My thoughts on the whole Diablo Immortal fiasco

[FakeSympathy]

*I would like to stress that the following is strictly my opinion. You are welcome to address my points, or debunk my statements entirely. I fully believe everyone is entitled to their opinions.

Wow, what a shitstorm the past few days has been. From its point of announcement, massive fan backlash, Blizzard?s terrible response, and media calling angry fans toxic crybabies, Diablo Immortal has certainly has been the subject of discussion on every forum, comment section, and discussion pages. While I agree that this was a terrible way to end Blizzcon 2018, I also have to kinda agree that fans are acting like little kids; Both parties are at faults here.

Let?s see why Diablo Immortal is getting such a hatred. Blizzard has been teasing fans of a new Diablo game months and months before Blizzcon 2018. The first two Diablo games were fantastic, and after the somewhat okay release of Diablo 3, fans were obviously getting excited for a new Diablo game. Mega fans paid quite a bit for Blizzcon 2018 tickets, eagerly waiting to hear the news on stage. And then the devs gave a massive slap in the face to the fans with the DI announcement, a new mobile game that looked like a worse version of Diablo 3. Considering Diablo series has been pro-PC, it was understandable when they were getting booed at after saying they had no plan for PC release, and asking ?You guys have cell phones, right?? in a very condescending manner. Diablo Immortal did not even look great, as it was missing all the violence, blood, and gore of Diablo series. Considering the game is being made with the Chinese company, my guess is that this game was trying to appeal to the Chinese market, where it is known to censor video games. Another guess is that this was the attempt to reach a wider audience by making the game look more family-friendly, which Diablo series has never been about. The gameplay trailer looked watered-down version of the main games, which very simple looking mechanics and perhaps even simpler set amount of skills. There goes all the skill tree experiments, I guess. To put a cherry on the top, Blizzard even began removing dislikes and comments of both announcement trailer and gameplay trailer on the youtube.

With all that being said, I also think the fans are overreacting beyond measure. Verbal harassments are everywhere, and instead of giving fundamental reasoning of why Diablo Immortal is a bad move, fans are throwing massive tantrums like a bunch of crybabies. If you think about it, Blizzard never said it was gonna be Diablo 4; fans hyped themselves up thinking it was. And Blizzard has said many times that there are MULTIPLE Diablo projects being worked on right now. Just because two of these projects turned out to be D3 on Switch and DI, fans are failing to see the bigger picture. Some are saying ?Diablo is dead?, ?RIP Blizzard?, ?Way to shit on the fans? and other childish comments. I am willing to bet if and when D4 gets announced, these are the same people who will say ?Oh Blizzard is the best company evar!? or ?Blizzard never makes crappy games?. Some fans these people are. And if you don?t like the game so much, wouldn?t the simple choice be NOT to play the damn game when it comes out? I personally hate sports games because of same gameplay just with slightly new roster every year, but I don?t ***** about them all the time; I chose to not play or care about the new releases every year. I am willing to do the same with Diablo Immortal; I will probably pass on and forget about this game, until the next Diablo game is announced. Blizzard has right to make whatever games they want, but we can choose not to play their games. I facepalm every time I see someone saying ?Cancel Diablo Immortal!?. Hell, there?s even a petition on change.org to do so. These kinds of behavior are exactly why gamers are viewed as losers and no-lives. I don?t like media and ?gaming journalists? whom scapegoats on any major events to make a certain group look bad. But these angry behavior are what feeds them, calling the angry fans entitled brats.

Look, I am just as annoyed as everyone with DI announcement. The PR and damage control has been horrible, and It?s not what we wanted. That?s given. Devs did say they were expecting some backlash, but not to this extent. It still doesn?t give rights to scream and cry about it like spoiled brats, insulting the developers. We can all act smart about this by choosing not to play the game.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

I think your post is part of the problem, blaming the community for their reaction. I'm not defending indefensible actions, if people have crossed lines I will condemn that without reservation. However we have a right to be pissed off. Blizzard are tone deaf, don't understand or care about their audience (certainly the Diablo fanbase at least) and only a fool could have expected announcing a mobile game would be well received.

You just need to look at EA's atrocious Dungeon Keeper and and Command & Conquer mobile games. Both old franchise dredged up from the IP bin to be regurgitated as mobile cash-grab apps. And that's what Immortal is. A mobile game with gems, diamonds, gold bars or some bullshit for lootcrates, cosmetics or time-gating.

Why isn't D4 being made right now? Why didn't they announce what people *actually* want? It happened with Sim City and Cities: Skyline. EA fucked up *big time* and they ruined the pre-eminent city sim on the market. And what happened, another company stepped in to fill the void and pick up the fans. That's what Blizzard are doing. D3 is fine, it's a good game, I've been doing the season journies since S12. But I don't want Immortal, I want D4. If Blizzard can't make it, Grinding Gear Games or someone else will.

The community have every right to be pissed. Blizzard are out of touch morons who deserved to be booed. To hell with Immortal. I'm a PC gamer, when they remember we exist then I'll pay attention again. We want D2 and WC3 remastered, we want D4 and WC4. No one wants Immortal except ActiBlizz shareholders, and they're the ones calling the shots.

Ironically, Bethesda announced a mobile game and also at their presentation, teased TES6. And that is in a very similar boat...Skyrim was 2011 (d3 2012) and is LONG LONG overdue for a new entry. But at least it's announced. Blizzard are idiots, they messed up, they delete comments and downvotes to try to control the issue, they couldn't have handled this any worse.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

I know its unpopular, but as a whole the Diablo franchise just hasn't been very good. 1 was very slow and stumpy and has aged about as well as milk. Diablo II was legitimately good, but grind as fuck and its a pain in the ass to get running on any lappy made after Obama was elected.
Diablo III was just trying to be WOW. It was. It looked like WOW, felt like WOW, had the same lame comedy as WOW. The graphics change was a terrible idea, and the auction house, while removed, let us all see behind the curtain as to what Blizzard wants Diablo to be these days.

In my mind its a good thing Diablo 4 wasn't announced, because we know it'd just be a FPS class-based mulitplayer arena game with loot boxes and holiday skins.

 

[MrCalavera_v1legacy]

The one guy asking "Is this a joke?", might've taken it too far, and was legit a bit cunty(though, i do admit he had balls to be that outright sincere).
Audience booing is nothing Blizzard shouldn't expect, taking into consideration previous responses to cult franchises turned mobile(C&C!!!), and entire Blizzcon being a diehard, hardcore etc. fan oriented event.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

The one guy asking "Is this a joke?", might've taken it too far, and was legit a bit cunty(though, i do admit he had balls to be that outright sincere).
Audience booing is nothing Blizzard shouldn't expect, taking into consideration previous responses to cult franchises turned mobile(C&C!!!), and entire Blizzcon being a diehard, hardcore etc. fan oriented event.

I would have gone with a dead-faced, dry-voiced 'Seriously?!' and just let that hang in the air. No follow up, no facial twitch, just let the cameras show on the hosts as they try to think of something snappy to say back.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

The one guy asking "Is this a joke?", might've taken it too far, and was legit a bit cunty(though, i do admit he had balls to be that outright sincere).

You're missing the real joke old chap
https://us.diablo3.com/en/blog/13607363/ascend-to-victory-with-happy-reaper%E2%84%A2-4-1-2014 [https://us.diablo3.com/en/blog/13607363/ascend-to-victory-with-happy-reaper%E2%84%A2-4-1-2014]

In 2014 it WAS an April Fool's joke.

I would have gone with a dead-faced, dry-voiced 'Seriously?!' and just let that hang in the air.

What are your thoughts on a slow-clap? Like from one person.

 

[Godzillarich(aka tf2godz)]

This is Metroid Federation Force all over again. No one would give a shit if a Diablo game like 4 or remastered 2 was also coming out. There hasn't been a new Diablo game in a long time, and the fact that was it didn't see the shot storm coming is amazing to me.

 

[Xprimentyl]

I think your post is part of the problem, blaming the community for their reaction. I'm not defending indefensible actions, if people have crossed lines I will condemn that without reservation. However we have a right to be pissed off. Blizzard are tone deaf, don't understand or care about their audience (certainly the Diablo fanbase at least) and only a fool could have expected announcing a mobile game would be well received.

You just need to look at EA's atrocious Dungeon Keeper and and Command & Conquer mobile games. Both old franchise dredged up from the IP bin to be regurgitated as mobile cash-grab apps. And that's what Immortal is. A mobile game with gems, diamonds, gold bars or some bullshit for lootcrates, cosmetics or time-gating.

Why isn't D4 being made right now? Why didn't they announce what people *actually* want? It happened with Sim City and Cities: Skyline. EA fucked up *big time* and they ruined the pre-eminent city sim on the market. And what happened, another company stepped in to fill the void and pick up the fans. That's what Blizzard are doing. D3 is fine, it's a good game, I've been doing the season journies since S12. But I don't want Immortal, I want D4. If Blizzard can't make it, Grinding Gear Games or someone else will.

The community have every right to be pissed. Blizzard are out of touch morons who deserved to be booed. To hell with Immortal. I'm a PC gamer, when they remember we exist then I'll pay attention again. We want D2 and WC3 remastered, we want D4 and WC4. No one wants Immortal except ActiBlizz shareholders, and they're the ones calling the shots.

Ironically, Bethesda announced a mobile game and also at their presentation, teased TES6. And that is in a very similar boat...Skyrim was 2011 (d3 2012) and is LONG LONG overdue for a new entry. But at least it's announced. Blizzard are idiots, they messed up, they delete comments and downvotes to try to control the issue, they couldn't have handled this any worse.

Agreed. I?m not a PC gamer, nor am I a Diablo fan, but this whole issue is the quintessential example of why gaming has turned me off recently. I understand gaming is a business; I understand the idea is to make money, but when companies cease to even consider, not ?kowtow to,? not ?cater to,? but consider the very people they expect to make their business a success, and instead opt for blatant, half-assed cash grab tactics, it?s an insult. It?s UGLY business.

Would Blizzard be where they are today were it not for loyalty and adoration of their long-time supporters? No. So whose idea was it to bring the most die-hard of the those fans together, knowing exactly what they?re expecting to hear, and announce the recent focus has been on something cheap, sleazy and easy for everyone else despite them, then act like this is doing those same fans a favor? I?m upset FOR those fans. It?s beyond tone deaf; it?s brutally callous and out of touch. They actually said ?You guys have cell phones, right?? What a dick move.

 

[CaitSeith]

The one guy asking "Is this a joke?", might've taken it too far, and was legit a bit cunty(though, i do admit he had balls to be that outright sincere).

You're missing the real joke old chap
https://us.diablo3.com/en/blog/13607363/ascend-to-victory-with-happy-reaper%E2%84%A2-4-1-2014 [https://us.diablo3.com/en/blog/13607363/ascend-to-victory-with-happy-reaper%E2%84%A2-4-1-2014]

In 2014 it WAS an April Fool's joke.

Are you implying that guy was just doing an in-joke and he wasn't upset at all?

 

[Casual Shinji]

All those people who paid to attend this show, and apparently also to watch the bloody stream, have every right to be a bit pissed off. It's a huge slap in the face to the audience that made you the company that you are.


This was Blizzard either being forced to show this by the higher ups, or them completely misreading their own fanbase. And this isn't the first time they mucked up something Diablo related, since I remember the auction house thing in Diablo 3 royally pissed off fans as well. This seems like yet another such case.


But then I'm not a Blizzard fan in the slightest, thank Christ.

 

[Xprimentyl]

The one guy asking "Is this a joke?", might've taken it too far, and was legit a bit cunty(though, i do admit he had balls to be that outright sincere).

You're missing the real joke old chap
https://us.diablo3.com/en/blog/13607363/ascend-to-victory-with-happy-reaper%E2%84%A2-4-1-2014 [https://us.diablo3.com/en/blog/13607363/ascend-to-victory-with-happy-reaper%E2%84%A2-4-1-2014]

In 2014 it WAS an April Fool's joke.

Are you implying that guy was just doing an in-joke and he wasn't upset at all?

I think exactly the opposite; that guy likely recalled the 2014 joke and was asking if (read: ?hoped?) Blizzard was doing it again. I don?t think he went far enough, personally; it was shrewd, yes, but no more shrewd than those people on stage with the gall, fucking balls, to let hundreds of PC gamers spend money on tickets, take time off work, gas, airfare and hotel stays, then reveal a shitty mobile game to them.

 

[Abomination]

This was Blizzard either being forced to show this by the higher ups, or them completely misreading their own fanbase.

Working for a multinational conglomerate in a mid-management position, this is the most likely situation. I can guarantee the "boots-on-the-ground" troops were expressing how much of a bad idea this was to ActiBlizzard, but the corporates were likely in turn being given instructions from shareholders.

This is the danger many massive companies run into, the folk at the top lose sight or feel for what is going on at the bottom. Decisions are made to do one thing or improve one area, but they do not consult anyone internally who knows what that impact will be on other areas of the business.

So either the bigwigs didn't know what impact this would have on their die hard fans and best source of viral marketing, or they did know and just did not care. I am not certain which scenario is worse.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

Are you implying that guy was just doing an in-joke and he wasn't upset at all?

Not at all. Just the extra dollop of irony where something that was clearly a joke four years ago now explicitly isn't. We have to laugh, it's just too tragic otherwise.

 

[Pyrian]

Some are saying "Diablo is dead", "RIP Blizzard", "Way to shit on the fans" and other childish comments.

...That's... That's it? That's the sort of thing you're calling a massive overreaction? No death threats? No doxing? Nobody showing up at their homes, nobody harassing family members on the street? Just mildly hyperbolic complaints on the internet?

...Blizz' got off easy.

 

[Lufia Erim]

This is Metroid Federation Force all over again. No one would give a shit if a Diablo game like 4 or remastered 2 was also coming out. There hasn't been a new Diablo game in a long time, and the fact that was it didn't see the shot storm coming is amazing to me.

Watch the video. The announcer knew he was about to be crucified. Anyone who has ever had to give bad news knows that look of nervousness.

 

[IceForce]

"Do you guys not have phones?"

Oh man, the memes.

Still, could have been worse I suppose. They could've called their fanbase "anime fans on prom night".

 

[CaitSeith]

All those people who paid to attend this show, and apparently also to watch the bloody stream, have every right to be a bit pissed off. It's a huge slap in the face to the audience that made you the company that you are.


This was Blizzard either being forced to show this by the higher ups, or them completely misreading their own fanbase. And this isn't the first time they mucked up something Diablo related, since I remember the auction house thing in Diablo 3 royally pissed off fans as well. This seems like yet another such case.


But then I'm not a Blizzard fan in the slightest, thank Christ.

At least Diablo Immortal isn't Diablo 4. Diablo 3's auction house had more repercussions than just "something that I don't approve, but I'll never use"

 

[sXeth]

As many have noted, this was probably avoidable if they hadn't hyped it up as the big Diablo announcement.

If the centerpiece of the show was the Warcraft 3 Reforged(*) thing, and this spin-off mobile game (that isn't even made by Blizzard) was just an aside announcement, they'd have probably gotten some grumbling, but the not the direct staredown they did.

But nah they pulled out all the Diablo logos and set up the big screens, and came out, and then dropped this.

Death threats and doxxing, and all that. That's obviously an over the line response. But voicing displeasure in the feedback period they were given at the show they paid (I'm assuming) to attend. Or criticizing the game for being a cheap reskin of another mobile game, that's all pretty valid.

Is Blizzard required to ever deliver Diablo 4 at all, nevermind on demand? Nah. If anything its better they keep it til they have something worth doing it to work with idea wise.

(* Maybe it was. I've never been the huge Blizzard fan, and certainly not in more recent years, so I never followed along with the leadup or the full show. Just saw the videos and so on after the fact)

 

[Elfgore]

I'm putting most of the blame on Blizzard. You don't hype up a mobile game to your die-hard fanbase who most likely play on PC by a vast majority at an event they are charged to come to. If they did this at E3 or something, I don't think it would have had this reaction. They did it at Blizzcon though, because that's smart. They even admitted what long time fans wanted to see, which was a Diablo IV, but still went through with it!

Source: https://kotaku.com/blizzard-says-it-wasnt-expecting-fans-to-be-this-angry-1830204721

I won't deny people who are claiming Diablo is dead are being over-dramatic and silly. But Blizzard handled this with the tact and knowledge of the village idiot. "Don't you guys have phones" was easily one of the worst possible things that could have been stated in that room.

 

[Drathnoxis]

You live by the hype, you die by the hype.

Diablo II was legitimately good, but grind as fuck and its a pain in the ass to get running on any lappy made after Obama was elected.