With a keyboard and mouse, the player acts as an “eye in the sky” telling their character what to do and where to go by clicking somewhere. The first and most obvious change is the way a console player plays the game, namely a controller. Because of this, while we couldn't make any game changes, we focused on changing how the content can be experienced on a new platform. Having cross-progression gave us a robust set of restrictions and guidelines to adhere to. Because our vision is to preserve the classic experience, we started with what we couldn't change. So, what happens when we bring the game to a platform it has never existed on before? Bringing a game initially built for keyboard and mouse on a PC to console brought up many questions that we needed to answer, especially with a console player's playstyle in mind.

When we developed this game and decided to bring it over to the Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch systems, it wasn’t just the game balance that needed to be exact, but other subconscious elements players may not have realized when playing the original title over two decades ago. Then there are the small details, like the sound of a potion being drank, or the way something is drawn on the mini-map, or even the way monsters appear when a character enters a dark room, all minor elements that contribute to the fond memories of the original experience. For instance, graphical improvements are intended to authentically represent the original game, and it’s only when you toggle to the Legacy mode and look back at the original graphics that you can appreciate the evolution forged from this title. In this development journey, we strived to build the game as players remember, rather than what it actually was. This remaster is a labor of love, crafted to stir nostalgia in veteran players and introduce new players to the world of Sanctuary.

We invited Design Director Robert Gallerani to share the development team’s approach and experience trying to adapt this PC classic to contemporary consoles.

But unlike the original, players across Xbox, PlayStation®, and Nintendo Switch™ systems will now be able to embark on the famous quest east. Diablo® II: Resurrected™ releases September 23, 2021. The iconic ARPG, Diablo® II, has been remastered and resurrected. Champions will return to Sanctuary to follow the Dark Wanderer and rid the realm of Hell’s minions soon.

Remastered diablo 2