Bloomberg claims that Vicarious Visions and the Diablo IV team are working on the Diablo II remake, and Blizzard Entertainment dissolved the original development team over how they handled Warcraft III: Reforged.
We previously reported how Vicarious Visions was traded from Activision to Blizzard Entertainment, and became a supporting development team. Now we may know what at least one of those games will be.
Bloomberg reports “people familiar with the plans” stated Vicarious Visions have been working on the rumored Diablo II remaster since 2020. The rumor back in May 2020 claimed Vicarious Visions was working on the game as well, along with the title “Diablo II Resurrected.” The release date of Q4 2020 has now surely been delayed due to hindrances caused by lockdown; if true.
Elaborating, Bloomberg claims the game was being developed by Blizzard Entertainment’s “Team 1” until 2020. However, they worked on Warcraft III: Reforged; and thanks to that game’s abysmal reception (currently 59 out of 100 on Metacritic and a user score of 0.6 out of 10), a meeting had to be made.
Documents obtained by Bloomberg reportedly stated that game’s development had (among other factors) poor planning, miscommunication, and a rushed release thanks to “financial pressure” from management. An example of this came when pre-orders allegedly began without the development team’s knowledge in 2019.
To avoid the same fate with the Diablo II remake, Blizzard Entertainment allegedly pulled Team 1 of the project, putting the developers working on Diablo IV on it, along with Vicarious Visions.
On October 15th, 2020, members of Team 1 were told their entire division were being reorganized, and members were given the chance to interview for other jobs within Blizzard Entertainment in the following weeks. Those who did not find new positions were gradually cut, or left for studios started by Blizzard Entertainment veterans; Frost Giant Inc. and DreamHaven Inc.
A Blizzard Entertainment spokesman declined to comment on Bloomberg’s claims, only stating Vicarious Visions “has been working with Blizzard for some time.”
Image: Blizzard Entertainment
