Diablo III heading to consoles?

By Fred Dutton Published 15 November, 2010

UPDATE: It's a "Diablo-related concept".

UPDATE: Blizzard has posted a clarification on Battle.net.

"As some of you may have seen over on the Diablo III home page, we're currently exploring a Diablo-related concept for consoles. As we've said in the past, with proper care the gameplay could suit the console platform, and we're interested in seeing what talent out there might be interested in contributing to such a project.

"To further reiterate what's posted on the home page: this is not an announcement of a console title. We are first and foremost developing Diablo III for Windows and Mac PCs, and we have no intention of allowing a console interpretation to delay or otherwise affect the release of the game.

"As always feel free to discuss this topic here, but please note that we don't have any further details to share at this time."

ORIGINAL STORY: There's a console version of Blizzard's action RPG Diablo III in the works, according to job adverts posted by the developer.

The listing on Blizzard's site, spotted by Gamasutra, calls for a lead designer, lead programmer and a senior producer for a console version of the game.

The senior producer role calls for "Experience with shipping or porting multi-platform games." The candidate "must have shipped at least one AAA console title in a senior design role."

If Diablo III was to hit consoles, it would be the first time that Blizzard has left the PC platform since the Nintendo 64 release of Starcraft in 1999.

This news might well be connected to today's announcement that the studio was expanding its office space.

Diablo III is due out... one day, and is looking fantastic, as the below trailer adequately demonstrates. Eurogamer's Oli Welsh spoke to its creators last month.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (72) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • graysonavich #1 2 years ago

    RIP gaming.

  • subedii #2 2 years ago

    Lol, when you start a post this way, nobody takes you seriously!

    Also, capitalisation happens after a full stop, not a comma.


    Regardless, interesting news. As was discussed in the last Blizzard thread, Diablo's probably a far more suitable candidate for porting to consoles than something like Starcraft 2. IIRC some people had a massive hissy fit about Blizzard "hating" consoles for some reason, so hopefully this finally dispels that.


    EDIT: Well, assuming it doesn't go the way of Starcraft: Ghost anyway. But since this is being done in-house, not really as likely to happen.
    Edited by subedii at 15/11/10 @ 22:02

  • HistoryTeller #3 2 years ago

    That is, endeed, big news.

  • darkmorgado #4 2 years ago

    Now, as I pointed out in the other thread. PC Gaming is dying off

    Source please, because Steam, Valve and Blizzard (just to start) would beg to differ.

  • ZizouFC #5 2 years ago

    Awesome.

  • subedii #6 2 years ago

    @Erik: Diablo is suited for whatever it's designed for. Which currently is the PC. However, the style of gameplay makes it more easy to port to something like a gamepad than Starcraft 2, it's simply a lot more feasible.

    As for the" PC Gaming is dying" comment, well that was already addressed last thread, you just ignored the points.As this topic hasn't really got to do with the viability of the PC platform in itself, discussion along those lines is pretty much off topic so I'm not particularly interested in going into it again here. However, if you like, feel free to PM me and we can continue the discussion further, Id be more than happy to go over it with you.

    EDIT: And I was giving you advice. Which you pretty clearly heeded since you didn't start off your next post with a characteristic "Lol" like you usually do. Progress.
    Edited by subedii at 15/11/10 @ 22:08

  • Spritpenna #7 2 years ago

    I Playing D3 whit a controller= Fail.

  • darkmorgado #8 2 years ago

    @EricTheViking

    Bitter much?

    Are you? Every post you've written makes me think that a PC Gamer raped you as a child. Why do you have so much hate directed towards a gaming platform, FFS?

    Grow the fuck up.

  • UncleLou #9 2 years ago

    Local coop on one console, and I have the perfect excuse to buy both versions. \o/

  • darkmorgado #10 2 years ago

    Why the fuck would I do that? I know the facts ... Hardly anyone bothers playing on PC anymore. FACT!

    If those are facts, then you'll have no problem sourcing them, will you?

  • subedii #11 2 years ago

    @Erik: Then you won't have any issues moving irrelevant discussions out of this thread.

    Like I said, if you want to discuss it, it's easy enough to PM me.
    Edited by subedii at 15/11/10 @ 22:09

  • tossetaz #12 2 years ago

    This makes a lot of sense since Diablo is probably the one game that Blizzard makes that could work on consoles pretty well :)

  • darkmorgado #13 2 years ago

    Darkmorgado. I just find the average PC snob to be totally pathetic and annoying

    So because someone plays games on PC they are a snob?
    And I am quite sure that the vast majority of people reading YOUR posts find you pathetic and annoying.

  • darkmorgado #14 2 years ago

    Sales figures! Which version of CoD sold most?

    Yes, because a single game is really reflective of a Platform as a whole, isn't it?

  • Ryuken #15 2 years ago

    If this delays or impacts the PC version (Diablo pretty much defined the mouse click, folks) then Blizzard has hell to pay. :)

    On the other hand, Blizzard already burned through a complete console team (Swingin' Ape) just for a cancelled StarCraft spin-off so there's no guarantee at all that something concrete will come out of this. Late and inferior port at the most is my guess, like with the original Diablo and StarCraft. The expansion structure Blizzard heavily supports won't work either on consoles. It's going to be a different game alright.

  • makeamazing #16 2 years ago

    Errrm dont get it, i read the information and no where in it did it actually mention Diablo 3, yes we know its in production, but its a bit of news leap to just suggest thats what its for.

    EG is beginning to get a little bit sensationalist in its reports lately, what with this one and the Alan Wake 2 on Kinect report... come on guys you can do better than that... cant you?

  • subedii #17 2 years ago

    @Ryuken: How on Earth would you tell anyway? We're talking about Blizzard. Blizzard time is second only to Valve time here.

  • HisDudness #18 2 years ago

    ugh, no one's going to mention the elephant in the room? Fine.

    Viking: World of Warcraft is the most profitable game on any platform.

  • darkmorgado #19 2 years ago

    Oh, and plus:

    Diablo is more suited to consoles anyway. Direct control witha pad as opposed to point and click.

    Hah. Have you ever played Diablo? You may as well say C&C is more suited to a pad.

  • darkmorgado #20 2 years ago

    Diablo is not an RTS.

    No, but it is a genre that is completely designed around a mouse interface, relies on mouse accuracy for pinpoint accuracy and response times, and has extensive menu management as standard.

    Just like... GASP! RTS.

  • InfiniteFury #21 2 years ago

    My God, it'll be like CERN creating a black hole for gaming.

    "Grandad, tell us again what is was like before Diablo 3 became available for everyone!" "Well son, it was the best of times, then the worst of times...."

    This would be awesome.

  • mrStones #22 2 years ago

    Seems to be some sandy vaginas in here. I for one welcome the joys of diablo and sofa combined, and the thoughts of local coop... words fail me so here's a smiley face

    :)

  • darkmorgado #23 2 years ago

    Diablo is a game that controls like Sacred 2. Which, dispite being a shit game, was superior on consoles.

    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

    Oh, you're serious?

    BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

  • darkmorgado #24 2 years ago

    Btw, I am still waiting for your source to back up your "fact" that PC gaming is dead.

  • StooMonster #25 2 years ago

    Check the Update people.

  • Apaar #26 2 years ago

    I'm really surprised by this. Could have seen this coming after the PC version is released, but already? Wondering how are they going to implement Battle.net? Or will the console version of the game be an essentially different game completely?

    Edit: The update on the news really clarifies things. Apparently it would be an entirely seperate project, then - one perhaps based on D3, but seperate nonetheless. Glad this wont be affecting the development of the the currently known D3 in any way.
    Edited by Apaar at 15/11/10 @ 22:31

  • subedii #27 2 years ago

    @StooMonster:

    Thanks for the heads up. Still good news regardless, a console oriented take on the Diablo universe could certainly be interesting. Probably more along the lines of BG: Dark Alliance if I were to guess.
    Edited by subedii at 15/11/10 @ 22:31

  • CaptainTrips #28 2 years ago

    Sales Figures? Wrath of the Lich King sold 2.6 million copies in 24 hours. World of Warcraft itself has 12 million subscribers, and generates monthly revenue for Blizzard far greater than that of most entire development studios, let alone video games.

    Six years on I am yet to see an FPS that manages to trump Half Life 2 (neg me as much as you want Halo/CoD fans, but I'm right!).

    Finally, if we're really going to do this PC Vs console thing, I have three words for you, Erik: Mouse. And. Keyboard.

    (Note to rational console owners - I own consoles, love 'em all, but my PC is still alive and kicking. :p)

  • darkmorgado #29 2 years ago

    Thanks for the heads up. Still good news regardless, a console oriented take on the Diablo universe could certainly be interesting. Probably more along the lines of BG: Dark Alliance if I were to guess.

    BG:DA aside, the only half-decent console versions of the genre have been Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, and even they were just creeping over average, mainly because they were hampered by a lack of hotkeys

    If Blizzard really are going to try and get back into consoles, I would much rather they resurrect Starcraft: Ghost (though this is unlikely, as large amounts of that plot were incorporated into SC2 and the novels).

  • darkmorgado #30 2 years ago

    (Note to rational console owners - I own consoles, love 'em all, but my PC is still alive and kicking. :p)

    Same here. I love my consoles, but there is no way in hell they are "superior" to PC. Both cater to different audiences. Want deep strategy games, MMOs, deep RPGs, management games or sims? Go PC. Want endless shooters, racing games, beat-em-ups or platformers? Go console. Want them all? Go for both.

    And yeah, MMOs alone probably generate more revenue than console gaming in entirety.

  • vaughan42 #31 2 years ago

    Sweet, i love melting console noob face with vastly superior mouse control. also: And so the Rich get Richer :)

  • subedii #32 2 years ago

    I think this could be pretty good, unlike most studios Blizzard have the luxury of the time and resources to to hammer away at a game until they get it right, and they aren't afraid to axe something if they feel it's not working out (Warcraft Adventures, Starcraft: Ghost).

    Actually reminds me a bit of Relic and Space Marine in that respect. They know the subject material and they're ideally suited to be the studio to bring it over. Unlike Starcraft ghost, this is mooted an in-house product.
    Edited by subedii at 15/11/10 @ 22:49

  • Trafford #33 2 years ago

    Diablo 3.
    When I'm down,the thought of it cheers me up.

  • Morgawr #34 2 years ago

    EricTheViking seems like the kind of person who likes posting unsubstantiated claims to validate his own preconceived position in his own mind. I suspect there's no point trying to have a rational discussion with him. However, I'll try anyway. A few points:

    1. CODBLOPS not selling well on PC and Blizzard planning to release Diablo 3 for consoles says nothing about the state of PC gaming. I suggest you look into the concept of causality.

    2. Your comment that "no one plays PC games anymore" shows that you're either ignorant or just trolling (I suspect the latter). 30 million Steam accounts \= no one playing PC games anymore. If you think 30 million = zero then there really is no help for you.

    3. Your comment that "PC Gaming is dying off. Even Blizzard are into consoles now" is also ignorant. They haven't made a console game for a decade, and have developed some of the best selling PC games ever, but due to a few job adverts, they’re suddenly “into consoles now”? Think about what you’re saying. It makes no sense. They make hundreds of millions a month from PC gaming.


    If you’d like to have a rational debate, I would be interested to hear your rebuttals to my points.

  • darkmorgado #35 2 years ago

    @Morgawr

    I wouldn't bother. I asked him right from the start to present a source backing up his claim that PC gaming is dead. He completely ignored it.

    Definite troll.

  • darkmorgado #36 2 years ago

    I highly doubt that Blizzard will have anything to do with console for a very long time.

    Why?

    They like to do their own thing, to their own standards. The second they work for console, they tie themselves to standards and obligations forced upon them by third party organisations. They tie themselves to release windows, they tie themselves to the stupid online rules incorporated by Sony/MS, they will effectively have to cede control over their own game to the hardware platform owners.

    I will be *very* surprised if we see a console game by Blizzard in the near future. Remember Starcraft: Ghost?

  • beastmaster #37 2 years ago

    Interesting. With games such as Deathspank and the new Tomb Raider game, they're probably just looking into doing a little something on the side as a downloadable game.

    Not a PC gamer but I still think it's a bit crap when games are compromised on any system.

  • butler` #38 2 years ago

    BG:DA proved that ARPG can thrive on consoles. The fact that no one has repeated it, or just plain old copied Diablo1/2 over the the consoles, is completely beyond me. It's a licence to print money.

  • _LarZen_ #39 2 years ago

    Games like this has been done for consoles before and it works realy good, if Blizzard cant get Diablo 3 to work on a consol it aint becaus they cant but becaus they just dont want to.

  • miiiguel #40 2 years ago

    It would be epic to be able to play Diablo in the living room, in a proper entertainment device. Epic.

  • coolbritannia #41 2 years ago

    Are you guys seriously trying to say PC gaming is NOT in decline?

  • darkmorgado #42 2 years ago

    @coolbritannia

    If anything, PC gaming is actually on an upswing. Retail space means nothing, seeing as digital sales now account for (Estimates reckon) up to half of PC sales. Plus then you factor in MMO subs, and (shudder) casual gaming, and actually PC gaming actually accounts for more revenue than the consoles put together.

  • darkmorgado #43 2 years ago

    The fact that no one has repeated it, or just plain old copied Diablo1/2 over the the consoles, is completely beyond me. It's a licence to print money.

    Something tells me you never experienced the horror of Diablo 1 on PSX.

    EDIT: Guessing this is EricTheViking negging me. Go back and play Diablo on PS1. It was fucking terrible.
    Edited by darkmorgado at 16/11/10 @ 00:17

  • coolbritannia #44 2 years ago

    I guess the google results I got for 'PC gaming in decline' are wrong then...

  • darkmorgado #45 2 years ago

    Steam and other digital distribution services don't release their sales figures.

  • darkmorgado #46 2 years ago

    I've been wanting this for so long...

    Keep waiting. Blizzard has been "working" on console titles for well over a decade. Nothing's come of it yet.

  • coolbritannia #47 2 years ago

    I wonder why, you'd think if they wanted to prove PC gaming wasn't in decline they'd provide some proof?

  • coomber #48 2 years ago

    Diablo III heading to consoles?
    Alan Wake 2 to be Kinect compatible?
    Broccoli cures cancer?

    Fred Dutton did not write one of those headlines. Can you tell which?

  • darkmorgado #49 2 years ago

    @coolbrittania

    I'm guessing it's because they are a closed platform and not a public company (and therefore do not need to release their figures), and on top of that you only have to look at the increasing shitstorm between retail and Steam. Most gaming companies only release their sales figures because they have shareholders to account to. Valve don't have that issue.

    But ignoring Steam for a second, just look at the MMO scene. I'm not just talking about WOW (though that itself accounts for a shitwad of cash). Look at EVE, EQ, Runescape, Champions, and even the (spit!) facebook stuff. Add all that up, and PC gaming easily rivals consoles in revenue.

    And that's before you look at the e-sports scene in the East.
    Edited by darkmorgado at 16/11/10 @ 00:15

  • coolbritannia #50 2 years ago

    Yeah seems to be the MMO scene that's really profiting on PC, bet the consoles want a slice of that pie...

  • darkmorgado #51 2 years ago

    Steam, to me, seems almost comparable to iPhone - indie devs are absolutely thriving on Steam now, much as they are on iPhone. They can release their games with little advertisement, and with lower dev costs, and rake in a fortune. Yes, day-1 prices for large retail releases are stupid, but Steam also have their sales (which often seem stupidly good value for money). The large indie sales combined with almost 0 distribution costs acts as a massive incentive for indies, which drives up sales, increases awareness, drives up sales even more, etc etc.

    If Steam wasn't doing significant business and grabbing huge revenue, then why do the high-street stores seem so bloody scared of it right now?

  • coolbritannia #52 2 years ago

    I'm not sure as a business model it's that comparable. iPhone made me abandon my previous phone for that platform, I've never even considered steam as a gamer, I'm a console/iPhone player. I'm sure in this community steam is popular, but this community is not representative of the gaming world at large.

  • darkmorgado #53 2 years ago

    The problem is, though, that casual gaming is rapidly eclipsing our "hardcore" audience. In that sense, casual gaming on the PC is fast becoming the majority. Just like how the Wii has made "hardcore" gamers feel threatened because all of a sudden "our" hobby is no longer our own closely-guarded secret pleasure.

    And again, if retail stores are making public statements against Steam, threatening to boycott any product that carries it, it has to make you wonder why they are so worried?
    Edited by darkmorgado at 16/11/10 @ 00:44

  • coolbritannia #54 2 years ago

    Probably worried about a successful pc digital distribution service triggering the consoles to go the same route, wiping out high street game retailers?

  • darkmorgado #55 2 years ago

    Probably worried about a successful pc digital distribution service triggering the consoles to go the same route, wiping out high street game retailers?

    Perhaps, but then cinema has undergone similarly massive transitions over the years. Remember the furore over VHS?

    I think, if anything, we are rapidly approaching an era where mass-produced shite eclipses genuine gems. A situation that, to be honest, cinema has been in for over 30 years. The difference here is that the genuine gems are earning revenue on par with the mass-produced shite, which perhaps could undermine the large publishers. I

  • darkmorgado #56 2 years ago

    Probably worried about a successful pc digital distribution service triggering the consoles to go the same route, wiping out high street game retailers?

    Perhaps, but then cinema has undergone similarly massive transitions over the years. Remember the furore over VHS?

    I think, if anything, we are rapidly approaching an era where mass-produced shite eclipses genuine gems. A situation that, to be honest, cinema has been in for over 30 years. The difference here is that the genuine gems are earning revenue on par with the mass-produced shite, which perhaps could undermine the large publishers. I foresee an organisation set up within our lifetime to protect the interests of prominent people in the games industry. The way I see it, at the moment industry talent is very much held to ransom by the big studios - similar to the situation Cinema found itself in in the early 40s.
    We already have our industry geniuses - Kojima, Myamoto, Schafer, Gilbert, et al. But in our present model they are at the whim of publishers. I think within our lifetime we will see a shift where the publishers are more at the whim of the creators.

  • Genji #57 2 years ago

    I see no reason why something similar to Diablo wouldn't work on a console. It was awful on PSX, but that was a very long time ago FFS. Would it be exactly the same? No. But that's what "adapting" is about. Comparisons with RTS games just don't fly with me. Diablo is a lot simpler than an RTS - imo, it's the simplicity which makes it great.

    And I reckon Microsoft (or whoever they work with) will give Blizzard a lot of leeway in their decisions. They do, after all, like to make money, and Blizzard games make oceans of dough.

    And I'm sure Blizzard likes to make money too! So it makes perfect sense to spread to consoles, at least in this case. I'm sure they can find someone who is up to the challenge.

    And no, it doesn't mean that PC gaming is dying, or gaming in general is dying. Please.
    Edited by Genji at 16/11/10 @ 02:54

  • Scimarad #58 2 years ago

    I really don't know anyone can say the Diablo concept isn't suited to consoles. It's an action RPG FFS!

    I think the thread does some serious damage to idea that PC gamers are more mature although I notice many console gamers are struggling to preserve this notion. Conclusion; The word gamer and the word mature shouldn't generally be put in close proximity unless there is a negative involved.
    Edited by Scimarad at 16/11/10 @ 08:21

  • apoc_reg #59 2 years ago

    I fail to see why Diablo wouldn't work as a twin stick. Seems quite logical to me

  • Scimarad #60 2 years ago

    Twin stick? Now there's an idea!

  • Ged42 #61 2 years ago

    Strange all this talk of PC only Blizzard, considering they made console games like Rock and Roll Racing and Blackhawk, before Warcraft and Starcraft even existed.

  • des #62 2 years ago

    meh,who cares,Diablo was on consoles before
    It will launch in 2020 anyway

  • taurus82 #63 2 years ago

    Twin stick is definitely the way to go (assuming Diablo III is anything like Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance or Champions of Norrath) for the PS3 version.

  • geeza2020 #64 2 years ago

    I would love for this to happen, but Blizzard take ages to make games, and I think if they were going to release Diablo 3 on the consoles it would have been announced ages ago. This is probably some awful facebook game, or maybe if us console paupers are lucky, an XBLA/PSN downloadable spin-off/knock-off.

  • JayG #65 2 years ago

    Knowing how long Blizzard takes to make a game, a console Diablo would probably have to be next gen. It is interesting that 4 out of 7 games acti listed that they wanted to develop were from Blizzard, so seems logical to assume that some of them have to be have console.

    As for PC gaming going into decline, I've never had more games to play on PC. I don't really care that most are multi platform, certain games i prefer playing on PC, and they are still getting released. And next year looks insane. Deus Ex, Witcher 2, Duke Nuke em', the Old Republic, Crysis 2, Max Payne 3, Rage, X-com, Dragon age 2, more then enough to keep me going, or sit unplayed on the hard drive like so many other steam specials. PC is the strongest gaming platform, but not the for hardcore. 23 million play 2nd life, facebook games are huge, and indie gaming looks stronger then ever.

    Personally i think one the biggest reasons for the decline of PC games is MMO's, they are a huge time investment. I am pretty surprised that Bio's Old Republic isn't coming to the 360, especially as they are now mainly a console company, maybe MS is afraid of MMO's for the same reason. Seems silly to deprive consoles of a francaise that originated on the 360.

  • Spekingur #66 2 years ago

    So the heads at Activision finally got to Blizzard eh?

    Wouldn't be surprised to see a Diablo game on the consoles. Like an arcade game or suchlike. Possibly even a third person over the shoulder view. And probably some plasticy thing to play it with. This is due to Activision wanting us to buy plastic things along with their "consumer research".

  • geeza2020 #67 2 years ago

    Seriously Eric, you are the biggest cunt I have ever seen on these boards, and I'm not even a PC gamer. Just fuck off.

    You are ignored.

  • darkmorgado #68 2 years ago

    Sorry mate you just seem a huge nerd.

    I'm not the one trolling the internet making endless threads and comments about how PC gaming is dead and ignoring the evidence to the contrary.

  • TriggerHippie #69 2 years ago

    People have been saying PC gaming is dying since the PS1 came out. Its as true now as it was then.

    The original version of this story was pretty bloody shakey to be honest. Disappointing Eurogamer.
    Edited by TriggerHippie at 16/11/10 @ 12:37

  • miiiguel #70 2 years ago

    You're an obnoxious person Eric, and I hate office-desk gaming, that's not even the issue. Darkmorgado didn't troll or did any name calling. Totally out of line your speech.

    You're ignored.

  • UncleLou #71 2 years ago

    Sorry mate you just seem a huge nerd.

    Says the guy arguing on an internet forum. What a dolt. :D

  • markyHD #72 2 years ago

    Makes a point though. It is just a hack 'n' slash. Nothing really that couldn't translate across to a well thought out pad interface.