Hardcore

Hardcore characters are exactly the same as regular characters, except that they are mortal. When they die, they stay dead. Forever. No restarting in town; no restarting anywhere. Dead hardcore characters in Diablo 2 are able to log back onto the Battle.net chat channels, but they can not join or create games. It's not known how that feature might be handled in D3, if there's a more interactive chat room experience. What we know can be read in the Diablo 2.0 article.

D3 Harcore Confirmed?

Yes, as of April 2009, Hardcore mode was confirmed to feature in Diablo 3.

June 2008

From the Diablo 3 Design Fundamentals panel, at the 2008 WWI event:

Q: Will there be Hardcore mode?

A: We haven't decided yet, but I don't see why we wouldn't. It’s not a decision we need to make yet. We probably will, though.

April 2009

Bashiok in a forum post.[1]

Question: Has anymore thought been put into Hardcore? Are any features decided-upon?

Bashiok: I think the last thing I heard from Jay on it in public was something along the lines of “Ok fine we’ll just commit to a hardcore mode here and now” outside of that no details have been released.

Additional HC Content

• You can read more about the Hardcore Mode of Diablo II in DiabloWiki Hardcore Mode
• Hardcore D3 Forum
• Hardcore D2 Forum
• D2 Hardcore Graveyard Image Gallery