BlizzCon is over, and for the most part, it was a win.
Players got updates they were happy with — or at least cautiously optimistic about. Even World of Warcraft, the game many expected to cause problems, managed to dodge disaster. Thanks to smart developer tweaks and a playable demo of WoW Classic, Blizzard managed to cool tensions. No major complaints, just $50 Virtual Tickets and a healthy dose of nostalgia. It worked.
Which raises the question — if Blizzard knows how to handle fan frustration, why did they stumble so badly with Diablo?
What Happened?
Let’s talk about what happened. Players made plans and spent good money to attend BlizzCon — mainly to get news about the games they love, on the platforms they actually play.
Before the event, Blizzard teased multiple Diablo projects. Fans speculated — maybe a Switch port, maybe a mobile game. Then Diablo 3 for Switch was confirmed. That alone should’ve made expectations crystal clear. And Blizzard knew it — because in October, they issued a statement trying to reset expectations.
But it was too late. Tickets were sold. Travel plans were made. Players were expecting a reveal — just not the one they got.
What did they get? Diablo Immortal — a mobile game made in partnership with NetEase. When asked if it was coming to PC, the answer was a hard no. No PC news. No Diablo 4. Nothing for the platforms fans already play on.
Did I mention Diablo 3 came out six years ago?
Were Players Being Entitled?
Some have claimed the backlash was just entitlement. Let’s define that.
Were players — fans, customers — really being entitled for expecting news about the game they actually play, after spending hundreds to be there?
No.
They weren’t demanding special treatment — just respect. And what they got instead was a message that basically said, “Go play it on your phone,” with the implication that microtransactions would follow. That’s not a reveal. That’s a pivot.
If Diablo 4 is in development, how far off is it that Blizzard couldn’t even show a piece of concept art? A single screenshot? Anything?
According to Kotaku, there is a video confirming Diablo 4 is in development. Initially, they said it was supposed to be shown at BlizzCon — then later updated the article to say it was never planned to be shown. Which raises the question: Why make a video and sit on it?
The year was wrapping up. If the video exists, they weren’t holding it for another event. So why not share it?
This Didn’t Use to Be the Way
It saddens me because Blizzard didn’t use to operate like this. Back when Vivendi owned Blizzard, their games were worth waiting for. Quality was prioritized over profit — sometimes even to a fault. But the result was magic.
There was a running joke back then: when a Vivendi game missed a release date, they’d just say, “Soon.” And we accepted that. We grumbled, sure, but we waited. Because it was worth it. They had earned our trust.
I remember friends planning time off work for a game launch — not just a day, days. Their girlfriends would complain they lost their partners to the game. That’s how good it was.
With memories like that, imagine flying to BlizzCon, spending all that money, hoping for any news on your favorite franchise — and being told to play a mobile game developed by someone else.
Where Do We Go From Here?
If I were Blizzard, I’d hold a stream and be honest about the state of Diablo 4. If it’s not coming, say so. Withstand the storm and move on — it’s coming either way.
If it is in development, just tell the truth. Is it three years off? Five? Fine. Fans can handle the truth. What they can’t handle is being misled or ignored.
Supposedly, there are still multiple Diablo projects in the works. We know about two — Diablo Immortal and the Switch port. What’s left?
Here’s what I wouldn’t do: Announce another Diablo game that isn’t coming to PC or PS4 before you’ve properly introduced Diablo 4. You’ll just burn goodwill you can’t afford to lose. This series needs its core fanbase. Without them, nothing else will thrive.
Remember Titan? The game Blizzard canceled because they couldn’t make it fun? It was heartbreaking, but fans respected that honesty. And out of its ashes came Overwatch. A painful decision led to something new — and brilliant.
What if that’s what’s happening with Diablo? What if the fear, deep down, is that the magic is gone — and they can’t make it fun anymore? And what if there is no guarantee that something new and great will rise from that?
Even so, fans still want the truth. Even if it hurts.
Because the thing is — they’re not asking for perfection.
They’re asking to be treated with respect.
And Blizzard used to know how to do that.
📌 Changelog
- April 14, 2025: Article re-written to narrow the focus of the article. Reduced length.
- May 4, 2024: Fixed broken link. Reformatted headings.
- Nov 6, 2018: Original article posted.
