It was rumoured weeks before the actual announcement, but now it's been confirmed: Vicarious Visions, the Activision studio that crafted both Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 & 2, is developing Diablo 2: Resurrected.
News dropped last month that Vicarious Visions had been merged into Blizzard, with the press release stating that the team would be "fully dedicated to existing Blizzard games and initiatives". And so here we are, with the developer working on the newly revealed Diablo 2 revival.
While Resurrected isn't a ground-up remake like N. Sane Trilogy and Pro Skater, it still sounds like much more than a simple remaster. For a start, the visuals have been overhauled dramatically. Diablo 2's world has never looked so detailed, with remade character models, assets, and an all-new lighting system breathing a lot of life into the 20-year-old action RPG.
It should be noted that the gameplay hasn't been touched — this is still Diablo 2 — but it'll run at 60 frames-per-second, and it's now fully playable with a controller (obviously). You can hear all about the development of Diablo 2: Resurrected in the video that we've embedded at the top of this article. It's immediately clear that Vicarious Visions has tackled this project with all of the respect that it deserves.
In short, it's easy to feel as though Diablo 2: Resurrected is in very capable hands, especially given Vicarious Visions' stellar output in recent years. The remaster is due out later this year, but we don't have a release window to go on just yet.
Comments 20
Diablo-you-don’t
Man, I couldn’t imagine playing this with a controller. Although I really hope this isn’t stuck on the Blizzard Store which it absolutely will be.
This is for sure the highlight of Blizzcon this year! With Character Boosts coming to WoW: Classic being the lowlight.
@nessisonett That's exactly what's happening with Crash 4 on PC and it'll undoubtedly happen here too probably. Maybe even Diablo IV
@TheFrenchiestFry Even Crash 4? Jeez, I have the trilogy and Spyro on Steam. I guess it was to be expected that PC would end up split between different stores eventually but it’s not like the Blizzard Store has the perks that EGS and Game Pass have.
I've only played Diablo 3 in the series so I may pick this up on either PS5 or PC.
Just found out it's only $40, nice, definitely buying this day one on ps5 😃
Also I hope VV fix warcraft 3 reforged and bring it back to earlier previews quality with updated graphics and new improved cut-scenes.
So, I guess the part about them also basically being dissolved into the company wasn't true. They are still obviously together and not just spread across Blizzard, with the latter being the impression the initial report about that gave.
Also kind of odd that they are doing Diablo 2 and not the first one.
I know it’s the wrong game but all I can think of to say is Umbasa!!
NINJA APPROVED
Will be keen to give this a go at some point & hope Vicarious can go out with a bang. But given the Blizzard arcade pack is $30AU I'll wait on a sale for it down the line.
Yes indeed...diablo 2 is one of my all time faves so this is just an instant day one purchase for me..just the news i needed to help lift this lock down induced madness...
Sorry, no couch co-op no buy.
Another gaming franchise passed its prime being sold off pure nostalgia profiting one of the most scummy publishers/developers in the industry... where do I preorder!?!
As a console only player never got the chance to play this. Will help bridge the gap waiting on D4.
Used to love playing the original years ago, looking forward to this!
I still have my Diablo II colledtors edition sitting in my book shelf along with the Diablo II expansion box. Blizzard was King back in the day on PC. Diablo, Warcraft, StarCraft, World of Warcraft i still think of the best games ever made.
Love the cross play idea can play on my pc when at home and when out continue on my switch
@JohnKarnes Right there with you. Diablo 1 was when I first realized I had a problem...
@nessisonett The PS1 port of Diablo 1 was my introduction to the series and is one of the best couch co-op experience back then.
I'm glad they decided to give it controller support as well but too bad couch co-op is too much work for them. Hopefully they'll consider it again after release.
Also, Baldur's Gate 1 & 2, and Divinity: Original Sin 1 & 2 were ported to consoles and they did a great job of translating mouse & keyboard to controller.
For me, I'd gladly ditch precise point-and-click and faster menu navigation over the comfort of being able to disappear in my bed or sink in the couch for hours.
They still need to make D1 for PS1 available digitally on Sony platforms.
The game on disc doesn't support analog stick, which always blows.
As a digital download, that would be fixed and you would get a digital manual too.
They could make D1 a pre-order bonus for D2 Resurrected too, which would be amazing.
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