Blizzard releases Diablo on GoG with modern OS and resolution support, says that Warcraft and Warcraft II will soon follow

[Delicieuxz]

 

Blizzard announcement: Diablo now available on GoG.com - original Warcraft games coming

Quote

On December 31, 1996, Diablo introduced the world to the dark, foreboding realm of Sanctuary. Heroes braved the depths below Tristram Cathedral to take on the Lord of Terror himself, kicking off an ongoing legacy in the world of action role-playing games. Today, players can once again explore this timeless Blizzard classic as it becomes available digitally and DRM-free for the first time ever, exclusively on GOG.COM!

 

Diablo has been lovingly preserved in its original form, featuring HD resolution support and compatibility fixes brought to you by the GOG team to ensure compatibility with modern PC operating systems. Play on your own or with friends via network or direct IP. Explore randomly generated rooms, corridors, traps, treasures, monsters, and stairways, all rendered in their original three-dimensional, SVGA enhanced graphics.

 

Ready to go back to where it all started? Diablo is available now direct from GOG.COM for $9.99!

 

 

...

 

Q: Is Diablo: Hellfire supported/coming to GOG.COM?
A: We have no plans to bring Diablo: Hellfire to GOG.COM at this time.

 

...

 

Q: Are other classic Blizzard games coming to GOG.COM?
A: Yes! We have announced that we’re partnering with GOG.COM to release Warcraft: Orcs and Humans and Warcraft II. We’ll reveal more information at a later date.

 

The store page for Diablo on GoG: https://www.gog.com/game/diablo

 

The remaster's features include:

 

- Support for modern Windows OSes

- Support for modern resolutions with unlocked FPS

- An option to play with the original resolution and locked 20 FPS

- Supports multiplayer through both Battle.net and via direct connection to an IP

- Bug fixes

 

 

Unfortunately, Diablo is available in English only, which I guess is because the game originally only released in English.

 

Also, the Hellfire expansion isn't included, which is disappointing. However, Blizzard say that they have no plans to release the expansion "at this time", which could mean they're open to the idea or that they're planning to release it in another format.

 

On whether there will be support for Macs in the future:

 

The original ‘Diablo’ is now available on GOG.com

Quote

The company told Engadget that this release is Windows-only and didn't say if it would create a Mac-friendly version of Diablo in the future.

 

 

 

Blizzard has already released a remaster of Starcraft with its expansions that is available through the Blizzard client, and Warcraft III is currently being prepared for release through the Blizzard shop as a thorough remaster. Diablo II is expected to also get a full remaster treatment.

 

Eventually, this entire great lineup of early Blizzard games will be released and touched-up for modern OSes:

 

Warcraft: Orcs and Humans

Warcraft II

Diablo

Starcraft

Diablo II

Warcraft III

 

 

This is great news, for me. Warcraft II and Diablo II are my favourite Blizzard titles. I'm not a supporter of the whimsical and soft fairy direction Blizzard (probably Chris Metzen) took Warcraft in after Warcraft II, but I think I still will get a lot of enjoyment out the Warcraft III remaster. I'm sure there's an alternate dimension where Warcraft III kept the tone built through Warcraft and Warcraft II, and where the series is better than this one's post-Warcraft II existence. Now, just to find a way to merge that dimension with this one.

[Arika]

is this maybe Blizzard's attempt to stop GOG from going out of business?

 

 

seems like a strange move when they have their own launcher/store

[Dabombinable]

I wonder if this applies to their client. Because I still have my original copy of Diablo.

[Delicieuxz]

5 minutes ago, Arika S said:

is this maybe Blizzard's attempt to stop GOG from going out of business?

 

 

seems like a strange move when they have their own launcher/store

I wondered if there's something about Blizzard wanting to help GoG's business happening, too.

 

However, I'm happy with the decision and prefer to have the game DRM-free on GoG than through the Blizzard client.

 

 

4 minutes ago, Dabombinable said:

I wonder if this applies to their client. Because I still have my original copy of Diablo.

Do you mean the Blizzard client? It won't be available through Battle.net:

 

Quote

Q: Will Diablo be available on the Blizzard Battle.net App?
A: No, Diablo will not be available for sale or download through the Battle.net App.

 

[Guest]

Blizzard have done such a nice job on their remasters. Seems the only good games now are just remastered old ones.

[RejZoR]

I think the reason for this is because GOG is most known for hosting redesigned old classics, meaning it'll probably get better exposure than on Battle.net. And in the end profits go to Blizzard so it's a win even with GOG taking its cut I think.

[WereCatf]

1 minute ago, RejZoR said:

I think the reason for this is because GOG is most known for hosting redesigned old classics, meaning it'll probably get better exposure than on Battle.net.

I have to agree. That's literally GOG's shtick, so it makes sense to chuck them there. The devs at GOG also have a lot of knowledge and a bag of tricks for working around issues with ancient DirectX-versions on modern OSes and stuff like that, so Blizzard's devs could just make use of the GOG-devs' expertise on those matters and save their own time and effort.

[Doobeedoo]

Nice though. Really liked this game, it was one of the first PC games I got. 

[TetraSky]

I'm guessing modern OS and resolution support isn't available for those of us who have the original game?

[Trixanity]

29 minutes ago, TetraSky said:

I'm guessing modern OS and resolution support isn't available for those of us who have the original game?

Probably only illegally. They want money for their work.

[mrchow19910319]

I'll probably gonna buy warcraft 3 if it does come out. 

hmmmmm 

 

its unfortunate that I am pretty bad at the game. but still.

[BuckGup]

6 hours ago, Arika S said:

is this maybe Blizzard's attempt to stop GOG from going out of business?

 

 

seems like a strange move when they have their own launcher/store

GoG is fine. That report was speculation because some people left.

[williamcll]

So that means early blizzard games are now DRM free? 

[Eaglerino]

I wish they'd cancel Diablo Immortal and announce a Diablo 2 remaster

[Trixanity]

3 hours ago, mrchow19910319 said:

I'll probably gonna buy warcraft 3 if it does come out. 

hmmmmm 

 

its unfortunate that I am pretty bad at the game. but still.

If? It's already announced as a full remaster (not just compatibility with modern resolutions) under the name Warcraft III: Reforged although it's not on GOG but through Battle.Net.

Probably launches some time in Q3.

[Stefan Payne]

9 hours ago, Arika S said:

seems like a strange move when they have their own launcher/store

Yeah, but hosting it on Steam or Gog is "Low maintenance" for them.

GOG does all the Work, while Blizzard takes the money, without having to care about anything.

So I can see it making sense.

[17030644]

32 minutes ago, Stefan Payne said:

Yeah, but hosting it on Steam or Gog is "Low maintenance" for them.

GOG does all the Work, while Blizzard takes the money, without having to care about anything.

So I can see it making sense.

hi, do you know about macbooks?

[PocketNerd]

6 hours ago, TetraSky said:

I'm guessing modern OS and resolution support isn't available for those of us who have the original game?

The Diablo community has made the gun compatible with Windows 10 before this with a bunch of file replacements and hacks. But I imagine this will be better overall.

[Donut417]

Seen a lot of reviews on GOG, not many are really liking the $9.99 price point. I mean I understand, its a 20 year old game. BUT for those of us who really enjoyed it, we will be fine with the $9.99. Ive been thinking of picking it up myself. 

[Drak3]

13 hours ago, floofer said:

Blizzard have done such a nice job on their remasters. Seems the only good games now are just remastered old ones.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Pokemon

Etrian Odyssey

Nier Automata

The Last Guardian

Odin Sphere Leifthrasir

Disgaea 5

 

Various Indie games.

 

[Guest]

39 minutes ago, Drak3 said:

Horizon Zero Dawn

Pokemon

Etrian Odyssey

Nier Automata

The Last Guardian

Odin Sphere Leifthrasir

Disgaea 5

 

Various Indie games.

 

Never played any of those

[Drak3]

8 minutes ago, floofer said:

Never played any of those

There's your problem.

[Hellion]

Can't speak for windows 10 but the retail discs still install fine on my dual boot of 7. Either way, DRM free with modern resolution support and no frame limit is a welcome benefit.

 

Millennials need not apply as this game was produced before blizzard turned into a cash grab, rainbow everything cartoon art direction for mass appeal to 14 year old girls/anime viewers.

[Hellion]

22 hours ago, BuckGup said:

GoG is fine. That report was speculation because some people left.

Exactly.

 

There are countless large companies that dumped part of their workforce over the last couple years due to no longer being needed since they were replaced with automation and/or algorithms.

[Delicieuxz]

On 3/9/2019 at 7:13 AM, mrchow19910319 said:

I'll probably gonna buy warcraft 3 if it does come out. 

hmmmmm 

 

its unfortunate that I am pretty bad at the game. but still.

You can already preorder it on Battle.net, it's $40 CAD. It looks pretty decent, though I think the spiral city street tiles in the original look a lot better than the large square ones in the remaster version.

 

 

On 3/9/2019 at 9:29 AM, williamcll said:

So that means early blizzard games are now DRM free? 

Diablo, Warcraft, and Warcraft II will be.

 

On 3/9/2019 at 9:36 AM, Eaglerino said:

I wish they'd cancel Diablo Immortal and announce a Diablo 2 remaster

From everything I've seen suggested, a Diablo II remaster is planned. They're probably going to release it last, maybe because it might be the most popular remaster and they want to get experience with all their other remasters first, and then possibly put the most effort into remastering Diablo II.

 

On 3/9/2019 at 3:34 PM, Donut417 said:

Seen a lot of reviews on GOG, not many are really liking the $9.99 price point. I mean I understand, its a 20 year old game. BUT for those of us who really enjoyed it, we will be fine with the $9.99. Ive been thinking of picking it up myself. 

Those people probably have never been on GoG before, considering that all the games are priced like that and many of them are priced a lot higher. Games only decrease in value so far, and there is a price floor that further age doesn't really affect.

 

Also, the game isn't being released as a novelty for people to see how people gamed 20 years ago, but for people who actually want to play the game now just like people want to play any modern game - which I think is GoG's core audience.

 

If someone hasn't had the thought of playing a 15+ year-old game cross their mind before and has some weird mental hang-up about the idea, then maybe they're not who the game is being released for. They're also a noob.

 

If people like that think a game doesn't have value after a certain number of years, then how are they interested in playing it enough that they're complaining about its low price? And if companies couldn't sell their old games, what motivation will they have to re-release them all touched up for modern OSes? Obviously, the critics haven't thought their complaints through.

 

$10 for Diablo 1 with modern resolution support and unlocked FPS is a good buy, though I wish it included the expansion (it might then be $15).