Diablo 2 | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Sat, 16 Oct 2021 13:38:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Diablo 2 | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Diablo 2 Resurrected server issues partly due to ‘legacy code’ from original game https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-resurrected-server-issues-partly-due-to-legacy-code-from-original-game/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-resurrected-server-issues-partly-due-to-legacy-code-from-original-game/#respond Fri, 15 Oct 2021 11:30:18 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=535718 Recently, Diablo 2 Resurrected has been suffering from on-going server issues, stopping many from being able to log-in and play freely. Blizzard acknowledged the issue earlier this week and now, the studio has offered a more in-depth explanation. As it seems, old legacy code carried over from the original release of Diablo 2 is partly …

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Recently, Diablo 2 Resurrected has been suffering from on-going server issues, stopping many from being able to log-in and play freely. Blizzard acknowledged the issue earlier this week and now, the studio has offered a more in-depth explanation. As it seems, old legacy code carried over from the original release of Diablo 2 is partly to blame for these errors.

In a blog post explaining the current server issues, Blizzard said that these outages “have not been caused by a singular issue” and that each problem is being tackled as it arises. Alongside squashing these bugs, the team is also working on “longer-term architectural changes”.

The post goes on to explain that in an effort to stay true to the original game, Diablo 2 Resurrected still contains a lot of legacy code. One of these legacy services is “struggling to keep up with modern player behaviour”.

“This service, with some upgrades from the original, handles critical pieces of game functionality, namely game creation/joining, updating/reading/filtering game lists, verifying game server health, and reading characters from the database to ensure your character can participate in whatever it is you’re filtering for. Importantly, this service is a singleton, which means we can only run one instance of it in order to ensure all players are seeing the most up-to-date and correct game list at all times. We did optimize this service in many ways to conform to more modern technology, but as we previously mentioned, a lot of our issues stem from game creation.”

Blizzard now has a team working on diagnosing issues and implementing fixes, not just for Diablo 2 Resurrected, but for the full set of Blizzard online services to avoid legacy code issues in the future. There is no timetable, but changes are being implemented and fixes are rolling out consistently, so hopefully soon, Diablo 2 Resurrected will have much less downtime.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Have you bought Diablo 2 Resurrected? Have you encountered server issues since launch? 

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Blizzard is working on fixing Diablo 2 Resurrected server issues https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-is-working-on-fixing-diablo-2-resurrected-server-issues/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-is-working-on-fixing-diablo-2-resurrected-server-issues/#respond Tue, 12 Oct 2021 15:11:39 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=535401 Over the weekend and leading into this week, Diablo 2 Resurrected has been suffering from ongoing server issues, blocking players from being able to log in and play online. Now, Blizzard has responded, acknowledging the problem and promising fixes soon.  The issues began over the weekend, when Diablo 2 Resurrected was taken offline for some …

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Over the weekend and leading into this week, Diablo 2 Resurrected has been suffering from ongoing server issues, blocking players from being able to log in and play online. Now, Blizzard has responded, acknowledging the problem and promising fixes soon. 

The issues began over the weekend, when Diablo 2 Resurrected was taken offline for some emergency maintenance. Since then, players have continued to have issues accessing the game, voicing their concerns on forums.

In response to these reports, Blizzard gave the following statement to Eurogamer: “We are aware of and are investigating issues some players have been experiencing in Diablo 2: Resurrected. We have conducted emergency maintenance across all platforms, are closely monitoring server performance, and are making further adjustments and fixes as needed.”

“We thank players for bearing with us as we make this progress, and we want to assure them that we are working hard on both short- and long-term fixes in order to stabilize the Diablo 2: Resurrected experience for all players globally.”

So far, this issue appears to be impacting players in multiple regions, so it isn't isolated to one area. Hopefully Blizzard will have another update later in the week to address these ongoing connectivity issues.

KitGuru Says: Have any of you picked up Diablo 2 Resurrected since launch? Have you had problems with server connectivity in recent weeks? 

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Diablo 2 Resurrected players hit with major server issues https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-resurrected-players-hit-with-major-server-issues/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-resurrected-players-hit-with-major-server-issues/#respond Mon, 11 Oct 2021 13:07:15 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=535058 Over the weekend, Blizzard took down Diablo 2 Resurrected servers to perform some emergency maintenance. Since then, players across the US and Europe have struggled to access the game, with server issues persisting this week.  Blizzard Customer Service social accounts for Europe and the US noted the maintenance and expected downtime over the weekend and …

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Over the weekend, Blizzard took down Diablo 2 Resurrected servers to perform some emergency maintenance. Since then, players across the US and Europe have struggled to access the game, with server issues persisting this week. 

Blizzard Customer Service social accounts for Europe and the US noted the maintenance and expected downtime over the weekend and apologised for the inconvenience. While servers should have been back to normal by now, players have continued to have issues accessing the game this week, taking to forums to voice concerns.

Diablo 2 Resurrected launched last month to decent critical acclaim from press and fans. The game was developed by the team at Vicarious Visions, which officially became a part of Blizzard earlier this year as part of an internal shuffle of studios to double down on Blizzard franchises and Call of Duty.

Blizzard has yet to provide a timeline for fixing the on-going server issues with Diablo 2 Resurrected, but we would expect an update later today.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Hopefully this can be updated and fixed today. Did any of you pick up Diablo 2 Resurrected? Have you encountered any problems with it since launch? 

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Diablo 2: Resurrected will not support 21:9 after all https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-resurrected-will-not-support-219-after-all/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-resurrected-will-not-support-219-after-all/#respond Wed, 08 Sep 2021 18:08:34 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=530946 If you have an ultra-wide display and were hoping to play Diablo 2: Resurrected in full 21:9 aspect ratio, then we have some bad news. This week, Blizzard announced that it has removed 21:9 support from the game due to issues.  During the technical alpha, players with ultra-wide displays found that AI failed to sense …

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If you have an ultra-wide display and were hoping to play Diablo 2: Resurrected in full 21:9 aspect ratio, then we have some bad news. This week, Blizzard announced that it has removed 21:9 support from the game due to issues. 

During the technical alpha, players with ultra-wide displays found that AI failed to sense the player and trigger attacks due to the wider field of view. While the player can attack further away enemies at the edge of the screen, the AI won't register the attack and move closer to the player either. This poses a major issue for ranged characters in game, as enemies can be picked off from a distance without any aggro being generated.

Due to this, there will not be full 21:9 support in Diablo 2: Resurrected. However, Blizzard isn't forcing ultra-wide display owners to run the game in 16:9 with black bars either. Instead, the developers slowly trimmed back the aspect ratio to the point where the AI enemies at the edges of the screen would still notice the player.

Through this process, Blizzard was able to to get 19:9 aspect ratio working. The studio also says that it will “continue to watch” discussions around 21:9 support and explore possible solutions that don't impact gameplay in the future.

KitGuru Says: This is unfortunate news, but at least Blizzard was able to find some middle-ground between 16:9 and full 21:9. What do you all think of this news? Do you use an ultra-wide display currently? 

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Diablo 2: Resurrected open beta begins tomorrow https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-resurrected-open-beta-begins-tomorrow/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-resurrected-open-beta-begins-tomorrow/#respond Thu, 19 Aug 2021 12:25:53 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=528175 Now under Blizzard's umbrella, Vicarious Visions has been working away on a remake of Diablo 2 for a while now. This week, we'll all have a chance to see it in action for ourselves, with Diablo 2: Resurrected set to enter open beta this weekend.  Diablo 2: Resurrected's open beta kicks off tomorrow, Friday the …

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Now under Blizzard's umbrella, Vicarious Visions has been working away on a remake of Diablo 2 for a while now. This week, we'll all have a chance to see it in action for ourselves, with Diablo 2: Resurrected set to enter open beta this weekend. 

Diablo 2: Resurrected's open beta kicks off tomorrow, Friday the 20th of August. The beta will be available to download and play on PC, as well as Xbox and PlayStation consoles. Unfortunately, there is no beta planned for the Nintendo Switch version of the game.

During the beta, players will be able to try out five classes – Paladin, Druid, Barbarian, Amazon and Sorceress. Multiplayer will include both PvE and PvP content, although story progress is limited to the first two acts of the game. While story progress is limited, there is no level cap in the beta, so players can grind and test out multiple builds.

The Diablo 2: Resurrected open beta will run from the 20th of August until the 23rd of August at 10AM PDT. The full  game is set to release on the 23rd of September.

KitGuru Says: Are any of you planning on jumping in for the Diablo 2: Resurrected beta? 

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Diablo 2: Resurrected will have an open beta this month https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-resurrected-will-have-an-open-beta-this-month/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-resurrected-will-have-an-open-beta-this-month/#respond Wed, 11 Aug 2021 08:30:14 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=527126 Given all the controversy surrounding Activision Blizzard at the moment, we weren't sure if Diablo 2: Resurrected would still have an open beta or even make its September release date. For now, it looks like everything will be going ahead as planned, with the remake's public beta beginning this week.  Diablo 2: Resurrected will have …

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Given all the controversy surrounding Activision Blizzard at the moment, we weren't sure if Diablo 2: Resurrected would still have an open beta or even make its September release date. For now, it looks like everything will be going ahead as planned, with the remake's public beta beginning this week. 

Diablo 2: Resurrected will have a multiplayer beta this weekend for all pre-order customers, followed by a true open beta next weekend, which anyone will be free to download and try out. These betas will be available on all platforms, with the exception of the Nintendo Switch.

During the beta, players will be able to try out five classes – Paladin, Druid, Barbarian, Amazon and Sorceress. Multiplayer will include both PvE and PvP content, although story progress is limited to the first two acts of the game. While story progress is limited, there is no level cap in the beta, so players can grind and test out multiple builds.

Diablo 2: Resurrected is set to release on the 23rd of September.

KitGuru Says: Are any of you planning on jumping in for the Diablo 2: Resurrected beta? 

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Unofficial Diablo 2: Resurrected offline patch removed from GitHub https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/matthew-wilson/unofficial-diablo-2-resurrected-offline-patch-removed-from-github/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/matthew-wilson/unofficial-diablo-2-resurrected-offline-patch-removed-from-github/#respond Thu, 10 Jun 2021 09:35:00 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=519207 Earlier this year, Blizzard began closed playtests for Diablo II: Resurrected and sure enough, some people took those files and modified the game to be playable offline. These offline patches were hosted on GitHub, but a DMCA wave has taken them all down. As reported by TorrentFreak, Activision Blizzard has sent a cease and desist …

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Earlier this year, Blizzard began closed playtests for Diablo II: Resurrected and sure enough, some people took those files and modified the game to be playable offline. These offline patches were hosted on GitHub, but a DMCA wave has taken them all down.

As reported by TorrentFreak, Activision Blizzard has sent a cease and desist order to the original developer of the offline patch, as well as issuing takedown notices to GitHub for a number of mirrors and forks still containing the patch. Aside from making the game playable offline, the patch also allowed players to play the alpha version of Diablo II: Resurrected without an official invite.

The DMCA takedown notice sent to GitHub on behalf of Activision Blizzard reads: “The project at issue is designed to circumvent Blizzard’s technological protection measures by allowing for the bypassing of the CRC32 integrity checks. These integrity checks are there to scan memory regions of the game in order to check whether the code for the game has been modified before it is executed/ran”.

There is already some doubt as to how effective these takedowns will be, as the files required have already been downloaded and shared a number of times.

KitGuru Says: Given that Diablo II: Resurrected hasn't even released yet, I can see why Blizzard has been quick to try and get this unofficial patch taken down. Exactly how successful this strategy will end up being still remains to be seen. Diablo II: Resurrected is due to release later this year.

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Diablo 2: Resurrected gets its first playtest this month https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-resurrected-gets-its-first-playtest-this-month/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-resurrected-gets-its-first-playtest-this-month/#respond Wed, 07 Apr 2021 10:49:26 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=511003 Blizzard is making good progress in Diablo 2: Resurrected, with the first technical play test set to begin this month. Blizzard has invited players to sign up for the first alpha test, which will focus on the single-player portion of the game.  The technical alpha test for Diablo 2: Resurrected will take place between the …

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Blizzard is making good progress in Diablo 2: Resurrected, with the first technical play test set to begin this month. Blizzard has invited players to sign up for the first alpha test, which will focus on the single-player portion of the game. 

The technical alpha test for Diablo 2: Resurrected will take place between the 9th and 12th of April, featuring three of Diablo 2's seven playable classes. Those who get invited will be able to play as the Barbarian, Amazon and Sorceress, better yet, players will have access to the first two acts of the single-player campaign, culminating in a boss fight against Andariel.

There will also be no level cap in place, so those who receive an invite can grind away for gear and try out different character builds.

For those who are out of the loop, Diablo 2: Resurrected is a remaster of the classic action RPG with support for higher resolutions, full 3D physically-based rendering, redone cutscenes, remastered audio and a number of quality of life changes. The game doesn't have a final release date yet, but there will be alpha and beta tests along the way before the game launches later this year.

If you're interested in participating, you can sign up for the technical alpha test, HERE. Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are many of you looking forward to Diablo 2: Resurrected? Will you be signing up for the technical alpha? 

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Diablo 2: Resurrected will be compatible with original Diablo 2 save files https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-resurrected-will-be-compatible-with-original-diablo-2-save-files/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-resurrected-will-be-compatible-with-original-diablo-2-save-files/#respond Thu, 04 Mar 2021 16:06:03 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=506600 If you happen to have a bunch of characters stored away on the original version of Diablo 2, then you may be pleased to hear that you can bring them along with you when jumping into Diablo 2: Resurrected later this year. This week, Blizzard revealed that Diablo 2: Resurrected will be compatible with save …

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If you happen to have a bunch of characters stored away on the original version of Diablo 2, then you may be pleased to hear that you can bring them along with you when jumping into Diablo 2: Resurrected later this year.

This week, Blizzard revealed that Diablo 2: Resurrected will be compatible with save files from the original game. Anyone who played Diablo 2 can import their save files into the new remaster and instantly jump back in with the newly improved visuals in place.

The announcement came from producer Matthew Cederquist. Speaking with IGN, he said: “Back when we were working on the remaster, we wondered if the old save files would work, so we kind of shoved it in, and it worked! So yes, your local singleplayer save files will carry over.”

Diablo 2: Resurrected will be the first Blizzard remaster handled by Vicarious Visions, which recently merged with Blizzard. Previously, the studio has had great success with the Crash Bandicoot N.Sane trilogy remake, so hopefully Diablo 2: Resurrected won't fall into the same traps as Warcraft 3: Reforged.

Currently, Diablo 2: Resurrected is set to launch sometime in 2021, we expect to hear a more specific release date in the next few months.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: For me, Diablo 3 was my entry point to the series, so I'm really looking forward to going back to Diablo 2 when this remaster arrives. Are many of you planning on picking up Diablo 2: Resurrected later this year?

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Diablo 2: Resurrected PC system requirements revealed https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-resurrected-pc-system-requirements-revealed/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-resurrected-pc-system-requirements-revealed/#respond Mon, 22 Feb 2021 11:15:03 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=505186 Diablo 2: Resurrected is officially coming out this year, with development handled by the excellent team at Vicarious Visions, previously responsible for the Crash Bandicoot N'Sane trilogy remake. Following on from the game's announcement at BlizzCon, the PC version's system requirements have been revealed.  Diablo 2: Resurrected is a remaster of the original game, keeping …

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Diablo 2: Resurrected is officially coming out this year, with development handled by the excellent team at Vicarious Visions, previously responsible for the Crash Bandicoot N'Sane trilogy remake. Following on from the game's announcement at BlizzCon, the PC version's system requirements have been revealed. 

Diablo 2: Resurrected is a remaster of the original game, keeping gameplay faithful to the original while bringing graphical fidelity up to modern standards. The game will feature cross-progression and will release on PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4 and the Nintendo Switch.

The minimum system requirements target a 720p resolution:

  • OS: Windows 10.
  • CPU: Intel Core i3-3250 or AMD FX-4350.
  • RAM: 8GB.
  • GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 or AMD Radeon HD 7850.

The recommended system requirements target 1080p resolution:

  • OS: Windows 10.
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-9600K or AMD Ryzen 5 2600.
  • RAM: 16GB.
  • GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT.

In both cases, the game is going to require 30GB of storage space on PC. Diablo 2: Resurrected is remastered for high resolution displays and supports high refresh rates. Aside from visuals, audio has also been remastered, with many effects being re-recorded and remastered. Diablo 2: Resurrected is due to release in 2021.

KitGuru Says: Are many of you looking forward to Diablo 2: Resurrected? 

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Blizzard announces Diablo 2: Resurrected https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-announces-diablo-2-resurrected/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-announces-diablo-2-resurrected/#respond Sat, 20 Feb 2021 09:00:52 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=505132 BlizzCon Online officially kicked off late last night and as previously rumoured, we did indeed get announcement for Diablo 2: Resurrected, a remaster of the fan-favourite ARPG for PC and consoles.  Diablo 2: Resurrected will be releasing for PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4 and Nintendo Switch later this year. A final release …

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BlizzCon Online officially kicked off late last night and as previously rumoured, we did indeed get announcement for Diablo 2: Resurrected, a remaster of the fan-favourite ARPG for PC and consoles. 

Diablo 2: Resurrected will be releasing for PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4 and Nintendo Switch later this year. A final release date has not been announced, but we do know that there will be a technical alpha test, which you can sign up to take part in HERE.

The remaster takes the original 2D sprite-based graphics and upgrades it to full 3D physically based rendering. Other graphical improvements include dynamic lighting, revamped animations and spell effects and support for 4K resolution.

Vicarious Visions, which recently became a Blizzard studio, is working on Diablo 2: Resurrected. The idea is to overhaul the graphics without making major changes to gameplay, ensuring long-time fans are returning to the game they remember, just with a modern coat of paint.

KitGuru Says: Hopefully we'll get a more specific release date in the next few months. Are any of you looking forward to Diablo 2: Resurrected? 

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Diablo 2 might be the next Blizzard classic to get remastered https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-might-be-the-next-blizzard-classic-to-get-remastered/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/diablo-2-might-be-the-next-blizzard-classic-to-get-remastered/#respond Sun, 10 May 2020 07:24:42 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=466227 In an effort to release games on a more regular basis, Blizzard has begun going back to its older titles and remastering them. So far, we've had spruced up versions of StarCraft and Warcraft 3, but now, it looks like Diablo 2 might be next on the list.  According to French site, Actugaming, sources are …

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In an effort to release games on a more regular basis, Blizzard has begun going back to its older titles and remastering them. So far, we've had spruced up versions of StarCraft and Warcraft 3, but now, it looks like Diablo 2 might be next on the list. 

According to French site, Actugaming, sources are claiming that Vicarious Visions, one of Activision's support studios, is working on a Diablo 2 remaster for release in late 2020. Vicarious Visions is best known for the excellent remake of the Crash Bandicoot trilogy, although it has also worked support for Destiny 2, back when Bungie still had a publishing deal in place with Activision.

According to most accounts, Diablo 4 is still another couple of years away, so ‘Diablo 2 Resurrected' could be a great way to fill the void, particularly since Diablo 4 aims to recapture the grittiness present in Diablo 2.

However, Warcraft 3: Reforged did turn out to be a huge letdown, so we may need to temper expectations for a Diablo 2 remaster.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I've been getting my ARPG fix from Wolcen this year, but a Diablo 2 remaster would be great to see. Would any of you be interested in a Diablo 2 remaster? 

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More Diablo 4 leaks tease a returning character and reimagined designs https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/more-diablo-4-leaks-tease-a-returning-character-and-reimagined-designs/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/more-diablo-4-leaks-tease-a-returning-character-and-reimagined-designs/#respond Sun, 27 Oct 2019 16:11:11 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=432341 Earlier this week, we got our first hint at Diablo 4’s upcoming Blizzcon announcement thanks to an artbook advertisement leak. Now, someone has been able to actually take a look at the book for themselves, leaking a legitimate page that shows Lilith the Queen of Succubi returning in reimagined form.  Lilith originally appeared in Diablo …

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Earlier this week, we got our first hint at Diablo 4’s upcoming Blizzcon announcement thanks to an artbook advertisement leak. Now, someone has been able to actually take a look at the book for themselves, leaking a legitimate page that shows Lilith the Queen of Succubi returning in reimagined form. 

Lilith originally appeared in Diablo 2 and will be returning in Diablo 4 according to an artbook leak from WeakAuras on Twitter. The leaked page says “Lilith’s debut in Diablo IV is a reimagining of her form that is far different from her previous appearance”.

The page also states that there was a lot of artist collaboration for new character designs for Diablo 4, with one artist making a version, then another reiterating on it and trying new things until a new design was reached containing the best ideas from multiple team members.

Lilith won’t be the only reimagined character in Diablo 4 either, so expect to see more changes when the new game is officially announced.

KitGuru Says: Diablo is one of my favourite video game franchises. 2018’s Blizzcon announcements were a huge letdown but Diablo 4 is looking like a certainty for this year’s event. Hopefully the game will have a good showing. Are many of you looking forward to Diablo 4 finally being revealed? 

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Blizzard appears to be remastering Diablo 2 and Warcraft 3 https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-appears-to-be-remastering-diablo-2-and-warcraft-3/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-appears-to-be-remastering-diablo-2-and-warcraft-3/#comments Mon, 19 Jun 2017 17:38:36 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=338390 Over the last couple of years, there have been a few reports surrounding remasters of classic Blizzard games. It all kicked off when Blizzard announced that it would be endeavouring to ensure Starcraft, Warcraft III and Diablo II all continued to work on modern PCs. Since then, the initiative has expanded, with Starcraft HD coming …

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Over the last couple of years, there have been a few reports surrounding remasters of classic Blizzard games. It all kicked off when Blizzard announced that it would be endeavouring to ensure Starcraft, Warcraft III and Diablo II all continued to work on modern PCs. Since then, the initiative has expanded, with Starcraft HD coming out this year. Now, a new job listing at Blizzard seems to indicate that Warcraft 3 and Diablo 2 will also get the HD treatment.

Right now, Blizzard is looking to hire a Senior Software Engineer to help restore StarCraft, Warcraft III and Diablo II to their former glory. Here's the full project description from the job listing:

“Compelling stories. Intense multiplayer. Endless replayability. Qualities that made StarCraft, Warcraft III, and Diablo II the titans of their day. Evolving operating systems, hardware, and online services have made them more difficult to be experienced by their loyal followers or reaching a new generation. We’re restoring them to glory, and we need your engineering talents, your passion, and your ability to get tough jobs done.”

We already know that Starcraft's own HD remaster is coming over the Summer. However, Blizzard has not formally announced HD remasters for Warcraft 3 or Diablo 2. This job listing seems to indicate that the company is working on it though and with Starcraft HD now official, the precedent is certainly there.

There are some other job listings for the project, seeking UI/UX designers, and networking engineers, indicating multiplayer and interfaces will be brought up to modern standards.

KitGuru Says: Blizzard hasn't outright said that these games will get HD re-releases but it sounds a lot like they are working on it. Still, with Starcraft up first, it could be a while before we see the other two come to fruition.

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Warcraft 3 is getting a new patch after four years without one https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/warcraft-3-is-getting-a-new-patch-after-four-years-without-one/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/warcraft-3-is-getting-a-new-patch-after-four-years-without-one/#respond Tue, 15 Mar 2016 16:36:46 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=287117 Blizzard is renewing its efforts to support its classic games this year, with a new team put together to maintain older titles and keep them running on modern operating systems. Last week, Blizzard launched a patch for Diablo 2 and now, it is turning its attention to Warcraft 3. The famed RTS title hasn't had …

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Blizzard is renewing its efforts to support its classic games this year, with a new team put together to maintain older titles and keep them running on modern operating systems. Last week, Blizzard launched a patch for Diablo 2 and now, it is turning its attention to Warcraft 3.

The famed RTS title hasn't had a patch in four years, which is understandable, after all, it is a pretty old game at this point. This new patch will do much of the same things Diablo 2's 1.27a patch did last week, bringing the game more in-line with today's technology.

wall2-1600x1200

One of the biggest changes applies to OS X/Mac users, as a new installer for the game brings support for OS X 10.10 and 10.11. There is also improved compatibility for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and Windows 10 users.

Finally, a crashing issue caused by ‘chain lightning' has been fixed. However, there are still some known issues:

  • Windows 8.1 and 10 saved games are still stored in a location that requires running as system admin.
  • Some graphical issues with the cinematics are still occurring.
  • Changes to gamma settings will not take effect in windowed mode.
  • Cyrillic characters are still not displaying.
  • Disabled ambient sound while a MIDI issue is being resolved.
  • Mac 10.9 and earlier are not supported.
  • Mac build does not support the editor.

There is still more to come as well as Blizzard intends to bolster its support for its older titles. Next on the list for Warcraft 3 is some balance changes and a new map pool but we don't have all of the details on that just yet.

KitGuru Says: We have seen many games lost and abandoned over the years so it is great to see Blizzard being so dedicated to its lineage and keeping some of its older popular games running on newer systems. 

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Blizzard has just patched Diablo 2 for first time in 5 years https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-has-just-patched-diablo-2-for-first-time-in-5-years/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/blizzard-has-just-patched-diablo-2-for-first-time-in-5-years/#comments Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:05:38 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=286747 We learned some time ago that Blizzard was hiring people to maintain and work on some of its older titles, patching them up to keep them working on modern operating systems. Well, now we are starting to see the fruit of that labor as Diablo 2 has just been patched for the first time in …

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We learned some time ago that Blizzard was hiring people to maintain and work on some of its older titles, patching them up to keep them working on modern operating systems. Well, now we are starting to see the fruit of that labor as Diablo 2 has just been patched for the first time in five years.

The new patch brings the game up to version 1.14a, which aims to get the old game running on new operating systems like Windows 10 and OSX.

Diablo 2

Writing about the patch, Blizzard said: “It's been a long time coming but today we're releasing 1.14a for Diablo II. This update focuses on system glitches introduced by modern operating systems … Included with the update is a shiny new installer for OSX. We've also begun working to improve our cheat-detection and hack-prevention capabilities.”

“There is still a large Diablo 2 community around the world, and we thank you for continuing to play and slay with us. This journey starts by making Diablo 2 run on modern platforms, but it does not end there.”

The last part of that quote is particularly interesting. Perhaps we will see some of Blizzard's classic titles added to the Battle Net launcher, or perhaps Blizzard is hinting at something bigger, like the long-rumored ‘HD' editions of some of its classic games like Warcraft 3, Diablo 2 or the original StarCraft. Either way, Blizzard seems to be working on something.

KitGuru Says: It isn't often we see studios revisit their classic games so many years later. However, this does go to show just how dedicated the Blizzard fan base is, sticking with a game like Diablo 2 for years, even after the launch of Diablo 3. Do any of you still play some of Blizzard's older games? 

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