Blizzard in Diablo III console talks

By Robert Purchese Published 24 August, 2009

Plus: details from Q&A panel.

A console version of Diablo III may be close to becoming reality, after Blizzard claimed it was "theoretically possible" last year.

"Paul Sams of Blizzard says they haven't ruled out Diablo III for consoles, and are currently talking to the first parties," Tweeted GameTrailers TV editor Geoff Keighley, who might know a thing or two.

Diablo III made headlines over the weekend after Blizzard unveiled the Monk class at BlizzCon 2009. He's fast, he's furious and he makes enemies explode by pummelling them with lightning Street Fighter-like combos. Look at him go.

A Diablo III Q&A panel followed, and had less glitzy - but no less important - information to share.

Blizzard is going out on a limb to prevent item hacking this time around, and using experience from Diablo II and WOW to ensure item-duplicators are not welcome. Loot stealing will not be possible either, as players will only see the items they are entitled to.

PvP will be a big focus for Diablo III, but the 'hostile' system will not return. A new, better idea will be settled upon, and aims to support the enthusiastic duelling community.

A Hardcore-like mode will definitely feature, and there will be something similar to gambling - although with significant changes.

Travel time will be reduced and exits scattered throughout dungeons, and gold will be more meaningful and given sparingly as a result.

Blizzard wants a "much better" matchmaking system in Diablo III, but hasn't implemented many Battle.net features yet as StarCraft II has been the focus of the platform.

Diablo III will have no quest phasing like World of Warcraft, no crafting (yet) and no map editor.

Expect our Diablo III impressions from BlizzCon 2009 soon.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (35) Latest comment 3 years ago

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

  • Chufty #1 3 years ago

    ffs....

  • zuljin #2 3 years ago

    Please don't! I'll never leave the couch then!

  • Vertius #3 3 years ago

    I'm sure everyone left that panel smiling... :\

    Even if there is a console Diablo III release, I'd be grabbing the PC version. I'd imagine the whole console situation would be like Valve's 360 efforts, where they'll support their own online platform better than the other's.

  • Daymare #4 3 years ago

    It would be my little dream come true!

  • Rushy #5 3 years ago

    PS3 or 360 I don't care, just get this game onto one of them and I'll be made up.

  • HistoryTeller #6 3 years ago

    I would cry my head off if it wasn't a multiplatform release.

    Anyway.. Good news!

  • symmetry #7 3 years ago

    Absolutely no reason to make it an exclusive, they will surely make more money as a multiplatform game.

    PLEASE!!

  • Bazfrag #8 3 years ago

    Groovy.

    After watching the new vids, im not sure my pc is up to the task, in multiplayer at least. Hope it happens.

  • Wyrm #9 3 years ago

    Would probably work better on console anyway.

  • NorUraeus #10 3 years ago

    @symmetry: It is not so sure they make more money if Diablo 3 is a multiplatform game, it depends on if the console sales ends up being a relatively pure addition to the PC sales or if the console sales will cannibalize the PC sales. Since they make more money on each PC sale (no huge fee to console creators) the calculation on whether it makes them more money or not depends on if the additional sales generated by the consoles brings in more money than the money they lose by console sales cannibalizing PC sales.

    Personally I do hope for a console version as I would mostly like only play this if it comes out on the PS3, but I don't know if there are a lot of people like me or if most people would buy the PC version if it doesn't release on console.

  • BlackKraken #11 3 years ago

    Any game where I can choose to lounge around on a sofa while playing is damn good news. Cursed uncomfortable desktop computing.

  • Crazyreyn #12 3 years ago

    Never say never, after all the first Diablo came out for PlayStation.

    I'd love to see it on consoles, but I'd still opt for the PC version.

  • UberFrog #13 3 years ago

    fuc.... shit consoles dragging down the games quality again and again...

  • menage #14 3 years ago

    I would buy it.

  • Katsumoto #15 3 years ago

    "Would probably work better on console anyway. "

    ! How do you work that one out? Unless of course they implemented mouse/keyboard support (which I think UT3 is the only game to do on PS3? Only one i'm aware of) in case I suppose it would be identical. Why more games don't support that I really don't know.

  • RedPanda #16 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012

  • yarrick #17 3 years ago

    I think I just threw up a little :/

  • FooAtari #18 3 years ago

    "Any game where I can choose to lounge around on a sofa while playing is damn good news. Cursed uncomfortable desktop computing."

    "I've never played a Diablo game and probably never will as I'm just not into playing PC games any more - tired of the constant upgrade cycle."

    You know, there are many reasons why people may want to see a console release. I personally don't think it will play nearly as well, an analogue stick is not precise enough or fast enough. Maybe they will modify it slightly, thats fine as long as they never butcher the PC version to accommodate it.

    But jesus christ I get sick of seeing these arguments.

    Wan't to play on your sofa, plug the PC into the TV. Alternatively get a decent chair for your desk. Personally I don't find gaming on the PC less comfy than the TV, but of course not everyone will think the same. And saves me getting moaned at for hogging the TV all evening :)

    Constant upgrade cycle? My PC is now over 3 years old. In that time I have stuck in another Gb of RAM and upgraded the Video card and it still plays games just fine (tbh those upgrades were not an absolute necessity, although it might be starting to struggle a little now, after 3 years). As long as you buy the right hardware the whole "constant upgrade cycle" is a total myth.

    And anyway, I'm pretty sure that Diablo 2 will work on your PC unless you bought it 1999 or something, so no excuse not to play it :)
    Edited by 1 at 24/08/09 @ 22:18

  • Sharzam #19 3 years ago

    I can see how this would work on a console, however blizzard dont exactly have a track record with it. They have said themselves that they focus on pc (i cant think of any console game other than ghost which was cancelled) because it allows them to do it however they want and they only release something when they feel its right. So dont do consoles as there are no other companys getting involved and thinking about it hell they have even published there own for years.

  • Miths #20 3 years ago

    PC version in 2012 - PS4 and XBox 720 versions in 2015.
    Yep, I'm reeealy pessimistic about the release date(s) for this game :).

  • asphaltcowboy #21 3 years ago

    please.do.this.

  • Edwardo #22 3 years ago

    I loved Diablo and Diablo II...but I just can't imagine playing them on a console. I also can't see how they could be nearly as impressive as the PC version (sorry but the consoles are now lagging quite a bit again behind the PC's).

    However I know a lot of people love gaming only on consoles and I'm cool with that - if they get games like this I really don't mind but I also really don't want to have to wait longer for them to arrive because of a delay to create the multiple versions (so just release the PC version first). I also don't want a dumbed down game because it had to be designed with console controllers in mind and the slower reaction times (I'm sorry but nothing beats a keyboard and mouse - especially not a 360 or PS3 controller).

  • Xerx3s #23 3 years ago

    "Diablo III will have no quest phasing like World of Warcraft, no crafting (yet) and no map editor."

    No crafting? Does that mean no cube & sockets, etc.? That would be a serious step backwards from D2. :/

    "I'm sure everyone left that panel smiling... :\"

    Apart from the fact that the release date is ages away.

  • Katsumoto #24 3 years ago

    On a separate note, I wish they'd save announcing these games until, say, a month or two before they were ready! These "half a decade" waits are pretty unbearable.
    Edited by 1 at 25/08/09 @ 09:05

  • JahB #25 3 years ago

    I've never played a Diablo game and probably never will as I'm just not into playing PC games any more - tired of the constant upgrade cycle.

    no matter what laptop/pc/mac you're currently using, i guarantee you it will run Diablo 1 and 2. and if you've never played either of these, i strongly suggest you give them a try, because you're missing out on two of the best games ever made.

  • penhalion #26 3 years ago

    So that's what....another two years or so added to the Diablo release date. My waters tell me it's going to be one of those "We want a simultanious release on all platforms" excuses.

    Two rabid blizzard fans have already died holding their breaths for a starcraft or diablo release. You try to tell them but, they never listen to ya. All they can see is the blizzard logo and won't hear a thing said about them......*sigh*

  • Sir_TimAlot #27 3 years ago

    Hoping for plenty of bad ass rune-words, did love Breath of the Dying!

  • craziii #28 3 years ago

    didn't you guys read? they would need to change the entire UI + how the powers for all classes work if they ever decide to make console ports. this info was from blizzcon 08.

    it is safe to say the pc version would never be butchered. and blizzard won't be adding a few buttons and called it a brand new UI (mass affect anyone?)

    I think the big 3 needs to waive the fees for blizzard, bet that is the biggest obstacle preventing it from happening. why risk paying fees/royalties(console sales eating into pc ones), when you can have all the profits on a pc exclusive.

  • Vistrix #29 3 years ago

    It would be fine on the PS3, with full keyboard + mouse support & mod support.

    If its going to be multiplatform though, im guessing Blizzard wont take advantage of that.

  • geeza2020 #30 3 years ago

    craziii:- "when you can have all the profits on a pc exclusive."

    because the profits wouldnt amount to much, about 3 people play games on pc's these days that arent either an MMORPG or an RTS.

  • ps3owner #31 3 years ago

    so online play will be based on battle.net right... how does MS handle that then?! PSN should be fine with this. I do like the idea of DIII being ported to the consoles. It would save me a load of dough... But as mentioned before by the time this comes out I'll probably past my gaming days... I am already not playing a lot these days.

    must be an age thing. damn it.

  • groovychainsaw #32 3 years ago

    They could put in co-op on the consoles. Job done 1 million+ sales. Its a no-brainer for blizzard, surely (esp now they are partnered with activision). Some of my favourite games on the ps2 were things like the baldur's gate:Dark alliance and champions of norrath, which are not too dissimilar, but had co-op modes and could be played on a pad. I can't see a good reason for them NOT to do this really.

  • sneetch #33 3 years ago

    @geeza2020
    craziii:- "when you can have all the profits on a pc exclusive."

    because the profits wouldnt amount to much, about 3 people play games on pc's these days that arent either an MMORPG or an RTS.

    Hey, I know those 3 guys!

    You forgot about FPSs, RPGs and strategy games (of the non-real time variety).

    Seriously, where do people get this idea that no-one plays PC games? I appreciate that a lot of people don't but just because you don't
    play games on PCs it doesn't mean the rest of us have stopped.

    Edit: you're also forgetting about game-starved Mac owners. They'll lap this up!
    Edited by 1 at 25/08/09 @ 18:06

  • craziii #34 3 years ago

    who must people put down one another?

    geeza, no one plays pc games? 11 million wow gamers would disagree. add any game genres that consoles can't handle with a controller.

  • UncleLou #35 3 years ago

    because the profits wouldnt amount to much, about 3 people play games on pc's these days that arent either an MMORPG or an RTS.

    Have you sent your CV to Blizzard? I think they could do with your expertise.