Sources for Diablo III on PlayStation Consoles
Interview transcripts and Blizzard posts about Diablo III on the PS3 and PS4
Blizzard has provided a lot of information in interviews, press releases, and posts on the battle.net forums, about Diablo III in development for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. Those sources are listed in full below.
See the Diablo III on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 guide for all the important information excerpts from these Blizzard posts.
Updates are important to us too, and we’ll be working closely with Sony to ensure that we’ll have the ability to push important updates out to our players in a timely manner. At this point in time, however, we aren’t ready to confirm any details just yet regarding the frequency or timing of content updates for the PlayStation version of Diablo III.
This particular argument is certainly making its rounds. And, in most cases, it's being used to validate the viewpoints of people who disagree with how Diablo III was designed. While having those disagreements is fine, blaming console for why they even exist is a pretty poor scapegoat.
No, the PC version of Diablo III was not designed for console from the beginning. It was developed for the PC with one major goal in mind: provide players with an awesome hack-and-slash computer game that's both fun and engaging. Whether or not we achieved that goal is certainly up for debate within this community, but it doesn't make it any less real or valid. All the decisions we made when developing Diablo III -- including combat, skills, character controls, user interface, and itemization -- were ones we believed would deliver a great experience on the PC, and the same can be said for the improvements we've made since launch. These decisions were not hindered (i.e. "dumbed down") by the development of a PlayStation version or altered to accommodate it.
For clarity, the PS3 version of Diablo III is based on the PC version and will include many of the same features as the PC game, including content all the way up to patch 1.0.7. From there, it's being tailored specifically for the PlayStation platform and will feature changes like a redesigned control scheme, camera perspective, and UI.
So, while there may be some players who don't like how Diablo III was designed for PC, the PlayStation version of the game was ultimately predicated by the PC experience (not vice-versa). If you don't like the skill system, the inclusion of the auction house, or how itemization works, that's fine and we certainly respect those opinions, but please try to attribute those disagreements to the right place. :)
During the development of the PC version, the job and goal of our design team was to create a fun product for the PC. After launch, it's been to support the game in the form of content updates, balancing, and bug fixes. That's their focus.
Beyond that, we actually have an independent team of designers, engineers, artists, and producers that are dedicated to adapting Diablo III to the PlayStation and creating an epic console experience. It's their job to take the PC game and translate it to the PS3, and in a way deal with all the considerations you're talking about. While our console team and PC team do collaborate (and have collaborated in the past), it's always to ensure that we’re staying true to D3 on the PlayStation platform.
We believe that many aspects of itemization in Diablo III work great, but that the system isn't perfect and can be improved. Overall, we feel like we've been making the item game better with each new patch, and definitely have plans to continue to that process. Some of the areas we'd like to focus on for the future include making Legendary items more "game changing" while still being powerful enough for players to want to equip them, introducing more meaningful gold sinks, and continuing to provide players with reliable ways to gear up outside of the Auction House.
I wish you could, too, but it's okay if you don't. :) The intent of my post wasn't to really to change anyone's minds, but just make sure that people have enough information to make informed decisions on their own.
Since I wasn't privy to every individual thought the developers were thinking as they implemented specific features for the PC game, it's possible that someone at some point thought about something related to console. (Though it may just have been whether or not they remembered to plug in their PS3 controller that morning.)
Even so, to counter a metaphor with a metaphor, I think a lot of players in this discussion can't see the forest for the trees. The point is that it wasn't on the PC design team to make considerations for console. Their focus has been and continues to be the PC game. It's the job of console team to make considerations for console as they adapt the existing game for the PlayStation.
Except that both the UI and control scheme are being redeveloped for PlayStation. (Not to mention that console games can support more than 6 input buttons, if that's what a particular design calls for.)
Let's focus the criticisms here, though. It seems your primary concern is that Diablo III was designed and/or has evolved in a way you don't entirely agree with. You're attributing that to the fact we're porting the PC game to the PlayStation. Because a lot of features and systems in Diablo III seem to sync well with console play, you feel this is evidence that the PC game was purposely handicapped for the PlayStation, and is one of the main reasons why we chose not to implement certain design features from Diablo II (i.e. the type of gameplay you prefer).
It's not unreasonable to think that the order of operations for bringing Diablo III to console was a) decide to release Diablo III on console and then b) develop the PC game around that philosophy -- especially if thinking that helps validate your own concerns. In reality, though, the order was a) develop a great game for PC and then b) see if it makes sense to release that game on console.
We've always thought that, out of all our games, the Diablo franchise would translate best to the console platform (heck, even the first Diablo was ported to PlayStation). The gameplay and controls are very straightforward, which lends itself better to consoles than other titles we've released. This is something we've said for many years now.
Ultimately, Diablo III was a game designed for the PC. It has since been released for PC, and we've made several improvements to the PC game since launch. We plan to continue that support (see here and here as examples). From there, we've been working to port the game to the PlayStation, because we feel it would play really well on that platform.
The part I think a lot of players are getting caught up on is that there's a big difference between believing that a PC game can work well on console after some adjustments, and designing a PC game specifically for console. Diablo III is an example of the former. This means that your concerns are with our approach towards designing a PC game in general, and not the fact that the game makes a good candidate for a console port.
I agree. I never said Diablo, Diablo II, or Diablo III were limited to the hack-and-slash genre. I just clarified that they were, in fact, hack-and-slash games.
Deal, but you're buying. :)
Blizzard has a long history with console games, and the goal with bringing Diablo III to the PlayStation is really about opening up the world of Sanctuary to players who prefer a couch over a desk chair. We know that console games aren’t for everyone, though, and we certainly respect that not all players who’ve purchased the game for PC will want to buy the PlayStation version. That’s totally okay. :)
Even so, our console team has been hard at work adapting Diablo III for the PlayStation platform and making sure that all of the important elements of the game feel great when played using a controller. We’re actually completely re-developing the UI, controls, and camera for the PlayStation 3 so that everything feels natural and looks awesome on a big TV screen. We’re really happy with how that whole process is coming along and we're excited to demo some of these snazzy changes at PAX East in March.
While we think cross-platform play would be awesome, there are currently no plans to allow connectivity between PlayStation Network and Battle.net (this is pretty standard for most games that have PC and console support). As a result, the characters on your Battle.net account and PlayStation account will also remain separate.
In terms of allowing an analog controller hookup for the PC, we don’t have any plans for that kind of support right now. Similarly, since Diablo III for console was designed with a controller in mind, the PlayStation version of Diablo III will not support USB mice or keyboards.
Coming up at PAX East in March, we will provide more details about how we refined certain gameplay features in order to work fluidly within the analog controller-driven environments of the PlayStation version of Diablo III. We look forward to being able to dig into your gameplay questions then. :)
We love the idea of being able to have Diablo III on multiple platforms, especially since Blizzard’s roots are actually in console gaming. From Rock ‘N Roll Racing to Lost Vikings to Blackthorne, Blizzard Entertainment actually started off as a console developer. With Diablo III, we’re just excited to expand our audience and have the opportunity to let console gamers brave the battlefields of Sanctuary (or in some cases, return to Sanctuary, if they played first Diablo on the original PlayStation). It’s also exciting for us to think that this may be the first time that some players have the chance to experience a Blizzard game, too! :)
We love the idea of being able to have Diablo III on multiple platforms, especially since Blizzard’s roots are actually in console gaming. From Rock ‘N Roll Racing to Lost Vikings to Blackthorne, Blizzard Entertainment actually started off as a console developer. With Diablo III, we’re just excited to expand our audience and have the opportunity to let console gamers brave the battlefields of Sanctuary (or in some cases, return to Sanctuary, if they played first Diablo on the original PlayStation). It’s also exciting for us to think that this may be the first time that some players have the chance to experience a Blizzard game, too! :)
I think you are my favorite CM ^-^.
Although I don't agree with all of Blizzard's design decisions for this game, it still made me play it for over 250 hours, so I got my moneys worth. Maybe when the PS4 launches, who knows, I might even buy it just to play in front of my giant tv with a controller.
I’ve had a chance to play the PlayStation version of Diablo III, and one of the aspects that is really appealing to me is the idea of just being able to sit around with a bunch of friends and slay demons (and sass each other because, c’mon, that’s half the fun of playing with friends), so I’ll definitely be playing both versions.
If you’re curious about the PlayStation version, though, you should know that we plan to offer a hands-on demos at PAX East in Boston. So if you’re in the area, you should totally check it out for yourself!
We’re glad that you’re pleased that we’re bringing Diablo III to PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4! As far as additional platforms go: we don’t have any further console announcements or partners to share at this time.
See the Diablo III on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 guide for all the important information excerpts from these Blizzard posts.
Index for Sources for Diablo III on PlayStation Consoles
PAX East Announcement - March 2013
Post by Blizzard (Blue Tracker, Official Forum)
PAX East kicks off this week! Are you ready?
GENERAL INFORMATION
What: Hosted annually in Boston, PAX East is a celebration of gaming culture and community
Where: Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
When: March 22–24
Head on over to east.paxsite.com for panel schedules, hotel and travel information, forums, and more. If you have an iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, or Windows 7 smart phone, you can also download the super sexy (and super official) PAX East 2013 app from Guidebook for free.
THE GREAT JEWEL OF PAX EAST
Gather your gear, heroes, and get ready to face down the Burning Hells on the PlayStation 3!
Our action-packed single-player hands-on demo will showcase several key elements that make Diablo III on the PS3 so much fun, including a reimagined interface and inventory system, direct character control, updated camera, and bosses and monsters specifically tuned for console. Players will also get to experience gameplay from Act III of the campaign where they’ll get to test their mettle as either the cunning Demon Hunter or mighty Barbarian.
We'll have demo stations available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT in booth #1036 of the Expo Hall, so if you’re in the area (and in the mood for some ritual demon slaughter), be sure to stop by and check it out!
RNG IS RNG: RAFFLES, GIVEAWAYS, AND MORE. . .
In addition to showcasing the PS3 version of Diablo III and chatting you up about the game as you saunter by, we'll also be giving away enough swag and prizes to make a Treasure Goblin jealous.
We'll be sharing updates, photos, and more live from the convention floor, so be sure to "Like" us on Facebook and follow our official Twitter feed so you don't miss out.
For those who are Boston-bound, we salute you . . . and hope to see you there!
Blue Posts - February 2013
Patches for the Console Diablo III
Given the major process involved in patching a game on the console, the question has come up about how Blizzard plans on doing that for the PS3 and PS4 versions of Diablo III. The details on that process will have to wait until later.
Post by Blizzard (Blue Tracker, Official Forum)
Posted by: aro
I sincerely doubt it. Not many games receive huge content updates regularly on consoles. I'm questioning the worth of buying it on console over PC.
I sincerely doubt it. Not many games receive huge content updates regularly on consoles. I'm questioning the worth of buying it on console over PC.
Updates are important to us too, and we’ll be working closely with Sony to ensure that we’ll have the ability to push important updates out to our players in a timely manner. At this point in time, however, we aren’t ready to confirm any details just yet regarding the frequency or timing of content updates for the PlayStation version of Diablo III.
Diablo III on the PS3 and PS4
Some players have been afraid that the console development means that the PC version won't be getting as many updates. Lylirra dispelled that notion with a list of some of the improvements that the developers are looking to make to the game, and explained the development process for the PlayStation versions of Diablo III.
Post by Blizzard (Blue Tracker, Official Forum)
Posted by: Hypersonic
The argument is that the console versions has already had an effect on the design of the game some time during development. The decision to make versions for consoles meant that several aspects of the game had to be redesigned so that it can accommodate console gamers and as such, it resulted in the game being "dumbed down".
The argument is that the console versions has already had an effect on the design of the game some time during development. The decision to make versions for consoles meant that several aspects of the game had to be redesigned so that it can accommodate console gamers and as such, it resulted in the game being "dumbed down".
This particular argument is certainly making its rounds. And, in most cases, it's being used to validate the viewpoints of people who disagree with how Diablo III was designed. While having those disagreements is fine, blaming console for why they even exist is a pretty poor scapegoat.
No, the PC version of Diablo III was not designed for console from the beginning. It was developed for the PC with one major goal in mind: provide players with an awesome hack-and-slash computer game that's both fun and engaging. Whether or not we achieved that goal is certainly up for debate within this community, but it doesn't make it any less real or valid. All the decisions we made when developing Diablo III -- including combat, skills, character controls, user interface, and itemization -- were ones we believed would deliver a great experience on the PC, and the same can be said for the improvements we've made since launch. These decisions were not hindered (i.e. "dumbed down") by the development of a PlayStation version or altered to accommodate it.
For clarity, the PS3 version of Diablo III is based on the PC version and will include many of the same features as the PC game, including content all the way up to patch 1.0.7. From there, it's being tailored specifically for the PlayStation platform and will feature changes like a redesigned control scheme, camera perspective, and UI.
So, while there may be some players who don't like how Diablo III was designed for PC, the PlayStation version of the game was ultimately predicated by the PC experience (not vice-versa). If you don't like the skill system, the inclusion of the auction house, or how itemization works, that's fine and we certainly respect those opinions, but please try to attribute those disagreements to the right place. :)
Posted by: whoopadeedoo
So you're telling us that at no time was the console taken into consideration during the development of the PC version?
So you're telling us that at no time was the console taken into consideration during the development of the PC version?
During the development of the PC version, the job and goal of our design team was to create a fun product for the PC. After launch, it's been to support the game in the form of content updates, balancing, and bug fixes. That's their focus.
Beyond that, we actually have an independent team of designers, engineers, artists, and producers that are dedicated to adapting Diablo III to the PlayStation and creating an epic console experience. It's their job to take the PC game and translate it to the PS3, and in a way deal with all the considerations you're talking about. While our console team and PC team do collaborate (and have collaborated in the past), it's always to ensure that we’re staying true to D3 on the PlayStation platform.
Posted by: Sÿlak
Is that belief still held high in the development office?
Is that belief still held high in the development office?
We believe that many aspects of itemization in Diablo III work great, but that the system isn't perfect and can be improved. Overall, we feel like we've been making the item game better with each new patch, and definitely have plans to continue to that process. Some of the areas we'd like to focus on for the future include making Legendary items more "game changing" while still being powerful enough for players to want to equip them, introducing more meaningful gold sinks, and continuing to provide players with reliable ways to gear up outside of the Auction House.
Posted by: Fayld
I wish I could believe this wasn't just more spin...
I wish I could believe this wasn't just more spin...
I wish you could, too, but it's okay if you don't. :) The intent of my post wasn't to really to change anyone's minds, but just make sure that people have enough information to make informed decisions on their own.
I think you are kinda just beating around the bush.
You still can't be 100% sure that some certain elements of the game are being designed (or redesigned during the game is being made) are taken into account because of a possibility of console port in the future.
You still can't be 100% sure that some certain elements of the game are being designed (or redesigned during the game is being made) are taken into account because of a possibility of console port in the future.
Since I wasn't privy to every individual thought the developers were thinking as they implemented specific features for the PC game, it's possible that someone at some point thought about something related to console. (Though it may just have been whether or not they remembered to plug in their PS3 controller that morning.)
Even so, to counter a metaphor with a metaphor, I think a lot of players in this discussion can't see the forest for the trees. The point is that it wasn't on the PC design team to make considerations for console. Their focus has been and continues to be the PC game. It's the job of console team to make considerations for console as they adapt the existing game for the PlayStation.
Posted by: Xaragoth
Even the UI and entire conrol setup lends itself very much to a controller layout, as do the amount of abilities.
Even the UI and entire conrol setup lends itself very much to a controller layout, as do the amount of abilities.
Except that both the UI and control scheme are being redeveloped for PlayStation. (Not to mention that console games can support more than 6 input buttons, if that's what a particular design calls for.)
Let's focus the criticisms here, though. It seems your primary concern is that Diablo III was designed and/or has evolved in a way you don't entirely agree with. You're attributing that to the fact we're porting the PC game to the PlayStation. Because a lot of features and systems in Diablo III seem to sync well with console play, you feel this is evidence that the PC game was purposely handicapped for the PlayStation, and is one of the main reasons why we chose not to implement certain design features from Diablo II (i.e. the type of gameplay you prefer).
It's not unreasonable to think that the order of operations for bringing Diablo III to console was a) decide to release Diablo III on console and then b) develop the PC game around that philosophy -- especially if thinking that helps validate your own concerns. In reality, though, the order was a) develop a great game for PC and then b) see if it makes sense to release that game on console.
We've always thought that, out of all our games, the Diablo franchise would translate best to the console platform (heck, even the first Diablo was ported to PlayStation). The gameplay and controls are very straightforward, which lends itself better to consoles than other titles we've released. This is something we've said for many years now.
Play.tm: This game is PC and Mac only at present. Do you have console plans for the future?[/b]
Jay: We don't have any console plans right now. I would say that of all our games... well, Blizzard doesn't view itself as just a PC developer, we think we're a games developer. So if we thought a game was more appropriate for consoles we'd make it, its just that most of the games we've made so far feel better on the PC. However, Diablo is maybe the one exception. I think the control scheme would translate really well to a console, erm, there are many elements that would be easy to pull over... that could work well with direct control. There's not a lot of buttons, so you could fit them on a controller pretty easily. There are some targeting issues that could be troublesome, but nothing that couldn't be overcome. But, we're also used to developing for the PC, so right now we're completely focused on that.
(source)
Jay: We don't have any console plans right now. I would say that of all our games... well, Blizzard doesn't view itself as just a PC developer, we think we're a games developer. So if we thought a game was more appropriate for consoles we'd make it, its just that most of the games we've made so far feel better on the PC. However, Diablo is maybe the one exception. I think the control scheme would translate really well to a console, erm, there are many elements that would be easy to pull over... that could work well with direct control. There's not a lot of buttons, so you could fit them on a controller pretty easily. There are some targeting issues that could be troublesome, but nothing that couldn't be overcome. But, we're also used to developing for the PC, so right now we're completely focused on that.
(source)
Though Diablo 3 is currently only confirmed for the PC, Blizzard president Mike Morhaime has once again suggested that the long-awaited action-RPG may end up on consoles as well.
"Every game we have the discussion about which platforms make the most sense," Morhaime stated in an interview at BlizzCon. "As Diablo 3 takes shape, I think we'll do an evaluation."
"I think there is a pretty good argument to be made that that type of game might work very well on consoles," he added. "There might be some technical limitations though that we might need to get past."
Diablo 3 director Jay Wilson also chimed in on the oft-speculated topic, noting that the game's control scheme would work rather well on consoles.
"If we did it, we would want to do a really high quality version--we wouldn't just want to do a port," Wilson said. "We would never make that decision if we thought we had to compromise the overall quality...we could probably do it at any time, we could release the game and then decide we wanted to do a 360 version or a PS3 version."
"We haven't really decided to take the [console] plunge," he continued "We've really come to the conclusion that it's probably the best fit because the control scheme is actually not that incompatible. So if we were to make that decision, Diablo would be the natural choice."
(source)
"Every game we have the discussion about which platforms make the most sense," Morhaime stated in an interview at BlizzCon. "As Diablo 3 takes shape, I think we'll do an evaluation."
"I think there is a pretty good argument to be made that that type of game might work very well on consoles," he added. "There might be some technical limitations though that we might need to get past."
Diablo 3 director Jay Wilson also chimed in on the oft-speculated topic, noting that the game's control scheme would work rather well on consoles.
"If we did it, we would want to do a really high quality version--we wouldn't just want to do a port," Wilson said. "We would never make that decision if we thought we had to compromise the overall quality...we could probably do it at any time, we could release the game and then decide we wanted to do a 360 version or a PS3 version."
"We haven't really decided to take the [console] plunge," he continued "We've really come to the conclusion that it's probably the best fit because the control scheme is actually not that incompatible. So if we were to make that decision, Diablo would be the natural choice."
(source)
VG 24/7:I sat in on a recent press conference where Jay Wilson and J Allen Brack were asked why Blizzard games aren't on consoles. The gist of their argument? If Blizzard created a game that was a good fit for consoles, it’d be there in a heartbeat. Obviously, many gamers have responded to this with vehement cries of "Diablo!" Are they right? Or are Diablo’s demons invulnerable to all but the mighty mouse and keyboard?
JB: I think it is suited to consoles. We’re definitely working, obviously, on the PC version. This is something that’s been brought up a lot about Diablo. It’s sort of an ongoing question. And I’m sure we would all love to play it on console, but right now, we’re just focused on what we’ve got in front of us. Who knows what the future holds? It’s hard to say.
CL: We have said in the past that Diablo’s one of the games that really would translate [to consoles] well.
(source)
JB: I think it is suited to consoles. We’re definitely working, obviously, on the PC version. This is something that’s been brought up a lot about Diablo. It’s sort of an ongoing question. And I’m sure we would all love to play it on console, but right now, we’re just focused on what we’ve got in front of us. Who knows what the future holds? It’s hard to say.
CL: We have said in the past that Diablo’s one of the games that really would translate [to consoles] well.
(source)
Ultimately, Diablo III was a game designed for the PC. It has since been released for PC, and we've made several improvements to the PC game since launch. We plan to continue that support (see here and here as examples). From there, we've been working to port the game to the PlayStation, because we feel it would play really well on that platform.
The part I think a lot of players are getting caught up on is that there's a big difference between believing that a PC game can work well on console after some adjustments, and designing a PC game specifically for console. Diablo III is an example of the former. This means that your concerns are with our approach towards designing a PC game in general, and not the fact that the game makes a good candidate for a console port.
Posted by: Moogle
Very disheartening to hear this franchise get boiled down to semantics. These games are so much more than hack-and-slash.
Very disheartening to hear this franchise get boiled down to semantics. These games are so much more than hack-and-slash.
I agree. I never said Diablo, Diablo II, or Diablo III were limited to the hack-and-slash genre. I just clarified that they were, in fact, hack-and-slash games.
Posted by: whoopadeedoo
Lylirra, will you have a beer with me at Blizzcon? Seriously.
Lylirra, will you have a beer with me at Blizzcon? Seriously.
Deal, but you're buying. :)
No Cross-Platform Characters
Although it would have been fun if players could run the same Diablo III characters on both the PS3 and PC versions, this will not be happening. Battle.net characters will not be able to be accessed by the PlayStation versions of the game, and vice-versa.
Post by Blizzard (Blue Tracker, Official Forum)
In summary...everybody is entitled to their own opinion, and this is mine. I thank Blizzard for working so hard on making a version that's going to allow me to play with my PS friends as well as continuing to work on the PC version at the same time. I'll be out there farming and leveling, because unlike some of these people...I enjoy it.
Blizzard has a long history with console games, and the goal with bringing Diablo III to the PlayStation is really about opening up the world of Sanctuary to players who prefer a couch over a desk chair. We know that console games aren’t for everyone, though, and we certainly respect that not all players who’ve purchased the game for PC will want to buy the PlayStation version. That’s totally okay. :)
Even so, our console team has been hard at work adapting Diablo III for the PlayStation platform and making sure that all of the important elements of the game feel great when played using a controller. We’re actually completely re-developing the UI, controls, and camera for the PlayStation 3 so that everything feels natural and looks awesome on a big TV screen. We’re really happy with how that whole process is coming along and we're excited to demo some of these snazzy changes at PAX East in March.
Posted by: Begaria
Vaeflare, do you have an ETA on when we can expect some developer discussion on how the console version of Diablo 3 will affect future PC design? i.e. Adding controller support to the PC, clarification whether we can expect an offline feature similar to the console version, cross-platform play, etc
Vaeflare, do you have an ETA on when we can expect some developer discussion on how the console version of Diablo 3 will affect future PC design? i.e. Adding controller support to the PC, clarification whether we can expect an offline feature similar to the console version, cross-platform play, etc
While we think cross-platform play would be awesome, there are currently no plans to allow connectivity between PlayStation Network and Battle.net (this is pretty standard for most games that have PC and console support). As a result, the characters on your Battle.net account and PlayStation account will also remain separate.
In terms of allowing an analog controller hookup for the PC, we don’t have any plans for that kind of support right now. Similarly, since Diablo III for console was designed with a controller in mind, the PlayStation version of Diablo III will not support USB mice or keyboards.
Targetting on Console
Questions about how to use spells on the PlayStation versions that utilize a reticle on the PC version, will be answered at PAX East:
Post by Blizzard (Blue Tracker, Official Forum)
Posted by: Valenco
Quick question about the PS3/4 version. How do spells like Blizzard work? I click a spot to cast it on. With no cursor, how do you tell it where to cast?
Quick question about the PS3/4 version. How do spells like Blizzard work? I click a spot to cast it on. With no cursor, how do you tell it where to cast?
Coming up at PAX East in March, we will provide more details about how we refined certain gameplay features in order to work fluidly within the analog controller-driven environments of the PlayStation version of Diablo III. We look forward to being able to dig into your gameplay questions then. :)
A Blizzard Console Game, Again
Blizzard is going back to some of it's development roots, with a game running on a console again.
Post by Blizzard (Blue Tracker, Official Forum)
Blizzard smart to produce a game that can be played on more than one platform. Expose the awesomeness of D3 to more people!
We love the idea of being able to have Diablo III on multiple platforms, especially since Blizzard’s roots are actually in console gaming. From Rock ‘N Roll Racing to Lost Vikings to Blackthorne, Blizzard Entertainment actually started off as a console developer. With Diablo III, we’re just excited to expand our audience and have the opportunity to let console gamers brave the battlefields of Sanctuary (or in some cases, return to Sanctuary, if they played first Diablo on the original PlayStation). It’s also exciting for us to think that this may be the first time that some players have the chance to experience a Blizzard game, too! :)
We love the idea of being able to have Diablo III on multiple platforms, especially since Blizzard’s roots are actually in console gaming. From Rock ‘N Roll Racing to Lost Vikings to Blackthorne, Blizzard Entertainment actually started off as a console developer. With Diablo III, we’re just excited to expand our audience and have the opportunity to let console gamers brave the battlefields of Sanctuary (or in some cases, return to Sanctuary, if they played first Diablo on the original PlayStation). It’s also exciting for us to think that this may be the first time that some players have the chance to experience a Blizzard game, too! :)
I think you are my favorite CM ^-^.
Although I don't agree with all of Blizzard's design decisions for this game, it still made me play it for over 250 hours, so I got my moneys worth. Maybe when the PS4 launches, who knows, I might even buy it just to play in front of my giant tv with a controller.
I’ve had a chance to play the PlayStation version of Diablo III, and one of the aspects that is really appealing to me is the idea of just being able to sit around with a bunch of friends and slay demons (and sass each other because, c’mon, that’s half the fun of playing with friends), so I’ll definitely be playing both versions.
If you’re curious about the PlayStation version, though, you should know that we plan to offer a hands-on demos at PAX East in Boston. So if you’re in the area, you should totally check it out for yourself!
Posted by: Chickenrot
I see that Blizzard is expanding to console games, wich i think is great by the way.but what i want to know is,are you(Blizzard) making D3 exclusive to playstation only,or is there going to be a version for xbox down the road as well?
I see that Blizzard is expanding to console games, wich i think is great by the way.but what i want to know is,are you(Blizzard) making D3 exclusive to playstation only,or is there going to be a version for xbox down the road as well?
We’re glad that you’re pleased that we’re bringing Diablo III to PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4! As far as additional platforms go: we don’t have any further console announcements or partners to share at this time.
See the Diablo III on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 guide for all the important information about Diablo III for the PlayStation consoles.
Official Development Announcement
Post by Blizzard (Blue Tracker, Official Forum)
The minions of Hell grow stronger.
We're excited to announce that Diablo III is being developed for the Sony PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. We'll also be adapting the award-winning action-role-playing game for Sony's newly announced platform: the PlayStation®4!
Sit Down, Relax, and Kill Some Demons
Diablo III for the PS3™/PS4™ will be based on the core PC game and feature all the latest updates, including Paragon levels, the Infernal Machine event, Monster Power, Brawling, and more. This version is also being tailored with customized controls, a new user interface, and a dynamic camera perspective to provide an awesome Diablo III experience for PlayStation gamers.
Players will be able to wage war against the Burning Hells on their own in single-player games as well as team up and destroy countless demons with their fellow Nephalem in multiplayer games. For multiplayer, players will have the option to choose between four-player online (complete with matchmaking) and four-player local co-op modes for their couch-based warfare.
Follow the Falling Star to Boston, MA
The PS3 version of Diablo III will make its public debut at PAX East in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center from March 22–24, and attendees of the convention will be some of the first to defend the world of Sanctuary via handheld controllers.
We call upon all heroes to join us at the official Blizzard booth, where you can enjoy some fast-paced hack-and-slash, participate in fun contests and giveaways, and learn more about the game. (Community managers will also be on-site, and they look forward to answering your questions and slaying some of Diablo's many malevolent minions with you.)
For more information, be sure to check out the official press release, and stay tuned to Diablo3.com for future updates.
Blizzard.com Press Release
Post by Blizzard (Press Release)
THE LORD OF TERROR TO UNLEASH THE FIRES OF THE BURNING HELLS ON PLAYSTATION® GAMERS WORLDWIDE
Blizzard Entertainment announces Diablo® III for PS3™, confirms franchise coming to PS4™
World-first hands-on set for PAX East, March 22–24
IRVINE, Calif.—February 20, 2013—The fate of Sanctuary will soon rest in the hands of PlayStation gamers around the world. Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced that it is developing Diablo® III, the latest entry in its award-winning action–role-playing-game series, for the Sony PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. The company also today confirmed plans to adapt the game for Sony’s newly announced PlayStation®4, its next-generation computer entertainment system.
The PS3™/PS4™ version of Diablo III will be based on the critically acclaimed core experience of the PC version, including all of the latest upgrades, such as the Paragon leveling system, customizable Monster Power, Brawling, and epic Legendary items. In addition, Blizzard is designing an all-new user interface, including an intuitive control scheme and a new dynamic camera perspective, that will make questing and combat in the world of Sanctuary feel like second nature on PlayStation platforms. Players will be able to battle their way through the story in single-player mode and also experience the hack-and-slash joy of destroying demons and collecting loot together with their friends via seamless four-player online and local co-op modes.
Blizzard also announced today that the PS3 version of Diablo III will be shown live at PAX East, taking place at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center from March 22–24. Attendees there will be the first in the world to pick up a controller and experience the fast-paced action and visceral gameplay of Diablo III via the new custom-designed interface.
“Diablo III looks and plays great on the PlayStation,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We put a lot of care and thought into the PlayStation version to make sure it would deliver an authentic Diablo gaming experience, and we’re really pleased with the results. We can’t wait for players to try it out at PAX East.”
Diablo III continues the epic Diablo storyline, with players taking on the role of one of five heroic characters—barbarian, witch doctor, wizard, monk, or demon hunter—and embarking on a perilous quest to save the world of Sanctuary from the corrupting forces of the Burning Hells. As players adventure through rich and varied settings, they’ll engage in pulse-pounding combat with hordes of monsters and challenging bosses, grow in experience and ability, acquire artifacts of incredible power, and meet key characters who’ll join them in battle or aid them along the way. Diablo III was originally released for Windows® and Macintosh® PC on May 15, 2012 and within 24 hours became the fastest-selling PC game of all time. As of December 31, 2012, Diablo III had sold through more than 12 million copies worldwide.*
To learn more about Diablo III, please visit the official website at http://www.diablo3.com. Further details about Blizzard’s plans for the PlayStation versions of the game will be announced on the site as development progresses. With multiple games in development, Blizzard Entertainment has numerous positions currently available—visit http://jobs.blizzard.com for more information and to learn how to apply.
*According to The NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, and internal company estimates.
PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
GameTrailers.com Interview with Chris Metzen and John Hight
February 20, 2013: An interview at GameTrailers.com by Geoff Keighley, with Chris Metzen and John Hight.
Geoff Keighley: Coming up next right here are two special guests who were onstage in one of the surprise announcements tonight. Blizzard is coming back to consoles, as Chris Metzen said, and they announced that Diablo III will be coming for the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation 3. And joining us now to talk about it, we've got John Hight from Blizzard, and Chris Metzen as well. Hello guys, surprise appearance, thanks for coming by, great to see you guys.
John Hight: Thanks for having us.
Geoff Keighley: That was one of the real shockers I think tonight, that had been widely rumored that you guys were working on a console version of Diablo, but you announced it for PS3 and PS4. Congratulations! Why was now the right time to tell people about this?
John Hight: Well, we've been working on it for a long time. We've been putting a lot of thought and detail into how we want to envision Diablo III on the console. We began discussions obviously with the manufacturers, and Sony really came through with us. They've been a great partner for us, very supportive. [To Chris Metzen]: You've had a lot of history with consoles at Blizzard, how did that feel?
Chris Metzen: It felt really good, it felt like the circuit completing itself again. Like we said on stage, we wanted to get back into console for years, and it was just a matter of finding the right time, and the right partner, and the right product.
Geoff Keighley: So you guys said you had a strategic relationship with Sony. Does that mean it's not coming to Xbox, it's a Sony kind of exclusive game?
John Hight: Well tonight is really Sony's event, and that's what we're here to talk about. We'll make announcements down the road about what we're going to do with D3, and future plans.
Geoff Keighley: Ok great. Well, just the news that you guys are making it for consoles is fantastic. And you're going to bring it out for, you said PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3. We didn't see a lot of footage of it tonight, it was more the announcement that you're doing it. Tell me, I think a lot of gamers are wondering: well, how's it going to be different on PlayStation 4? When you guys think of shipping a game across two systems, how do you think it will be different?
John Hight: [To Chris Metzen]: Want me to grab that one?
Chris Metzen: Go go go.
Geoff Keighley: The story will stay the same.
John Hight: I get the technical stuff.
Geoff Keighley: Yeah, but I think people are curious, because they heard a lot about specs, and RAM, and things like that. Obviously we'll get better graphics, and things like that, share our games - what is that going to mean for your game?
John Hight: We're super excited about it. Maybe we should just backup a minute, because we kind of have to explain to people what we're doing, even on the PS3. Direct control of the player, which you understand, maybe a lot of people don't. You no longer have to click a path to have your character move to a position. You literally with the analog sticks, tell them where you want to go.
Chris Metzen: It's a whole new ballgame.
John Hight: It's surprising, yeah, how much action that brings to it. Blizzard really, created action RPGs by launching Diablo originally. And this kind of brings the action back into it. One of the things we added was an Evade capability, so that when stuff's coming at you, and the demons are summoning around you, you can move quickly out of the way, which was a very different kind of gameplay. But we think the thing that was really cool, what Chris talked about, is that we're gonna allow for local co-op, as well as online co-op. So you can have four people on the same screen, no split screen. We just zoom the camera out, or if you're offline you--
Geoff Keighley: And this will be on the PS3 as well?
John Hight: This is the PS3, yeah.
Geoff Keighley: Oh, wow.
John Hight: We're actually going to be showing all of this at PAX East in March. We're gonna have hands-on gameplay there.
Geoff Keighley: Oh that's amazing, alright, so you guys are - it sounds like, people when they hear "Diablo III" they're like: oh, are they just porting it over? It sounds like you guys have spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to make this a custom experience for this audience.
John Hight: Oh a big thing for us was the UI. I mean, just being able to go in; it's all about getting the loot, the cool loot. And you want to be able to access it quickly, compare stats, know what stuff is good, how you want to equip it, so everything's changed in that part of the interface. It really is console-oriented, you can do all of that with the analog stick. Your characters - we got rid of the paper dolls, I know some people loved them, but instead we have full 3D characters, so as you equip things, you see your character in all of it's glory, with particle effects.
Geoff Keighley: Oh this is a big thing. So now Chris from like a story and lore perspective let me ask you. Now Diablo 3 is coming to consoles, but there's going to be a whole new audience that may not have played Diablo 1 or 2 that were PlayStation fans. Do you guys think about how to sort of on-board those people, or how to share more of Diablo with them?
Chris Metzen: We've talked about it, we don't have any kind of core plans yet, prior to the thing getting wrapped up. It is definitely an issue, trying to catch people up and walk them into how this world's different from other fantasy settings they might have played before, and kind of why this sequel is even significant, in terms of the ongoing plot. So there's a number of ways we might attack it. We don't have any core plans yet, but those interstitials before the game, like the sepia-toned cinematic stuff is a cool way of showing backstory, and getting into the thick of things.
Geoff Keighley: But it is Diablo III, it's not like the extended cut, it's the same game that people are playing?
John Hight: Yeah. All the content is in the game, up to 1.0.7, which we just released. So it's going to have the PVP Brawling in it. You're gonna have crafted items. And we're gonna do updates on the console side just as we've been doing all along on the PC side. We've done seven updates so far on the PC side, based on player feedback and tuning the game, and adding features to the game. So we consider it - it's a live game, we're gonna continue to support it.
Geoff Keighley: So it seems like you guys are pretty, I don't want to put words in your mouth, but it sounds like you're pretty far along with this version of it, right?
John Hight: Oh yeah. I mean it's, like I said, you'll see it playable on the PS3 [at PAX].
Geoff Keighley: So are we going to have, will we have to wait for PlayStation 4 to play it? Or are you going to do PlayStation 3 and 4 separately?
John Hight: We haven't announced release dates on this stuff. We are obviously much further along on the PS3 version than we are on the PS4. We only finally got to see the [PS4] controller yesterday, so we've already had a lot of thoughts about how we're gonna use the touch bar.
Geoff Keighley: [Inaudible] So you can just like pick it up.
John Hight: Yeah the touch bar is going to be awesome.
Geoff Keighley: [Inaudible] And with the precision of Diablo, to be able to just pick up things like that... it's gonna make a big difference.
John Hight: And we want to take full advantage of the social aspects, so that it feels natural for console gamers. They can go into PlayStation Network, they can go through their friends list, we're gonna have full matchmaking through that.
Geoff Keighley: That's awesome, I'm so excited to see that you guys are doing this. One other thing we should ask about: this is more of a Chris question, but recently you guys announced for the Warcraft movie you've got, Duncan Jones is going to get involved. So that's ramping up for fans, they'll be able to watch that Blu-ray on our PS4?
Chris Metzen: He's super cool, man. He's exactly the guy we've been waiting on. He's a really good collaborator so far, just full of ideas, and it seems he really gets the franchise. He came up playing the RTS games back in the day, and a good bit of WoW, but I think he really has an appreciation for the bones of the franchise and what makes it tick. So we've just had a blast working with this guy so far.
Geoff Keighley: So some good energy behind that?
Chris Metzen: Oh it's ridiculous.
Geoff Keighley: That's awesome. You have a script, I guess, that's been written, right?
Chris Metzen: We do. The plan is, he's a writer-director, so he took a look at what we had drafted and recognized very quickly where it needed to be buffed, and where it needed to be bolstered. So my understanding is that he'll probably take a shot at it, and refine it as such as something that he's really internalized. Which I'm all for; this guy's instinct for the material has been fantastic so far.
Geoff Keighley: That's awesome.
John Hight: You weren't going to try to play Illidan, are you?
Geoff Keighley: If the casting process comes around! [Crosstalk] It's just so cool to see Blizzard obviously experimenting with what you're going to do in the film space, and now back to consoles and everything like that. It must be an exciting time for you guys to be able to share these stories with that many more people now.
Chris Metzen: Totally. It's hectic, but it's epic. We're having a lot of fun.
Geoff Keighley: Well and surprising us. I think it was a great announcement to see you guys onstage with Sony. So, yeah, I'm really excited to go hands-on with Diablo. It sounds like we're going to only have to wait about a month?
John Hight: Sure, come on out to PAX East.
Geoff Keighley: Alright, well I'll be there in Boston, I'm looking forward to going hands-on and checking out it. And the Diablo faithful will be excited to see what it's going to be like on the console. John and Chris, thanks so much for stopping by here on the PlayStation Post-Show.
Geoff Keighley: Coming up next right here are two special guests who were onstage in one of the surprise announcements tonight. Blizzard is coming back to consoles, as Chris Metzen said, and they announced that Diablo III will be coming for the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation 3. And joining us now to talk about it, we've got John Hight from Blizzard, and Chris Metzen as well. Hello guys, surprise appearance, thanks for coming by, great to see you guys.
John Hight: Thanks for having us.
Geoff Keighley: That was one of the real shockers I think tonight, that had been widely rumored that you guys were working on a console version of Diablo, but you announced it for PS3 and PS4. Congratulations! Why was now the right time to tell people about this?
John Hight: Well, we've been working on it for a long time. We've been putting a lot of thought and detail into how we want to envision Diablo III on the console. We began discussions obviously with the manufacturers, and Sony really came through with us. They've been a great partner for us, very supportive. [To Chris Metzen]: You've had a lot of history with consoles at Blizzard, how did that feel?
Chris Metzen: It felt really good, it felt like the circuit completing itself again. Like we said on stage, we wanted to get back into console for years, and it was just a matter of finding the right time, and the right partner, and the right product.
Geoff Keighley: So you guys said you had a strategic relationship with Sony. Does that mean it's not coming to Xbox, it's a Sony kind of exclusive game?
John Hight: Well tonight is really Sony's event, and that's what we're here to talk about. We'll make announcements down the road about what we're going to do with D3, and future plans.
Geoff Keighley: Ok great. Well, just the news that you guys are making it for consoles is fantastic. And you're going to bring it out for, you said PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3. We didn't see a lot of footage of it tonight, it was more the announcement that you're doing it. Tell me, I think a lot of gamers are wondering: well, how's it going to be different on PlayStation 4? When you guys think of shipping a game across two systems, how do you think it will be different?
John Hight: [To Chris Metzen]: Want me to grab that one?
Chris Metzen: Go go go.
Geoff Keighley: The story will stay the same.
John Hight: I get the technical stuff.
Geoff Keighley: Yeah, but I think people are curious, because they heard a lot about specs, and RAM, and things like that. Obviously we'll get better graphics, and things like that, share our games - what is that going to mean for your game?
John Hight: We're super excited about it. Maybe we should just backup a minute, because we kind of have to explain to people what we're doing, even on the PS3. Direct control of the player, which you understand, maybe a lot of people don't. You no longer have to click a path to have your character move to a position. You literally with the analog sticks, tell them where you want to go.
Chris Metzen: It's a whole new ballgame.
John Hight: It's surprising, yeah, how much action that brings to it. Blizzard really, created action RPGs by launching Diablo originally. And this kind of brings the action back into it. One of the things we added was an Evade capability, so that when stuff's coming at you, and the demons are summoning around you, you can move quickly out of the way, which was a very different kind of gameplay. But we think the thing that was really cool, what Chris talked about, is that we're gonna allow for local co-op, as well as online co-op. So you can have four people on the same screen, no split screen. We just zoom the camera out, or if you're offline you--
Geoff Keighley: And this will be on the PS3 as well?
John Hight: This is the PS3, yeah.
Geoff Keighley: Oh, wow.
John Hight: We're actually going to be showing all of this at PAX East in March. We're gonna have hands-on gameplay there.
Geoff Keighley: Oh that's amazing, alright, so you guys are - it sounds like, people when they hear "Diablo III" they're like: oh, are they just porting it over? It sounds like you guys have spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to make this a custom experience for this audience.
John Hight: Oh a big thing for us was the UI. I mean, just being able to go in; it's all about getting the loot, the cool loot. And you want to be able to access it quickly, compare stats, know what stuff is good, how you want to equip it, so everything's changed in that part of the interface. It really is console-oriented, you can do all of that with the analog stick. Your characters - we got rid of the paper dolls, I know some people loved them, but instead we have full 3D characters, so as you equip things, you see your character in all of it's glory, with particle effects.
Geoff Keighley: Oh this is a big thing. So now Chris from like a story and lore perspective let me ask you. Now Diablo 3 is coming to consoles, but there's going to be a whole new audience that may not have played Diablo 1 or 2 that were PlayStation fans. Do you guys think about how to sort of on-board those people, or how to share more of Diablo with them?
Chris Metzen: We've talked about it, we don't have any kind of core plans yet, prior to the thing getting wrapped up. It is definitely an issue, trying to catch people up and walk them into how this world's different from other fantasy settings they might have played before, and kind of why this sequel is even significant, in terms of the ongoing plot. So there's a number of ways we might attack it. We don't have any core plans yet, but those interstitials before the game, like the sepia-toned cinematic stuff is a cool way of showing backstory, and getting into the thick of things.
Geoff Keighley: But it is Diablo III, it's not like the extended cut, it's the same game that people are playing?
John Hight: Yeah. All the content is in the game, up to 1.0.7, which we just released. So it's going to have the PVP Brawling in it. You're gonna have crafted items. And we're gonna do updates on the console side just as we've been doing all along on the PC side. We've done seven updates so far on the PC side, based on player feedback and tuning the game, and adding features to the game. So we consider it - it's a live game, we're gonna continue to support it.
Geoff Keighley: So it seems like you guys are pretty, I don't want to put words in your mouth, but it sounds like you're pretty far along with this version of it, right?
John Hight: Oh yeah. I mean it's, like I said, you'll see it playable on the PS3 [at PAX].
Geoff Keighley: So are we going to have, will we have to wait for PlayStation 4 to play it? Or are you going to do PlayStation 3 and 4 separately?
John Hight: We haven't announced release dates on this stuff. We are obviously much further along on the PS3 version than we are on the PS4. We only finally got to see the [PS4] controller yesterday, so we've already had a lot of thoughts about how we're gonna use the touch bar.
Geoff Keighley: [Inaudible] So you can just like pick it up.
John Hight: Yeah the touch bar is going to be awesome.
Geoff Keighley: [Inaudible] And with the precision of Diablo, to be able to just pick up things like that... it's gonna make a big difference.
John Hight: And we want to take full advantage of the social aspects, so that it feels natural for console gamers. They can go into PlayStation Network, they can go through their friends list, we're gonna have full matchmaking through that.
Geoff Keighley: That's awesome, I'm so excited to see that you guys are doing this. One other thing we should ask about: this is more of a Chris question, but recently you guys announced for the Warcraft movie you've got, Duncan Jones is going to get involved. So that's ramping up for fans, they'll be able to watch that Blu-ray on our PS4?
Chris Metzen: He's super cool, man. He's exactly the guy we've been waiting on. He's a really good collaborator so far, just full of ideas, and it seems he really gets the franchise. He came up playing the RTS games back in the day, and a good bit of WoW, but I think he really has an appreciation for the bones of the franchise and what makes it tick. So we've just had a blast working with this guy so far.
Geoff Keighley: So some good energy behind that?
Chris Metzen: Oh it's ridiculous.
Geoff Keighley: That's awesome. You have a script, I guess, that's been written, right?
Chris Metzen: We do. The plan is, he's a writer-director, so he took a look at what we had drafted and recognized very quickly where it needed to be buffed, and where it needed to be bolstered. So my understanding is that he'll probably take a shot at it, and refine it as such as something that he's really internalized. Which I'm all for; this guy's instinct for the material has been fantastic so far.
Geoff Keighley: That's awesome.
John Hight: You weren't going to try to play Illidan, are you?
Geoff Keighley: If the casting process comes around! [Crosstalk] It's just so cool to see Blizzard obviously experimenting with what you're going to do in the film space, and now back to consoles and everything like that. It must be an exciting time for you guys to be able to share these stories with that many more people now.
Chris Metzen: Totally. It's hectic, but it's epic. We're having a lot of fun.
Geoff Keighley: Well and surprising us. I think it was a great announcement to see you guys onstage with Sony. So, yeah, I'm really excited to go hands-on with Diablo. It sounds like we're going to only have to wait about a month?
John Hight: Sure, come on out to PAX East.
Geoff Keighley: Alright, well I'll be there in Boston, I'm looking forward to going hands-on and checking out it. And the Diablo faithful will be excited to see what it's going to be like on the console. John and Chris, thanks so much for stopping by here on the PlayStation Post-Show.
Chris Metzen Announcement at PlayStation 4 Event
February 20, 2013: The initial announcement by Chris Metzen, at the PlayStation 4 event by Sony.
Chris Metzen: Good evening. Many of you are probably wondering why an old-school PC game developer is kind of crashing the big Sony party tonight. I'm very pleased to share with you all that Blizzard and Sony have entered into a strategic partnership through which we will... take over the world. [Laughter] Oh, if it were that easy!
You know, one of the things that people don't really know about Blizzard is that we actually got our start as a console game development shop. We cut our teeth on making games like Lost Vikings, Rock and Roll Racing, Blackthorne. You could say that console game development really is just in our blood, we're very very passionate about it. And all these years we played on the PC side of the street, we have held a deep desire to get back into the mix and to bring console players some of the home-cooked imagination and adventure that we love to develop.
The trick was always going to be, how: how do we do it? We spent a lot of time thinking about which of our franchises could translate to console: which, if any, of our game products could make the jump, while still maintaining their accessibility, their playability, their ease of use. We feel, we know, in partnership with Sony that we have our game. So I'm very pleased tonight to announce the game that Blizzard Entertainment will be bringing Diablo III to the PlayStation 4.
[Diablo III Introduction Video]
Diablo III will be available for the PlayStation 4 as well as the PlayStation 3. Actually right now we have version running on the PS3. It is amazing; it runs well, it looks great. We have painstakingly optimized our control schemes, anywhere from the entire user interface of the inventory system, to the player customization. Even direct control over your player avatar, so if some of you have played on the PC side, you're not mashing your mouse into your desk.
Diablo III has really never been easier to play. One of the really fun things about this version of the game is we've developed a four player co-op mode that's full screen. You can kind of sidestep all the split screen shenanigans, if one of the group decides to run back to town; it's a smooth seamless play. You can play with your three best friends on a couch. It was one of our standby lines: One couch to rule them all - to try and translate one way or another, some of our gameplay experience from perhaps your home office, to the living room. We thought that would be very very cool.
Coming up, I think, in the coming months we going to formally debut the game. We'll gonna have some video, we're gonna have playable demos of the thing, we're gonna answer all your questions, I believe at PAX East. So keep your eyes and ears open for that. We can't wait to show you how this thing looks. It's just been amazing to watch it come together.
So, I'll keep it short and sweet, I thank you all for your time. We're very excited about this product, we're very excited about our partnership with Sony and what the future has in store for us. (Hopefully that's world domination.) Thanks guys, we appreciate the time to be here for this amazing event, the PlayStation 4 is looking killer. We hope to see you all adventuring across the darkened fields of Tristram very soon. Thanks again guys, have a great night.
Chris Metzen: Good evening. Many of you are probably wondering why an old-school PC game developer is kind of crashing the big Sony party tonight. I'm very pleased to share with you all that Blizzard and Sony have entered into a strategic partnership through which we will... take over the world. [Laughter] Oh, if it were that easy!
You know, one of the things that people don't really know about Blizzard is that we actually got our start as a console game development shop. We cut our teeth on making games like Lost Vikings, Rock and Roll Racing, Blackthorne. You could say that console game development really is just in our blood, we're very very passionate about it. And all these years we played on the PC side of the street, we have held a deep desire to get back into the mix and to bring console players some of the home-cooked imagination and adventure that we love to develop.
The trick was always going to be, how: how do we do it? We spent a lot of time thinking about which of our franchises could translate to console: which, if any, of our game products could make the jump, while still maintaining their accessibility, their playability, their ease of use. We feel, we know, in partnership with Sony that we have our game. So I'm very pleased tonight to announce the game that Blizzard Entertainment will be bringing Diablo III to the PlayStation 4.
[Diablo III Introduction Video]
Diablo III will be available for the PlayStation 4 as well as the PlayStation 3. Actually right now we have version running on the PS3. It is amazing; it runs well, it looks great. We have painstakingly optimized our control schemes, anywhere from the entire user interface of the inventory system, to the player customization. Even direct control over your player avatar, so if some of you have played on the PC side, you're not mashing your mouse into your desk.
Diablo III has really never been easier to play. One of the really fun things about this version of the game is we've developed a four player co-op mode that's full screen. You can kind of sidestep all the split screen shenanigans, if one of the group decides to run back to town; it's a smooth seamless play. You can play with your three best friends on a couch. It was one of our standby lines: One couch to rule them all - to try and translate one way or another, some of our gameplay experience from perhaps your home office, to the living room. We thought that would be very very cool.
Coming up, I think, in the coming months we going to formally debut the game. We'll gonna have some video, we're gonna have playable demos of the thing, we're gonna answer all your questions, I believe at PAX East. So keep your eyes and ears open for that. We can't wait to show you how this thing looks. It's just been amazing to watch it come together.
So, I'll keep it short and sweet, I thank you all for your time. We're very excited about this product, we're very excited about our partnership with Sony and what the future has in store for us. (Hopefully that's world domination.) Thanks guys, we appreciate the time to be here for this amazing event, the PlayStation 4 is looking killer. We hope to see you all adventuring across the darkened fields of Tristram very soon. Thanks again guys, have a great night.
See the Diablo III on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 guide, for all the useful information about Diablo III on the PlayStation consoles.