Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed a release date for Diablo II: Resurrected on Nintendo Switch, which comes to the portable home console with support for cross-progression.
Welcoming back veteran heroes while inviting a new generation of players to experience the game’s “sinfully dark storyline, thrilling loot chase, and visceral hack-and-slash gameplay with modernised visuals that take advantage of the latest gaming hardware.”
With help from Vicarious Visions, Diablo II and its Lord of Destruction expansion have been remastered from their classic 2D sprite-based design and now have full 3D physically-based rendering, dynamic lighting, revamped animations and spell effects. Whereas all 27 minutes of the game’s cinematics are being remade shot-for-shot from the ground up.
Those looking for a more nostalgic experience can freely switch between the modern graphics and the original experience with the press of a button, but while the game may look different it is promised that the “signature gameplay and systems are completely intact, quirks and all, adding a few highly requested quality of life improvements, such as a shared stash.”
You will be able to choose from seven character classes – the Amazon, Barbarian, Necromancer, Paladin, and Sorceress from the core game, as well as the Assassin and Druid from the included Lord of Destruction expansion – making each character your own by selecting skills and talent builds, crafting and socketing items, collecting complete gear sets, acquiring unique arms and armour, assembling Rune Word combinations and more.
“The Lord of Terror has demanded that we remaster Diablo II, and we are excited to do his bidding by bringing Diablo II: Resurrected to PC and console players this September, with cross-progression† so everyone can enjoy it on their preferred system,” explains Blizzard Entertainment president J. Allen Brack. “We also look forward to welcoming new and returning Diablo players to our upcoming multiplayer open beta. Their feedback will help us put the finishing touches on a game we hope players will continue to enjoy for many years to come.”
Diablo II: Resurrected will release at retail and on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch worldwide on 23rd September 2021.
