Difference between revisions of "Diablo III release date"
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==Starcraft II First== | ==Starcraft II First== | ||
[[Image:Diablo_III_Logo.jpg|right|400px]] | [[Image:Diablo_III_Logo.jpg|right|400px]] | ||
| − | [[Blizzard Entertainment|Blizzard]] has repeatedly confirmed that [[StarCraft II]] will be released before [[Diablo III]], but that D3 will be out before the first ''expansion'' of StarCraft. Since Blizzard announced they want to create one expansion a year (roughly) after release, we can expect D3 within/around a year from SC2 release. | + | [[Blizzard Entertainment|Blizzard]] has repeatedly confirmed that [[StarCraft II]] will be released before [[Diablo III]], but that D3 will be out before the first ''expansion'' of StarCraft II. Since Blizzard announced they want to create one expansion a year (roughly) after release, we can expect D3 within/around/after a year from SC2 release. |
| − | + | StarCraft II beta started on 17th February 2010 and has been announced to be released on 27 July 2010. Blizzard decided to split the SC2 single player campaigns into three different games, which made it possible to release sooner as the entire team will be focusing on one aspect at the time. With just the Terran single-player missions and [[Battle.net|Battle.net 2.0]] developed right now, there's no cause to fear delays. Although Battle.net was the one major issue to keep the game from entering beta back in April 2009. | |
| − | + | With StarCraft II released in late July 2010, if Blizzard's original estimates were somewhat accurate about expansion and Diablo III, <b style="color:white;">then we can expect Diablo III somewhere between early summer 2011 and spring 2012</b>. | |
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Estimates of a percentage completed are discouraged by Blizzard development teams, since there's no way to quantify the process in that fashion. They spent years working on the foundation of Diablo III: programming the game engine, trying out numerous different styles of art design, coming up with a plot and character concepts, etc. The hardware and foundational work takes as long or longer than adding in the content, which makes it impossible to estimate the overall percentage completed. | Estimates of a percentage completed are discouraged by Blizzard development teams, since there's no way to quantify the process in that fashion. They spent years working on the foundation of Diablo III: programming the game engine, trying out numerous different styles of art design, coming up with a plot and character concepts, etc. The hardware and foundational work takes as long or longer than adding in the content, which makes it impossible to estimate the overall percentage completed. | ||
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| − | No hints have been made about Act III | + | We can wager a guess that [[Act I]] is relatively close to "completion", and [[Act II]] is as well. At this time, Blizzard has said this is the order of the acts, but anything can change before release. The order of the acts might very well be something completely different. |
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| + | No hints have been made about Act III, we're expecting more information at [[BlizzCon 2010]] | ||
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===The Dol Rune Conspiracy - 09/09/09=== | ===The Dol Rune Conspiracy - 09/09/09=== | ||
| − | Circulating on forums first in mid-September 2008, and the idea is that the {{iw|Dol Dol rune}} holds the truth of the Diablo II release date. Through lots of mathematical formulas and Hex code, the date | + | Circulating on forums first in mid-September 2008, and the idea is that the {{iw|Dol Dol rune}} holds the truth of the Diablo II release date. Through lots of mathematical formulas and Hex code, the date was supposed to be 2009-09-09. |
| − | Besides being logically flawed all the way, it's obviously just a rouse. However, it has continuously been spread on fansites and video game sites up until | + | Besides being logically flawed all the way, it's obviously just a rouse. However, it has continuously been spread on fansites and video game sites up until shortly after the end of 2009, when it became overly apparent it could not be true. |
* '''[http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?p=6802602 ~ Within Lies The True Secret Of Diablo ~]''' | * '''[http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?p=6802602 ~ Within Lies The True Secret Of Diablo ~]''' | ||
Revision as of 17:32, 10 June 2010
As with all Blizzard titles, the release date is, "When it's done." They do not make estimates in advance or give hints, at least not publicly. Any listed dates, such as the ones found on software sales sites, are not official and are gross estimates, or are simply manufactured in order to boost pre-orders.
Contents
Not 2010
In Activision Blizzard financial reports, two games are reported as being released this year: Starcraft II and World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. Diablo III is not even planned in an optimistic viewpoint (it could still have be planned for and delayed) for this year.
Starcraft II First
Blizzard has repeatedly confirmed that StarCraft II will be released before Diablo III, but that D3 will be out before the first expansion of StarCraft II. Since Blizzard announced they want to create one expansion a year (roughly) after release, we can expect D3 within/around/after a year from SC2 release.
StarCraft II beta started on 17th February 2010 and has been announced to be released on 27 July 2010. Blizzard decided to split the SC2 single player campaigns into three different games, which made it possible to release sooner as the entire team will be focusing on one aspect at the time. With just the Terran single-player missions and Battle.net 2.0 developed right now, there's no cause to fear delays. Although Battle.net was the one major issue to keep the game from entering beta back in April 2009.
With StarCraft II released in late July 2010, if Blizzard's original estimates were somewhat accurate about expansion and Diablo III, then we can expect Diablo III somewhere between early summer 2011 and spring 2012.
This assumes that the statement made back in 2008 about Diablo III being released before StarCraft II's expansions still hold true. Seeing as the two development teams are both Blizzard, one could argue the "delay level" of them would be equal, and from a release point of view, it makes more sense to release their new game before an expansion anyway. Whether or not Blizzard is still aiming for "one expansion per year" for StarCraft II is unknown.
Diablo III
As for Diablo III, the demo was very playable and seemed well-polished when the public was first given a hands-on opportunity at BlizzCon 2008, and even more so at BlizzCon 2009. The D3 Team has repeatedly cautioned overeager speculators though; they say they have a great deal of work yet to do on it, and while what's been shown looks great, they're showing only a tiny fraction of the total game. Production was said to be well into Act 2 as of fall 2008, but with an estimated 4 acts to complete, they are nowhere near finished.
Estimated Progress?
Estimates of a percentage completed are discouraged by Blizzard development teams, since there's no way to quantify the process in that fashion. They spent years working on the foundation of Diablo III: programming the game engine, trying out numerous different styles of art design, coming up with a plot and character concepts, etc. The hardware and foundational work takes as long or longer than adding in the content, which makes it impossible to estimate the overall percentage completed.
We can wager a guess that Act I is relatively close to "completion", and Act II is as well. At this time, Blizzard has said this is the order of the acts, but anything can change before release. The order of the acts might very well be something completely different.
No hints have been made about Act III, we're expecting more information at BlizzCon 2010
Diablo III Demo
Blizzard has not said anything specifically about the upcoming demo of Diablo III, but when talking about StarCraft II, they said they had plans for a demo, and that they "use to do that after release". Most likely, we can expect a trial version of Diablo III after release.
Guess the Release Date
If you're the betting type, there's a well-advanced release date prediction pool you can join in here.
Rumours
There has been rumours on an off about a release date, and we're listing them as they appear here:
The Dol Rune Conspiracy - 09/09/09
Circulating on forums first in mid-September 2008, and the idea is that the Dol rune holds the truth of the Diablo II release date. Through lots of mathematical formulas and Hex code, the date was supposed to be 2009-09-09.
Besides being logically flawed all the way, it's obviously just a rouse. However, it has continuously been spread on fansites and video game sites up until shortly after the end of 2009, when it became overly apparent it could not be true.
- ~ Within Lies The True Secret Of Diablo ~
- Dol Rune Conspiracy - DiabloWiki entry.
Battle.net Trolling - Spring 2010
Shortly after BlizzCon 2009, rumours began spreading on Battle.net that Diablo III would be released around spring 2010. There was no evidence to support this, but the topic kept popping up for a period of time.
Related Information
You can read more about the system requirements, beta testing, price/payment methods and age rating on the Diablo 3 Basics page.
