Without a doubt, Diablo 2: Resurrected is one of the most anticipated games of this fall, with many ready to jump back into the classic this September. Further on the horizon is Diablo 4, which doesn't have a concrete release date. Still, it stands to reason that Diablo fans will be eating good for the next few years.
Of course, it's natural to worry about the state of a game that is years away, as hype today could translate to disappointment tomorrow. Blizzard has been really talkative about the state of Diablo 4 though, and recent change to Diablo 2 prove that it isn't just for show.
Diablo 2: Resurrected Changes Based on Fan Feedback
Diablo 2 recently had an Alpha test and is set for a beta in August. From the alpha test, as well as feedback sent in to Blizzard based on livestreams and the like, Blizzard has made some changes to Diablo 2: Resurrected already. This is big news for fans of the franchise, as not only doe it mean Blizzard is listening to fan feedback but it is implementing it where necessary. Sometimes, and this isn't something exclusive to one gaming company, it can feel like the community goes ignored. With the following changes being made to Diablo 2: Resurrected, that's not the case here:
- Diablo 2 classes: The Sorceress' Lightning and Blizzard spells' arts and visuals have been improved. The Paladin's Holy Freeze has improved its wispiness and original color.
- Monster Targets underwent a color revision.
- Mana and health animations have been improved.
- Item colors have been amplified to add clarity.
- Detailed accessibility options include auto-gold pick up, large font modes, scaling, gamma/contrast settings, and more. Blizzard will be issuing a detailed blog post on this in a future update.
- UI adjustments have been made.
- The shared stash will have three tabs, not one. The compare option can be toggled.
- The Automap is getting improved readability, while there are a plethora of map options made available.
- Clock feature to tell time in-game and more!
Diablo 4: Blizzard is Talking Now, But It Will Listen
With Diablo 2 set to release in September, it stands to reason that Blizzard could implement further changes based on fan feedback to the forthcoming betas. This is good news for fans of the franchise, as it means airing their concerns may result in real change. Of course, not everything would be changed based on that, but if a game that is *technically* 20+ years old is open to changes, then so too would its upcoming sequel.
Diablo 4 is receiving quarterly updates from Blizzard, so while it may not be the talk of the town right now, it is the talk of the Diablo community. Blizzard communicating about Diablo 4's character creation, art direction, and the like is already a good thing; fans aren't left for several months, if not years, with silence. Knowing that Blizzard is listening to and implementing fan feedback on Diablo 2 means that it's likely to the same with Diablo 4. Strong communication, as well as respectful back and forth, between the community and the developer is a big starting point for a great game, especially one that will hopefully last as long as Diablo 2.
Diablo 2: Resurrected will be available September 23, 2021 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.