Patches are released by Blizzard to fix bugs and remedy issues with game balance and gameplay issues.
Hotfixes are also applied to Diablo 3. Hotfixes are updates Blizzard make on their end without requiring you to download a new patch. Some hotfixes go live the moment they are implemented, while others may require your realm to be restarted to go into effect.
2012
- Hotfixes: 2012-10-18 - 18 October
- Patch 1.0.5 - 16 October -- Many game and skill changes, a major nerf to Inferno, and the new Monster Power and Infernal Machine game systems.
- Hotfixes: 2012-08-22 - 22 August
- Patch 1.0.4 - 21 August-- A huge content patch with dozens of skill changes, Inferno nerfs, the Paragon system, and much more.
- Hotfixes: 2012-08-03 - 3 August
- Patch 1.0.3b - 10 July
- Hotfixes: 2012-07-26 - 26 July
- Hotfixes: 2012-07-03 - 3 July
- Hotfixes: 2012-06-29 - 29 June
- Hotfixes: 2012-06-28 - 28 June
- Patch 1.0.3a - 26 June
- Patch 1.0.3 - 19 June -- included numerous major skill and balance changes.
- Patch 1.0.2c - 12 June
- Hotfixes: 2012-06-08 - 8 June
- Patch 1.0.2b - 6 June
- Patch 1.0.2a - 31 May
- Patch 1.0.2 - 29 May
- Hotfixes: 2012-05-23 - 23 May
- Hotfixes: 2012-05-22 - 22 May
- Hotfixes: 2012-05-18 - 18 May