Report Suggests Diablo 4 Announcement Was Removed from BlizzCon 2018

But Blizzard disputes claim

by Stephen Tailby Tue 6th Nov 2018

Things got a little heated over in the Diablo camp over the weekend. Blizzard closed its BlizzCon 2018 opening ceremony with a mobile game announcement that left everyone feeling a little put out. Despite the publisher's warning to keep expectations in check, fans of the series were outraged when Diablo 4 failed to appear, and in its place came Diablo Immortal.

It seems that some folks at Blizzard wanted to clear things up a little, as Kotaku received tips from numerous sources that not only confirm Diablo 4 is in development, but that an announcement video featuring the publisher's co-founder, Allen Adham, has been made. Initially, Kotaku reported that this was meant to be the closer for BlizzCon 2018's presentation, but this has been disputed by Blizzard.

Here's what the company had to say regarding the report:

First off we want to mention that we definitely hear our community. We generally don’t comment on rumors or speculation, but we can say that we didn’t pull any announcements from BlizzCon this year or have plans for other announcements. We do continue to have different teams working on multiple unannounced Diablo projects, and we look forward to announcing when the time is right.

If the announcement video was never destined for BlizzCon, it certainly seems to have been in talks beforehand. The video may never see the light of day, but if we're to believe Kotaku's sources, it should be a comfort to angry Diablo fans that the game they all want is indeed coming.

[source kotaku.com]

Stephen has been part of the Push Square team for over six years, bringing boundless enthusiasm and a deep knowledge of video games to his role as Assistant Editor. Having grown up playing every PlayStation console to date, he's developed an eclectic taste, with particular passion for indie games, arcade racers, and puzzlers. He's also our go-to guy for Sonic-related matters, much to his delight/chagrin.

1
kyleforrester87
Tue 6th Nov 2018

@Tasuki doesn't mind, he has Diablo 3

2
PS_Nation
Tue 6th Nov 2018

People complain when they announce soon, and also complain when don’t announce at all.
Yeah...

3
SegaBlueSky
Tue 6th Nov 2018

What a saga that was. There'll be such a spotlight on Blizzard announcements at every major event now!

4
get2sammyb
Tue 6th Nov 2018

@PS_Nation Right. I do think it was surprisingly tone deaf how Blizzard handled all this, but you’re bang on: people whine when games get announced too early, and now they’re whining that they haven’t been announced early enough.

I understand the disappointment with Immortal, I really do. But it’s time to move on now.

5
wiiware
Tue 6th Nov 2018

This whole fiasco is stupid, blizzard shouldn't announce a mobile games and hype it like AAA games at blizzcon, just do what bethesda and microsoft do, put the mobile game trailer in between of "real" games trailer (elder scrolls 6 and gear 5).

@PS_Nation I think the complain is not about the game itself but with how the game was announced, if blizzard just show the trailer and hurriedly show warcraft 3 reforged trailer I'm sure blizzard fan is okay with that.

6
Xaessya
Tue 6th Nov 2018

"Yep and Warcraft 4 and World of Starcraft were also planned too but at the last moment they had decided now is the time of mobile gaming and new skins for their games, remakes and ripoffs."

7
Cutmastavictory
Tue 6th Nov 2018

@wiiware exactly. Nobody is bothered by the game, but the message. Your core audience isn't a mobile base, so the mobile game shouldn't be your big announcement. They better hope Poe doesn't steal me away for good.

8
RedMageLanakyn
Tue 6th Nov 2018

Another Kotaku fail at it's finest, reporting on rumors before going to the actual source for actual facts. For every good piece of journalism they write, there's 15 screw ups following it up.