Monday, June 19th 2017

Blizzard in Process of Remastering Diablo 2, Warcraft 3

After announcing their Starcraft remaster to fans (for free, I might add), which will count with remastered graphics, dialogue and audio, whilst keeping the original Starcraft play and feel, it seems that Blizzard is now looking towards remastering two of their other successful franchises. Diablo 2 stands as one of PC gaming's most recognized entries, helping pave the way for mainstream gaming and dice rolls. And Warcraft 3, while a tad less successful than the company's subsequent World of Warcraft phenomenon, still stands as a well-aged RTS entry (I remember seeing the CG cutscenes for the game at my local FNAC store at the time of its release and I was absolutely mesmerized.)

The clues pointing towards the Diablo 2, Warcraft 3 remasters come courtesy of Blizzard themselves, though not in a bells and whistles-covered announcement that one might expect. Instead, these come as job posts on Blizzard's Careers page. namely, Blizzard says "Compelling stories. Intense multiplayer. Endless replayability. Qualities that made StarCraft, Warcraft III, and Diablo II the titans of their day. (...) We're restoring them to glory, and we need your engineering talents, your passion, and your ability to get tough jobs done." And: "Classic Games is looking for a renaissance designer to harmonize that which was, with that which will be. Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo await your machinations." It is unclear as of now whether these remasters will be free or not at time of release. Starcraft was, but while history tends to repeat itself, it really sometimes doesn't. So there you have it. What do you think of this renaissance/remastering?
Sources: Careers @Blizzard, Careers @Blizzard
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45 Comments on Blizzard in Process of Remastering Diablo 2, Warcraft 3

#26
Dethroy
Awesome! Cannot wait for the Warcraft 3 remaster. Best RTS ever made!
I am less excited for Diablo 2's remaster, but I'll probably buy it anyways...
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#27
Basard
I'll believe it when I see it. In about eight years or so, probably.
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#28
LiveOrDie
Wish it was more of a reboot than a remaster rebuild D2 on D3s engine.
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#29
Aquinus
Resident Wat-man
Where is my remaster of Warcraft 1: Humans and Orcs, damn it!?
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#31
ratirt
AquinusWhere is my remaster of Warcraft 1: Humans and Orcs, damn it!?
Oh yeah :) That was a hell of a game :) I wouldn't mind diablo 1 and hellfire remaster as well. I remember as when I was playing diablo and then boom hellfire showed up and I bought one. My poor ol' Pentium 60 was struggling on hellfire's maps :) or maybe it was my S3 Virge video card :) such a good days. Looking forward for diablo 2 and Warcraft 3. Those were the masterpieces for real and playability was enormous.
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#32
Prima.Vera
ratirtMy poor ol' Pentium 60 was struggling on hellfire's maps :) or maybe it was my S3 Virge video card :) such a good days.
Oh yes, that was because of the lack of VRAM of S3 cards. Had the same issue. Upgraded from 2MB to 4MB and everything went buttery smoothed. Hell, I could even play Duke Nukem 3D on 800x600, from 400x300, previous playable resolution. :)
Good times.
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#33
Tartaros
FrickHonestly neither of those games needs remastering, especially not Warcraft 3.
I think is the one that needs a remaster more than any other oldie. Old 3d games age like shit, 2d not so much. Even warcraft 2 doesn't look bad compared to nowadays standards in indie games.
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#34
HopelesslyFaithful
i hope remastered means more than making to run at any resolution. I would love to see a remake like they did with homeworld in terms of graphics. That is what i want.
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#36
Dethroy
Red_MachineNo love for the original Diablo?
It is probably not as lucrative as remastering its successor. But if those remasters generate enough $, then Blizzard might consider remastering older titles as well.
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#37
Prima.Vera
Red_MachineNo love for the original Diablo?
They could join the 1 and 2 together since the stories are linked. Would loved that actually.
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#38
HopelesslyFaithful
Prima.VeraThey could join the 1 and 2 together since the stories are linked. Would loved that actually.
would make much more sense really.
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#39
Dethroy
Prima.VeraThey could join the 1 and 2 together since the stories are linked. Would loved that actually.
Both gameplay and atmosphere/graphics are vastly different. I'd rather keep it that way ...
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#40
goodeedidid
Dj-ElectriCDiablo is my religion. But as much as i love it, i just can't see myself playing 2 again. I want it to be saved in my memory as it is.
I played Diablo 2 and don't remember anything about the story really so it would be a lot of fun.
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#41
Aquinus
Resident Wat-man
Prima.VeraThey could join the 1 and 2 together since the stories are linked. Would loved that actually.
I think that would be hard considering the person your playing as in D1 couldn't be the person in D2 because wasn't the hero essentially Diablo himself in the end? It's hard to roll from one to the other with that kind of story. Now Warcraft has quite the story and it's a very rich one. I think that putting Warcraft 1, 2, and 3 together would make one crazy RTS if it were to be built against what would now be considered modern or high-end hardware and not just another extension of the current SC2 engine.
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#42
Melvis
I just bought Diablo 2 Battle Chest again I wonder if they will automatically update my copy to this version once put through there battle.net system? That would be nice! Since I have paid for it already.
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#43
Scrizz
F YEah!!! D2 and WC3. The real Warcraft ;)
TartarosEven warcraft 2 doesn't look bad compared to nowadays standards in indie games.
lmfao
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#44
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
AquinusI think that would be hard considering the person your playing as in D1 couldn't be the person in D2 because wasn't the hero essentially Diablo himself in the end? It's hard to roll from one to the other with that kind of story. Now Warcraft has quite the story and it's a very rich one. I think that putting Warcraft 1, 2, and 3 together would make one crazy RTS if it were to be built against what would now be considered modern or high-end hardware and not just another extension of the current SC2 engine.
I assume they would retcon the games to fit WoW lore.
MelvisI just bought Diablo 2 Battle Chest again I wonder if they will automatically update my copy to this version once put through there battle.net system? That would be nice! Since I have paid for it already.
Naahh can't see it happening. And it will be some time before it's released anyway.
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#45
happita
FrickNaahh can't see it happening. And it will be some time before it's released anyway.
Same here. And if they're going to be including the LoD expansion with it, expect it to be here well into next year at the earliest.
Posted on Reply
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