as well as in a few real-world locations), and it’s up to you to find them. Don’t worry—we’ll be giving you some clues on where to look. Learn more below!

 

 

In the coming days, we’ll be sharing some clues on our Twitter page. Once you decipher them, visit the corresponding location (online or in real life) to find an item or QR code. Click the link or scan the item you found, and you’ll be whisked away to your collections page, where you can track all the items you’ve collected so far.

 

The items you find earn you entries into a prize drawing, where you could win all kinds of amazing treasures. The number of entries you get for each item you find varies on its quality, so keep an eye out for those Legendaries!

 

 

Among the prizes up for grabs are copies of the Diablo III Eternal Collection Nintendo Switch Bundle, digital copies of the game, and various collectible goodies. You can also earn real life versions of some of the items you’ll find on the hunt! These are one-of-a-kind artifacts, brought to life by the crafting masters at Volpin Props.

 

If the idea of having your very own real-life Legendary item sounds appealing, be sure to follow us on Twitter and be on the lookout for the first clues.

 

 

Think you have what it takes to solve all the clues and hunt down these treasures? There’s only one way to find out, nephalem! Good luck on the hunt, and may the best adventurer win.

 

For contest rules, see here.