After theDiablo: Immortalreveal, theDiablofranchise seemed like it was in a rough spot. It was going to be the firstDiablogame in a decade, and the announcement famously did not go well. It led to all sorts of memes, negative feedback, and controversy that Blizzard still has not shaken yet. WhileDiablo: Immortalmay have proved some doubters right,Diablofever is in full swing thanks in part toDiablo 2: Resurrectedand largely due toDiablo 4’s upcoming release,and Blizzard should capitalize on it by followingResident Evil’sremake example.
2021 saw the beginning of a new wave ofDiablotitles, and it all started with the hotly anticipatedDiablo 2: Resurrected. Afterthe controversialWarcraft 3: ReforgedandDiablo: Immortal’s announcement, this title felt like a fantastic palate cleanser and proof that the future of this franchise was not all bad. It wasn’t all good, but neither was it all bad. Luckily, It seems likeDiablo’sfuture is as bright as ever, and hopefully, Blizzard continues this content train with aDiabloremake.
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Diablo Resurrected is a Must for the Franchise
No one really knew what to expect fromDiablo 2: Resurrectedas its release date neared. Many fans felt likeDiablo: Immortalwas a blatant cash grab, andWarcraft 3: Reforged’s launch had been met with immense criticism only a year prior. It did not seem like Blizzard would be able to doDiablo 2justice, but it largely pulled it off.
WhileDiablo 2: Resurrectedfeels a bit dated, it maintains the charm of the original title and feels like a worthy remaster. It is easy to see why this game set a new standard for ARPGs, and the remaster felt like a great blast from the past. It went a long way in honoring this iconic franchise while also getting fans excited about its next chapter, andDiablo 4cannot come soon enough.
Diablo 4will bethe thirdDiablogame in three years, and the current momentum should not stop once it hits store shelves. After the release ofDiablo 4, Blizzard should consider reviving the title that started it all. It will probably feel even more dated thanDiablo 2: Resurrected, but it would be a fantastic way to honor the beginnings of this franchise. Bringing every single title to modern devices with updated graphics seems like a must, and the only thing stopping Blizzard is Blizzard itself.
A Diablo Remake
The firstDiablois also the only game that is not available on Battle.net; instead, players have to go to alternative storefronts like GOG. It seems odd that franchise fans cannot play through the entire franchise on the same platform, but that could easily be fixed. Blizzard could finally bring the classic ARPG to Battle.net with an HD remaster and add the original version right alongside it.
After the release ofDiablo 4, the originalDiablowill be the only title left out of the currentDiabloresurgence. The entry that started it all seems to have mostly been left in the dust, but Blizzard should ensure that it is not forgotten.The slew ofResident Evilremakeshas helped breathe new life into that franchise, andDiabloResurrectedcould do the same for theDiablofranchise. With the current wave ofDiablocontent, there has never been a better time to capitalize on the brand.
There is no shortage ofDiablocontent on the horizon, but it would be nice ifDiablo1got to tag along. Fans of the franchise likely have years’ worth of updates to look forward to inDiablo 4, and Blizzard probably still has a few things up its sleeve.It feels like a wonderful time to be aDiablofan, and hopefully, fans will be able to experience everything that the franchise has to offer one day.
Diablo 4releases June 6 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
