Diablo III lead says no console version planned

by Xav de Matos { Jun 30th 2008 at 4:15PM }

Hello and welcome back to civilization from under your rock. We say this because if you haven't heard Blizzard is hard at work developing Diablo III you must have been stuck somewhere. In order to halt console version rumors Joystiq sat down in an exclusive interview with lead designer Jay Wilson. Wilson broke console gamer hearts everywhere confirming Blizzard "[doesn't] have any plans" for a console version of the upcoming, highly anticipated, sequel. While plans could change it looks like Diablo fans will have to upgrade their PC when the title releases -- which is sometime between now and the end of time.

Tags: blizzard, diablo, diablo-3, interview, jay-wilson

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Outinthedark @ Jun 30th 2008 4:21PM

Who would be able to play Diablo with a controller anyway..? If M$ made the 360 with mouse and keyboard support maybe we would see it. Highly doubt it though...

How is this 360 related?

Xav de Matos @ Jun 30th 2008 4:25PM

Wilson specifically talks about consoles in the interview. That's how.

You know, the next time I decide to write a story about world politics you are welcome to question the relevance but when a story specifically talks about consoles (which the Xbox 360 is btw) you should just simmer down sunshine.

Also, M$ is so 2002.

Outinthedark @ Jun 30th 2008 4:59PM

Was your snide and sarcasm really needed? A simple question "How is this 360 related?". In the interview [which I did read] the 360 was not even mentioned.

If any current generation console had a chance to see a Diablo 3 port it would be the PS3 with mouse and keyboard support.

Did you play Starcraft on the 64? It was harder than hell to control! I never bought C&C3 for 360 because a mouse and keyboard outperform a controller in that situation. I think Civilization uses the controller well but I bet you a mouse and keyboard would be easier!

Here is a fine example of how controls make a game. Compare the PC version of the new Penny Arcade game to the XBLA version. I found that a mouse and keyboard felt far more comfortable than a controller. No question about it regardless of rumors there was no way this was coming to consoles let alone the 360 and hence my comment.

So...

Next time you write an article try to add more than a simple paragraph reiterating an article what another journalist took the time to research, or better yet don't write anything at all...just post us the read link.

You make quite a statement with your comments on how 360Fanboy treats it's readers. I've seen you put down your readers time and time again. You need to grow up be a little more mature as you apparently don't take criticism well.

Who cares if it's from 2002...it still applies to 2008...

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2002/7/22/

Xav de Matos @ Jun 30th 2008 5:02PM

Your opinion matters so much to me that I actually read that entire manifesto.

Really, I did.

Outinthedark @ Jun 30th 2008 5:04PM

Satire is not your strong suit...quit trying.

NATO_Duke @ Jun 30th 2008 5:19PM

I can't believe you're arguing this with him. Also, trying to demonstrate there is wit behind using M$ is pretty sad. It just makes everyone think you're a jerk right off the bat.

Xav de Matos @ Jun 30th 2008 8:56PM

Now some douche is pretending to be me. How cute.

Royale @ Jul 1st 2008 12:02AM

best.
thread.
ever.
thanks.

Arno @ Jun 30th 2008 4:25PM

Don't care. There is a Mac version!

Jez @ Jun 30th 2008 4:25PM

Hahaha what i said too :D

RESISTANCE @ Jun 30th 2008 4:29PM

same I just hope it will run on my macbook. :(

Jez @ Jun 30th 2008 4:25PM

And this is on the 360fanboy for?????

This is coming out on the mac so its cool.

Xav de Matos @ Jun 30th 2008 4:28PM

Seriously? Did you even read the article before you made this comment?

Jez @ Jun 30th 2008 4:35PM

Yes I did but it seems that it has been edit after I read it :D:D:D

Xav de Matos @ Jun 30th 2008 4:37PM

You are incorrect. The story has not been edited since it was set up in the queue at 3:00pm this afternoon.

Jez @ Jun 30th 2008 5:01PM

LIESSSS! I must of mid read the top bit

BlackFreefall @ Jun 30th 2008 4:27PM

Blizzard designed the game interface to be more suitable with the mouse.

Hmm but then Diablo III with achievements on the Xbox360 could be worth it too....

Rick @ Jun 30th 2008 4:28PM

Please make this the last Diablo-related story posted on X3F. I'm so sick of hearing about this stupid game.

Xav de Matos @ Jun 30th 2008 4:29PM

LOL. It was announced on Saturday and you're already sick of it?

Yeah. I guess the internet got a little crazy about the game.

Rick @ Jun 30th 2008 4:41PM

Ha, yeah totally sick of it, because all the hoopla leading up to the actual annoucement. Usually I don't give a damn about Blizzard's games (sorry, I'm not a pc gamer), but this PR push has just really gotten under my skin for some reason. The PR or the fanboys on Joystiq. Well, both really. I never get sick of Gears 2 news, but Diablo sent my "Oh please shut up" response through the roof from the start.

vanhelsingh @ Jun 30th 2008 4:56PM

Diablo is an awesome game.

RESISTANCE @ Jun 30th 2008 4:28PM

You guys are all retarded. This is related to xbox because there were rumors even before diablo III was announced that it might be coming to consoles. However this confirms that there are no plans for it to come to the 360, therefore Xav informed all 360 fanboy readers that diablo 3 will not becoming to the 360. Do you see how it is related now?

Jez @ Jun 30th 2008 4:31PM

I see now.

Bryan Carr @ Jun 30th 2008 4:29PM

This is nothing new. Blizzard doesn't develop for consoles. Ghost was going to be the exception, but sadly that didn't pan out. There were a few times they farmed out their properties to other houses to make console versions (see the PS1/Saturn versions of Warcraft 2, the PS1 version of the original Diablo, the N64 Starcraft) but none of them turned out particularly well and they haven't done it since.

Not saying that Blizzard couldn't or shouldn't make a console game (they could, and they should) but I'd rather see it be made from the ground up for the console rather than be a port of a game that works better on PC.

BlackFreefall @ Jun 30th 2008 4:43PM

What ever happened to Starcraft Ghost?

ZenGaijin @ Jun 30th 2008 4:46PM

Xav I'm sorry to hear there will be no console versions of Diablo III as I will now have to buy a decent enough PC in order to play it.

Bravo6 @ Jun 30th 2008 5:01PM

I've never played Diablo, would have given it a try on the 360 though.

The Dom @ Jun 30th 2008 5:03PM

Why can't it work on a 360? I seriously don't get some of these comments saying its only suited for mouse-keyboard. It wouldnt be that hard to map the controls to buttons and have an interface to swap out your attacks.

The only reason it can't work is if the 360 can't handle the graphics.

ZenGaijin @ Jun 30th 2008 5:18PM

Based on the sheer number of actions on the screen at any time I don't see how it would work and require mastery of multiple holds of different buttons.

Now if the 360 allowed for mouse and keyboard support via some sort of update stated in the fall I would be no problem.

And Diablo is a "Flippin Awesome Game!!"

LV426 @ Jun 30th 2008 6:56PM

Eh, you win some, you lose some. Im just hoping my brother will shut up about "it could be done" because if it were reversed and my PC were not going to get it, he would be replying "but it ISNT!"

Im just not mean enough to do that to him.

Akukami @ Jun 30th 2008 5:13PM

I'd love to hear Activision's opinion on this. Not saying I want a D3 on consoles, I'm just curious about how long it is before Activizzard's first half starts corrupting things.

ZZZZ @ Jun 30th 2008 5:17PM

I'm gonna have to take a break from xbox live when this comes out. PC is where this game belongs and i cant wait till 2012, thats the end of time, right?

NATO_Duke @ Jun 30th 2008 5:19PM

I was really hoping they would send this one to console development - either for the PC or the 360. Damn shame.

Procris @ Jun 30th 2008 5:26PM

The whole controller debate is so theory its not even worth commenting on. It could totally work for Diablo. Move around with the analog sticks, press buttons to do attacks when in close proximity, use right or left trigger to target, asign skills to buttons and so on. Honestly with a little bit of thought it wouldn't be hard to get a nicely working control scheme. You might still prefer a mouse and keyboard but no ones stopping you from buying the pc version (this is ofcourse assuming there were 2 versions to pick from like with C&C3).

Anyhow. Who really didn't see this coming? Blizzard has never been a fan of consoles and have made public comments before about how they "aren't" interested in developing for them.

Its a real shame i won't be buying Diablo 3 because simply put i doubt my PC would ever run it. I loved Diablo 2 to death and played it for months on end but some of us just can't invest in good pcs for a single game.

jbrumleve @ Jun 30th 2008 5:49PM

I am really disappointed that this won't be on the 360. However, what a game this will be. There is no other game that is as good as Diablo 2 was that I have played since it was released. Its that good. I can't wait to see this game in my Mac if it won't be for my 360.

Professor Lario @ Jun 30th 2008 5:59PM

Thanks for the story Xav. I think it is a very relevant one. I was very surprised to hear that the new Diablo will not be on the consoles. I would think the huge install base of the 360 might cause Blizzard to make a business decision there...

Teabag @ Jun 30th 2008 6:52PM

The only console i can see D3 on is...Wii. The Wiimote is as good as a half mouse...No scratch this...it's lame idea.

Anyway D3 on consoles would be bad. They would have to change a lot of things to make it work. Especially slow down the pace a lot. KB and mouse is were Diablo feels like a Diablo.

And why do ya guys feel it will require a high end PC...the gfx look good but nothing a medium range PC can't play. Remember, it's a Blizzard game...they go easy on the hardware.

Jason @ Jun 30th 2008 6:53PM

Really... they are just saying "No we are not interested in selling to that huge base of next gen consoles... you know like 20+ million hard core games PS3 and 360"... that is just dumb... I quit PC gaming when we hit the next gen consoles because it is just easier to not constantly upgrade my PC with video cards and such...

There are just old school guys at Blizzard who are close minded to the console movement... thats a shame.