The announcement at BlizzCon 2021 that Diablo 2: Resurrected is coming to consoles as well as PC was a pleasant surprise for viewers. Though the company got its start developing games for the Super Nintendo, some of its most iconic games are PC and Mac exclusives. While a few titles have eventually made their way to console, like StarCraft and Diablo 3, some of the studio’s best-sellers remain firmly computer-only. Given Blizzard’s low output – it’s only released 19 games in its 30-year existence – it’s time to bring more of its library to console.
Why a Diablo 2: Resurrected console release should only be the beginning for Blizzard
With the release of Blizzard Arcade Collection and its recent flurry of remasters, it’s obvious that Blizzard is looking to tap into its past catalog to generate revenue. However, besides Diablo 2: Resurrected, it’s neglected consoles almost entirely. Back in 2000, StarCraft on the Nintendo 64 showed that real-time strategy could translate to consoles well, so why have we never seen a port for Warcraft 2 or 3? Plenty of MMOs have very successful console versions, but World of Warcraft has played it safe.
The fact is that Blizzard is in a rough patch. COVID-19 obviously didn’t do the slow-moving studio any favors, and today’s BlizzCon keynote exemplified why Blizzard needs more ports and smaller projects to fill the gaps between releases. Developing a Diablo 2 remaster is something that’s low impact that can stir a ton of excitement for future entries in the series. This is only amplified by the fact it’s releasing on consoles as well.
Hopefully, Diablo 2: Resurrected’s cross-platform aims are a harbinger of a new attitude at Blizzard. Imagine the revitalization StarCraft 2 would get if it came to consoles. A whole new crowd would be able to play it for the first time. Instead of letting its games fizzle out, Blizzard should find better ways to draw in a new audience, which seems to be its aim with Diablo 2 remastered.
