Blizzard’s Vicarious Visions, the company responsible for bringing Diablo III to consoles, reveals that bringing Diablo II to consoles was “a labor of love.”
Diablo II was released in 1996, and is now being brought back from the dead. Blizzard’s Vicarious Visions says bringing the game to consoles was a labor of love.
With the release of Diablo II: Resurrected only a few weeks away, Blizzard’s Vicarious Visions is taking use of the occasion to discuss how the project was more difficult than one would think. In addition to bringing the client and visuals up to date for contemporary computers, the company also had to develop a console version of Diablo II for the first time, calling the effort a “labor of love.”
Due to the game’s multi-platform nature, this wasn’t as easy. “Having cross-progression provided us with a solid set of constraints and standards to follow. As a result, although we couldn’t alter the game, we concentrated on adjusting how the material might be viewed on a new platform,” said Vicarious Visions Design Director Robert Gallerani.
The most difficult part, according to the company, was redesigning the controller controls, which included aiming and looting. To switch between an online TV and an offline portable screen, the Nintendo Switch’s unique play-on-the-go functionality needed some finessing.
In addition, Blizzard and Vicarious Visions developed a “auto-party” function to assist console users in forming multiplayer groups. Players may also form parties with the help of their friends list.
Diablo II: Resurrected will be available on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch on September 23rd. In our Not So Massively column, we recently commented on the condition of the game.
Due to a lengthy series of controversies in the MMO and gaming sector over the past several years, including the Blitzchung boycott, huge layoffs, labor conflicts, and executive pay debacle, Activision-Blizzard is regarded a problematic business in the MMO and gaming industry. The company was recently sued by the state of California for fostering a work environment that was riddled with sexual harassment and discrimination, and the company’s disastrous response has added to Blizzard’s ongoing pipeline issues and the widespread perception that its online games are in decline.
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Blizzard’s Vicarious Visions says bringing Diablo II to consoles was ‘a labor of love’. Reference: diablo games.