Diablo 2: Resurrected is the upcoming remaster of Blizzard's 2000 action RPG Diablo 2. While the core gameplay will remain unchanged in the remaster, there are many visual, quality of life, and network updates that will be included. Some of these changes may include cut content that never made it into the original Diablo 2.
Like most games, Diablo 2 has plenty of cut content hidden in its files. Over the years, fans have managed to extract much of this content, and even work out how to spawn it. While it's hard to understand why something was cut in the first place, it's possible that some of these features may appear in Diablo 2: Resurrected.
Monsters and Items
Although Diablo 2 had plenty of monsters for players to take on, several more have been discovered among the cut content. The reason for these cuts are unknown, as some of the monsters have all the animations, sounds, and AI they'd need to be implemented throughout the game.
- The Butcher: A boss from Diablo 1, all the code for The Butcher can be found in Diablo 2's files as well.
- Wolf: A standard wolf model, cut from the game despite having animations.
- Elemental Demons: Elemental creatures with a suicide attack that deals either fire, cold, lightning, or poison damage.
- Quill Bear: A much larger variation on the Quill Rat enemy, the Quill Bear also has different versions for different levels.
- Mosquito Nest and Evil Hole: These two aren't monsters in themselves, but nest spawns that didn't make it into the game.
- Plant Beast: A creature that appears to share animations with the vine skill of Diablo's Druid class.
- Gorgon: A snake-like monster armed with a sword and shield that has only two finished animations.
As well as monsters, there were also many items that were cut from the final edition of Diablo 2. These include unique weapons, herbs, elixirs, and a whole list of item/monster affixes that were cut from the game. These cuts are some of the most likely to make a return in Diablo 2: Resurrected, particularly in the case of the unique weapons. Finally, there are also four pieces of furniture that were designed for use in Guilds, one of the most substantial features cut from Diablo 2.
The Guild System
The Guild system is unique among Diablo 2's cut content: Firstly, because of the sheer amount of it still in the files, and secondly because it appeared in press information before the game's release. This largely indicates that the Guilds system was a last minute cut. The Guild System was intended to add a layer of progression to Diablo 2's endgame, with a particular focus on multiplayer gameplay.
Players who had completed the game would then be able to create a Guild, and invite friends to join it through Blizzard's servers. The Guild would be represented by a customizable banner, and would gain levels through its member's actions. There were also four pieces of furniture that would have been featured in the Guild system:
- Steeg Stone: A place for members to donate gold to level up the Guild.
- Guild Vault: Presumably a kind of shared chest.
- Message Board: Possibly a book that players could use to write messages to their fellow members.
- Trophy Case: For storing trophies, perhaps for bosses defeated or other achievements.
Of all the features cut from Diablo 2 that might see the light of day in some form with Diablo 2: Resurrected, the Guild System is one of the most likely. While Diablo 2 mostly followed a traditional singleplayer RPG gameplay arc, the Diablo series has become progressively more focused on the endgame and multiplayer aspects. This means that the Guild System, or something similar to it, could well make an appearance in the remaster to add depth and a multiplayer focus to Diablo 2: Resurrected's endgame.
Diablo 2 Resurrected is currently in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.