Diablo 2: Resurrected is just one week away from launch, when the classic ARPG will arrive on PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S for the very first time. Activision Blizzard studio Vicarious Visions has gone to great lengths to maintain Diablo 2: Resurrected's authenticity, even on consoles. However, there were always going to be limitations for the PC-focused game. The Nintendo Switch version of Diablo 2: Resurrected will, unfortunately, have the biggest restriction.
In a blog post shared recently, and then reconfirmed by Blizzard on social media on Wednesday, a major limitation was revealed for the Nintendo Switch version of Diablo 2: Resurrected. In Diablo 2: Resurrected multiplayer, games on PC and non-Switch consoles will allow for up to 8 total players in a single lobby. On Nintendo Switch, Blizzard has been forced to halve that total. Only four players will be able to play together in a single lobby on Switch.
The reason for this limitation is assumedly technical, but Blizzard doesn't say that specifically. Rather, Blizzard says that four players makes for an "optimal experience" when playing Diablo 2: Resurrected on Switch, particularly for the Switch's handheld mode. It's easy to visualize a handheld Switch user being overwhelmed by seven other players rushing onto the smaller screen at a time. That said, seven characters' skill effects on-screen are likely too much for the Switch's lesser performance, as well.
While cutting the total number of allowable players in a given match in half is very much a severe limitation, it should still be more than enough for Diablo 2: Resurrected players to still have fun. That's still 3 potential questing buddies or 3 potential PvP enemies. If anything, 8 players might be overkill, but that's part of what has made Diablo 2 multiplayer so popular over the years.
Beyond that, the Nintendo Switch version of Diablo 2: Resurrected will otherwise also feature all of the core features previously announced for the game. That means Diablo 2: Resurrected will have cross-progression, so if Nintendo Switch players wanted to do 4-player co-op on their commute and then jump into 8-player mayhem at home on their PC, their character progress will carry over. Console players will also have a new Party-Finder feature, a matchmaking system for specific in-game tasks like bosses and zones.
Make no mistake, Diablo 2: Resurrected on consoles, whether it's the PS5 or Switch, is going to take some getting used to. Diablo 2 was a PC exclusive first and Diablo 2: Resurrected is a faithful recreation of that experience. Vicarious Visions has gone out of its way to make sure Diablo 2: Resurrected feels as best as possible on console, though it may take some getting used to.
Diablo 2: Resurrected releases on September 23 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.