Ice on the official site or otherwise, I'm still holding out hope that we'll see
a Diablo-related announcement at WWI (and not a
Wrath of the Lich King beta/release announcement, as many are guessing). And here's a little more fuel for the speculation fire: DiabloII.net says they've
received the official schedule for the event in Paris this coming weekend, and right after the main presentation, they say that Blizzard has planned a press conference. And basically, their argument is that you don't plan a press conference to announce an open beta of an expansion we've known about for almost a year -- you hold a press conference for a new
Diablo game.
We should also note, though people have noticed this before, that Sunday, June 29th, is
the eighth anniversary of the release of Diablo II, so this weekend has a lot of hack-and-slash-related significance as is. Of course, we won't know until WWI actually kicks off in Paris on Saturday -- WoW Insider will, of course, have correspondents on the scene to let you know exactly what Blizzard announces when they do.
And even if we don't get
D3 this weekend, there's always
BlizzCon.
[Via
Blizzplanet]
Tags: announcement, blizzard, diablo-3, diabloii.net, rumors, schedule, speculation, starcraft, worldwide-invitational, wrath-of-the-lich-king, wwi
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Events, WoW Social Conventions, Blizzard, BlizzCon, Rumors
Jun 23rd 2008 at 4:30PM 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Michael Jun 23rd 2008 4:35PM
Oh please, oh please, oh please, oh please, oh please, oh please...
Matt Graham Jun 23rd 2008 4:38PM
Whatever the news is, I don't think it's D3 related. It's either a new franchise or a huge WotLK announcement - that doesn't mean the announcement for the release date or beta, it means a large announcement for something coming in the game.
Vlatch Jun 23rd 2008 5:00PM
They haven't announced the release date for WotLK. That's the announcement. Why does everyone think it's a beta announcement when they haven't even announced the game's release date yet?
If they don't release that information, I have a feeling it's going to be Player Housing in the expansion. I think that would blow some folks away.
robotrock Jun 23rd 2008 4:50PM
Yeah you can pretty much forget about me playing WOW if D3 comes out.
soul Jun 23rd 2008 4:52PM
Also Blizzard bought out diablo3.com domain earlier this year, which excites me even more. Please please let it be Diablo! >_<
Oh and the ice image, as was pointed in the comments to the previous post, refers to WotLK unfortunately.
Koan Jun 23rd 2008 11:37PM
Actually, Blizzard was given the domain.
soul Jun 23rd 2008 11:43PM
Yes, you are right. I didn't really think about that part when posting =)
jay Jun 23rd 2008 5:03PM
Something to do with the Lost Viking franchise maybe?
Could be anything.
mirilene Jun 23rd 2008 5:03PM
Man...
As exciting as the prospect of a new D3 (or lost vikings or rock n roll racing) would be, i cant help but feel a little annoyed at the "leakers"
It was pretty lame to know all the business about WLK a week before we went to blizzcon. Took some of the fun out of the big announcement the first morning.
Smurk Jun 23rd 2008 5:05PM
If D3 comes out within the next 2 years, it would only help some other company's game compete better with WoW. (And for someone who never considered playing any other MMO, I have to say that Warhammer does look cool.)
There may be a simple solution for this on Blizzard's end, like combined subscriptions, but I dunno. It seems like the wrong time for them to even mention a Diablo game. I would be very pleased to be proven wrong, however.
jbodar Jun 23rd 2008 5:10PM
D2 was free to play online via Battlenet though. I think they'd have a lot pissed off fans if they charged a subscription for D3 online, unless the online experience was more robust.
PimpyMicPimp Jun 23rd 2008 5:10PM
I do hope Blizzard isn't so uncreative as to use an ice motif for a different game when they have Wrath of the Iceking coming up so soon.
Also, this http://i31.tinypic.com/i44c43.jpg
Frostythedman Jun 23rd 2008 5:31PM
What if that "Ice" Image is actually the new WorldStone?
Pleeeeeeeeeeeease be D3!
~Frosty~
Candina@WH Jun 23rd 2008 5:29PM
Nah, it's gonna be WoW Arena for PS3, XBox Live and Wii.
Jordrah Jun 23rd 2008 6:00PM
^THIS
Hiddenmonkey Jun 24th 2008 2:35AM
OMG I would soooooo get the Arena game on my Xbox if it came out. I know they haver REPEATEDLY said that they would not develop a console version of WoW but they never said anything about a mini-game type thing. If they aren't making they definitely should, I believe they could attract some more console players to the PC WoW after they got addicted to the Arena game.
Heleth Jun 23rd 2008 5:45PM
WoW is Diablo3
Oneiroi Jun 23rd 2008 5:51PM
I don't like the thought of them working on D3 when Starcraft 2 isn't out yet.
It's hard enough for Blizzard to get games out normally, let alone while working on WOW/expansions and another game. Adding one more in development seems a bit much.
Or maybe I'm wrong and their new found wealth gives them enough staff to pull it off.
PeeWee Jun 23rd 2008 6:30PM
Different games, different development teams.
h8rain Jun 24th 2008 9:53AM
I am going to have to agree with you on that one. I know different games would have different teams, but I doubt Blizzard, who is well known for quality versus quantity, would have one "game" in development at the same time for each of their series.
Think of how long it took for StarCraft to get a sequel. A Diablo sequel is coming, but I think if they are going to announce anything it will be a *cough*tentative*cough* release date for WotLK.