Blizzard announces Diablo III

By Oli Welsh Published 28 June, 2008

"It is time for shedding our enemies' blood, not idle talk."

Blizzard has announced Diablo III, the sequel to its smash hit action-RPG series, and demoed the game to its Worldwide Invitational audience in Paris.

In a press conference following the reveal, the developer confirmed PC and Mac platforms, saying it had "no plans" for console versions, and added that it was too early to talk about a release date - although Frank Pearce added, "as much as possible it will be our goal to release simultaneously worldwide".

Blizzard also released tons of screenshots, a cinematic trailer and gameplay footage.

During the press conference, Blizzard explained that the game would include drop-in/drop-out co-operative play and a mixture of random and static maps for its dungeon-crawling.

The game was introduced with a telltale steel guitar riff, played live, and a lush cinematic video. The video showed a world in ruins and armies marching through fields of fire.

Jay Wilson, lead designer, demoed the game, first introducing the barbarian class. The barbarian slew hundreds of demons on water-covered walkways in a dark temple. A minimal interface appeared a streamlined version of Diablo II's. Quick skills will now be added to mouse wheel and Tab key as well as the left and right mouse buttons. Wilson promised it would all be "so simple that you can play it with just the mouse".

Elsewhere, a new drop has been added to the game - red globes that allow speedy health recovery. The environment is fully destructible and very beautifully rendered in the familiar isometric perspective. The effects in particular are stunning. The barbarian was also shown jumping over a destroyed bridge and killing more zombies by smashing a destructible wall down on their heads. He killed tens of enemies at once with a new whirlwind skill.

'Blizzard announces Diablo III' Screenshot 1

Story and quest cut-scenes take place as fully animated, zoomed-in, inset windows, Blizzard explained.

Subsequent sections showed the barbarian, supported by two AI archers, scything through armoured enemies by getting them to drop their shields with powerful ground-pounding attacks. Dynamic scripted events take place during gameplay, with supporting characters' exclamations appearing in speech bubbles, the audience was told and shown.

After a boss fight with a grotesquely fat ogre, co-operative play was shown. The new player took on a witch doctor class who can possess his enemies and cast locust swarms. The witch doctor can also summon pets who can then be sacrificed in an explosion that will destroy nearby enemies. He was shown confusing his enemies into attacking one another and then killing them with explosive fireballs.

After a brief cameo from the series' popular character Deckard Cain, the action moved to an autumnal, soft-focus outdoor area - very WOW in graphical style.

'Blizzard announces Diablo III' Screenshot 2

The witch doctor's show-stopping skills continued. He summoned a wall of zombies to handle oncoming hordes.

Finally, female versions of the barbarian and witch doctor characters joined the fight for a spectacular boss battle with a giant armoured demon called a Siegebreaker Assault Beast. The monster's devastating blows toppled spires of rock nearby, before it was downed - and replaced with an army of skeletons emerging from the ground. Fade to black.

So there we have it - classic, co-opertiave Diablo with some mighty new skills, features focusing on ease of play, female and male models for every class, and stunning contemporary visuals and sound. We'll bring you more on Diablo III based on the rest of our time at the Worldwide Invitational, so keep an eye on the site.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (87) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • doctorgonzo #1 4 years ago

    Oh great. Bye-bye, social life ...

  • udat #2 4 years ago

    I'm shocked and amazed. A total surprise.

  • Danoxth #3 4 years ago

    Splash Page

  • Kami #4 4 years ago

    It was pretty obvious though this was gonna be the announcement...

    Still nice to see though.

  • Mox #5 4 years ago

    I am very excited by this news.

  • Haloboy #6 4 years ago

    Expected and yet oh so thrilling at the same time.

  • Obit #7 4 years ago

    Sounds cool, but I really want to know what kind of online functionality it will have!

  • Xerx3s #8 4 years ago

    A sequel to the best game ever? Yes please.

  • FooAtari #9 4 years ago

    Cool.

    Although I have yet to properly play the copy of Diablo 2 that has been sitting on my shelf the last couple of years. Still no regrets selling all my consoles. Well apart from PS3 althoug its mainly used for BluRay and streaming from the PC.

  • des #10 4 years ago

    Good!

  • Mox #11 4 years ago

    Witch Doctor (Alkor from Kurast Docks?) to replace Necromancer, I guess? Necros just too evil to be on the side of light? Shame, I liked the idea of forming an unlikely alliance with the undead to defeat the Lord of Terror. I wonder when they are thinking of releasing this? Hopefully before the end of the world in 2012 - according to the Mayans.

  • davisorle #12 4 years ago

    Sine AoC came out and I created our new Guild my PC is on the run 24/7 again... So i guess I might have to let the officers do all the job for a little while when this comes out. Good old fucking times... I bought for the second time the game like 6-7 years ago when i was in USA.. ffs how old is really Diablo II? I cant even remember anymore.

  • Bangaioh #13 4 years ago

    Nice :) :) :)
    / laughs with satisfaction

  • redd #14 4 years ago

    bought!

  • Necanthrope #15 4 years ago

    Great news lets just hope its not still a year or more away from release.

  • Dizz #16 4 years ago

    YEAHHHHHH!

    And the vids on the D3 site look totally FAB.

    With this, SC2 and perhaps a little bit of WoW, I'll be totally satisfied. I'm really curious as to what kind of MMORPG they are developing next to this (as their job openings pointed out).
    Edited by 1 at 28/06/08 @ 12:18

  • TheBiGW #17 4 years ago

    I guess this was announced just for the PC and not for any of the major consoles?

  • Xerx3s #18 4 years ago

    What's the release date of Starcraft? I guess that the announce time of that vs the release date is a similar timespan.

  • Quint2020 #19 4 years ago

    Awesome, D2 is one of my all time favourite games, i'd love them to release this on consoles but if they don't i'll buy a new PC just for this.

  • superjag86 #20 4 years ago

    OMG DIABLO 3 OMG !!!!!!!

  • WinterSnowblind #21 4 years ago

    @Mox

    The Mayans never said that the world ends in 2012, only that we move on to a different plane of existance. Coincidentally.. on that very date marks the first time ever our planet will move from being on the top side of the Milky Way galaxy "disc" so to speak, to the bottom, intersecting with the Galactic Equator, were gravity is at it's strongest.

    Whether or not the Mayans were right, there's going to be some strange things happening on December 21st 2012. But perhaps this is a discussion for else where. :p

  • Laserbream #22 4 years ago

    Woooo!

  • actionfitz #23 4 years ago

    Blizzard just made sweet love to my eyes...
    anyone got a tissue?

  • Haloboy #24 4 years ago

    2008 just turned into a monster year for PC gaming. Quite literally.

    And I have to say upon just completing my first watch of the gameplay video, it's a stunningly beautiful game. And like StarCraft 2 makes me smile that the Blizz decided not to go full on back obscuring 3D. It will never be nor was it ever needed.

  • nesta #25 4 years ago

    trailer on youtube: http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=UhrsIF6ymVE

  • Bleh #26 4 years ago

    This is great news. Hopefully the release wont be somewhere in the years to come.

  • w00t #27 4 years ago

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

  • 7creature #28 4 years ago

    Who needs consoles now? XD

  • Sirius #29 4 years ago

    Awesome!!

  • wonton #30 4 years ago

    I would be surprised if even Starcraft 2 is released this year let alone Diable 3. This is Blizzard we are talking about, give it a couple more years.

  • Mike1980 #31 4 years ago

    Great news indeed. Although I'm still too cheap to upgrade to a decent gaming rig.

  • nesta #32 4 years ago

    Diablo gameplay videos

    Part 1: [link url=http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=NQMBIRipp5A
    ]http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=NQMBIRipp5A
    [/link]
    Part 2: http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=vi1lVqJSbsM

  • Emth #33 4 years ago

    Long live Blizzard.

  • RandomTerrain #34 4 years ago

    No console version?
    :o/ Poo.

  • spekkeh #35 4 years ago

    Although I did play Diablo 1 to death, I'm honestly not really psyched. To me there's only so long you can enjoy the repetitive clicking format. I'd much rather Blizzard would have thought up something new instead of sequel after sequel.

    Oh what am I saying, on to post nr 1000, GO GO GO

  • makeamazing #36 4 years ago

    Diablo 1 brought back alot of memories... it was a great game, I must try and dig it up. Diablo 2 was ok, but to be honest Diablo 1 was the better game.

    I dont think it matters if its hack and slash, I will get this game just because i had some much fun with no1.

    Now where did i put diablo 2, and wonders if the patches will screw it up again.

  • matrim83 #37 4 years ago

    Wow. Time order a new mouse. I cant subject my current one the horrific clicking thats about to descend on it. :D

  • elvenearth #38 4 years ago

    Not surprised, but very very cool to hear.

  • Gnort #39 4 years ago

    I loved Diablo I and II, but am surprised by how little I care about this. Maybe a console version would have piqued my curiosity, but I don't really play games on my PC anymore, certainly not "action" games like Diablo.

  • MaxiSleep #40 4 years ago

    This is the best gaming news I have heard this year.

    Happy Happy Happy Happy.

    pc gaming dead my arse :)


  • Trikk #41 4 years ago

    Console versions are always shit.

  • Tehren #42 4 years ago

    I am so hyped right now!

  • XENgamer #43 4 years ago

    Thankyou Blizzard!
    Can't wait!!

  • bionutz #44 4 years ago

    I think I've just come!!!
    But seems to have borrowed some elements from Titan Quest, which is not bad at all! If it makes it before end of september, I will be able to take a week vacation to play it. The Barbarian is slower than in DII unfortunately. And yes Diablo 1 was more charming than Diablo 2

  • ph101 #45 4 years ago

    Having not played either i'm not too psyched. Maybe I shouldn't even post. But I was hoping for some innovation here, at the least a console version, in fact all I can see is. Wella good third installment I guess. I might even get it this time.

  • Lemming81 #46 4 years ago

    It's a gorgeous looking game, and more than a little Lord of the Rings (movies) inspired methinks!

  • Laika #47 4 years ago

    I think the only two devs I'll ever need are Valve and Blizzard. Between them thay make the best examples of every genre I like.

  • Miths #48 4 years ago

    Looks like my move to console gaming could turn out not to be entirely permanent afterall :).

  • FooAtari #49 4 years ago

    "I'd much rather Blizzard would have thought up something new instead of sequel after sequel."

    What like CoD 4, GTA 4, Guitar Hero 3, Mario Galazy, Halo 3, etc etc.

    At least this is the 3rd game in something like 10-12 years rather than the 3rd game in four or five.

  • Mudo #50 4 years ago

    I would also prefer a new IP but the game does look very good in the gameplay video

    "What like CoD 4, GTA 4, Guitar Hero 3, Mario Galazy, Halo 3, etc etc."
    Erm, I daresay he wasn't referring to those games, no. Them being sequels and all.

    -
    On another note, I really like how Blizzard announce their games. They give gameplay videos and screenshots including the GUI in the very first announcement. Not many companies do that. With the SC2 and Diablo3 announcements, I've had the impression the games are already in very good shape whereas with a lot of developers they seem to make announcements while still in pre-production.
    Edited by 1 at 28/06/08 @ 19:02

  • Malazan #51 4 years ago

    Although it's not for me, I'm happy for some of my friends who are rabid Diablo fans.

    I totally agree with Mudo, other developers should take a leaf out of Blizzard's book when announcing a new game.

  • smelly #52 4 years ago

    "
    What like CoD 4, GTA 4, Guitar Hero 3, Mario Galazy, Halo 3, etc etc.

    At least this is the 3rd game in something like 10-12 years rather than the 3rd game in four or five."



    [nintendo fanboy mode]

    it's been just as long between mario games too..

    [/nintendo fanboy mode]

  • Bitkari #53 4 years ago

    Awesomes.

  • space_ace #54 4 years ago

    not a fan, but i have to admit it looks sweet

  • Wyrm #55 4 years ago

    From the video it look amazing.

    Just how much money do Blizzard want to make?

  • YourMessageHere #56 4 years ago

    This has to be a record - cleared the first page without any misinformed idiots going "shame you'll have to spend £1000 (or other figure between £500 and £2000 pulled from arse) to even run it". On topic, not my cup of tea but it is undeniably beautiful; the physics-based play seems to me like a step that games of this ilk have really been missing. If they make it half as scalable as WoW, give a modest discount for WoW subscribers and add in some decent community features then they're onto a massive winner. They could even put it on Steam, but I expect that's far too sensible an idea to ever happen.

  • FooAtari #57 4 years ago

    "Erm, I daresay he wasn't referring to those games, no. Them being sequels and all."

    it;s called sarcasm. I meant blizzard are far from the worst offenders and most of the best sellng games of the past couple years are sequels, and most are sequels released every year or two at that. Not that I rate all the games i listed, was just what came to mind.

  • Xerx3s #58 4 years ago

    "All I need now is Planescape Torment 2. "

    Chances of them ever making a quality sequel now: 0. Null. Nada. Not even when hell freezes over.

  • Harmonica #59 4 years ago

    Can't fault developing sequels if they turn out to be brilliant, which this is practically guaranteed to be.

  • yagisencho #60 4 years ago

    Good. I don't know how many more times I can play through Diablo II. (Read: I don't know how long I can keep myself from playing through Diablo II again.)

  • Svecke #61 4 years ago

    Wait... I sense a disturbance in the force.

    It is as if a million mice screamed out in terror and then suddenly fell silent.

  • karstux #62 4 years ago

    Ooh, I'm excited. Where can I pre-order? :) That drop-in co-op sounds fabulous, too. My gf will love it!

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #63 4 years ago

    Sounds and looks amazing. Is it expected next year or can we assume this will also take forever to appear?

  • Schiraman #64 4 years ago

    I played a lot of Diablo and Diablo 2, so I'm definitely looking forward to getting my hands on this (2009? 2010?). OTOH it looks *very* similar to Diablo 2... I wish Blizzard were more ambitious with their franchises - producing very polished games is fine, but more innovation would be nice. Also: limiting character customisation to just picking male and female versions of the class is pretty crap in this day and age.

  • penhalion #65 4 years ago

    3 - 4 years ago I would have been excited about this but, having played the likes of Titan quest, gothic etc. etc. I can't get excited about this at all. This and starcraft 2 is like a step back in time and not for the better.

  • spekkeh #66 4 years ago

    I meant blizzard are far from the worst offenders and most of the best sellng games of the past couple years are sequels, and most are sequels released every year or two at that.

    Oh you're absolutely right. But those game producers have the business model of mindlessly rushing games onto the market every couple of months. Blizzard is a talented bunch who really take their time to perfect a game. If they'd make a new IP it's bound to be awesome and provide a new genre benchmark. Now I don't mean to imply that they don't deserve to rest on their laurels as all the other companies do, but I'm just not as psyched about it.

  • Lin #67 4 years ago

    So? Go play a proper RPG.

    In more important news, Obsidian are expanding Neverwinter Nights 2 again.

  • JimmyDoDopp #68 4 years ago

    Dude, Diablo 3 is going to totally ROCK. I just cannot wait for this game to come out!
    http://www.Ultimat e-Anonymity.com

  • Wildsleven #69 4 years ago

    holy jesus shit!!! its like a dream come true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

  • AhSoul #70 4 years ago

    What's even better news is that it's coming out for Mac at the same time as PC :D

  • thefinn #71 4 years ago

    Ooh, I'm excited. Where can I pre-order? :) That drop-in co-op sounds fabulous, too. My gf will love it!

    Umm... Strictly speaking, didn't Diablo II have drop-in co-op? Or is the idea that any single-player game is technically a server?

    For that matter, when the guy in the article says:

    it would all be "so simple that you can play it with just the mouse"

    How is that different from Diablo II? I don't remember ever using the function keys for anything once I got used to using the wheel to switch skills.

  • UncleLou #72 4 years ago

    I think he means it's still so simple that you only need the mouse if you want, but with added comfort through the skill hotbar if you're so inclined.

  • Sir_TimAlot #73 4 years ago

    oh man, i vey nearly dropped out of univeristy thanks to Diablo2 and am still playing it to this day and start new chars every ladder, this is either going to get me fired from work or make me gain about 100 pounds either way still cannot wait, may have to do a cartman and freeze myself.

  • craziii #74 4 years ago

    the game already feel like it is finish! release it!

  • mingster #75 4 years ago

    Nice... PC gaming just got the boost its been needing..

  • Dizzy #76 4 years ago

    There were some 360s at the WWI ;) (playing I am Murloc!)

  • EmiliasHorse #77 4 years ago

    Lich King, SC2 and now this.....cheers Blizzard you already have almost total control of my PC gaming with WoW. Guess they needed the other 5% I dedicate to playing other games.

    Happy days indeed.

  • Goldrake #78 4 years ago

    Well after a bit of consideration I am not sure how much I will bother with this if doesn't surf on a console near me as well.
    The thought of upgrading my pc is not one that excite me even though I might just have enough on my current one as I am
    not sure how much power it will need to run.
    The thing is, thinking about it, 3 years in games is a long time and I have been playing Gears of War and stuff like that so Diablo's
    gameplay seems to have advanced very little. It seems to me the developers didn't take any chances here. They gave gamers what
    they wanted, bigger, better. It looks brilliant but will I bother to fight hundreds of little creatures without exercising my brain ?
    We'll see, however I do not know what problems would Blizzard have running this on 360 or PS3. To me it already looks like a console game,
    anyway, it's great to see Diablo again, welcome back, we missed you.
    Edited by 1 at 30/06/08 @ 01:43

  • Harmonica #79 4 years ago

    Diablo is one of those games that relies mostly on the core game mechanic of using big weapons to twat things with, much like Half-Life relies on 'have gun, will shoot'.

    Aside from tweaks here and there, and graphical upgrades, there's not much need for reinvention of the wheel, as long as the story holds up to inspection.. and even then you can fall back on 'It's Diablo 3'.

    edit: basically it's an example of 'pure play'.
    Edited by 1 at 30/06/08 @ 05:21

  • spongebob #80 4 years ago

    Could we have an Xbox 360 version as well, pretty please!

  • 7creature #81 4 years ago

    3 - 4 years ago I would have been excited about this but, having played the likes of Titan quest, gothic etc. etc. I can't get excited about this at all. This and starcraft 2 is like a step back in time and not for the better.
    What are those games you are talking about? There weren't any good action rpgs worth mentioning after Diablo 2 LoD.

    And from those not worth mentioning only Titan Quest managed to get some attention (basically as a methadone for those temporarily fed-up with D2 and wanting to play something with better graphic, still disappointment). I would even dare to say majority of D2 players is waiting for D3 all these years...

    Step back? Lol. Step back from WHAT? There wasn't any proper step forward yet in the first case... In gameplay.

    Well, back to D2 ladder for now :-)

    spongebob: You mean Macintosh release? Seems so. Consoles? Hopefully not :-]
    Edited by 2 at 30/06/08 @ 08:24

  • anomagnus #82 4 years ago

    fuck, how wrongs was i?

  • bengray66 #83 4 years ago

    Hooray Mac aswell!

  • BooMMooB #84 4 years ago

    looks stunning. I can't wait.

  • gmmonkey #85 4 years ago

    Never played the diablo games but this looks pretty sweet.

  • Agent_Orange #86 4 years ago

    Damn awesome, gonna reinstall Diablo 2 and LoD expansion - also you can enter your serial on blizzard store for re downloads (my cds are really scratched - Anyone know if theres any patch that ups the resolution above 800x600?

  • CouldntResist #87 4 years ago

    "3 - 4 years ago I would have been excited about this but, having played the likes of Titan quest, gothic etc. etc. I can't get excited about this at all. This and starcraft 2 is like a step back in time and not for the better. "

    Elitists repeat after me:

    Good games do not need to be original