Celebrate 20 Years Of Diablo In Every Blizzard Game
by JR Cook - 7 years ago show comments
The 20th anniversary of the Diablo franchise is fast approaching. By the end of this month, Diablo was unveiled to the world in 1996, although realistically, most players didn’t get their hands on the game until January 1997. The franchise has grown massively since then, especially off of the back of Diablo II, released in June 2000, and the wildly successful expansion to that game, Lord of Destruction, which came out exactly one year later in June 2001. It then took many many years until the next notch in the series arrived with Diablo III, debuting in May 2012. It was then followed up a little quicker by its expansion, Reaper of Souls, which landed in March 2014. With such a vaulted history, it only makes sense that a celebration for sticking around that long resounds throughout all of Blizzard and that’s exactly what’s happening.
In the coming weeks, you will see cross-game events that celebrate the 20th anniversary in Heroes of the Storm, Hearthstone, Overwatch, Starcraft II, and World of Warcraft. Of course, you will also see a celebration like no other in Diablo III itself with the Darkening of Tristram event. This in-game nostalgia trip was showcased a bit at BlizzCon 2016 and is currently available for testing on the Patch Test Realm (PTR) for Patch 2.4.3. While details are scant on the cross-game events, you can get a glimpse of what to expect with the official post below.
As we approach the original game’s release anniversary on December 31, Blizzard Entertainment is thrilled to commemorate twenty years of Diablo. We’re ready to celebrate our passion for the world of Sanctuary and the brave heroes who inhabit it!
Starting soon, you can experience special in-game events and goodies in Diablo III, Heroes of the Storm, Hearthstone, Overwatch, StarCraft II, and World of Warcraft to celebrate a few of the things we love about Diablo. These events and items will only be available for a limited time, so be sure to check them all out before they’re gone.
A small taste of each tribute is below—keep an eye out for more details about these celebrations. . . and thank you, all of you, for allowing us to continue adventuring in the world of Sanctuary. Here’s to twenty years of loot!
Diablo III:
Recapture the feeling of your first play through of the original Diablo with The Darkening of Tristram tribute event. Venture through a reimagined version of the original cathedral in Diablo III and keep an eye out for some familiar items.
Heroes of the Storm:
The battle for the High Heavens continues, and a new Diablo-themed portrait is up for grabs! Can you emerge victorious on this hectic new brawl map?
Hearthstone:
In this Tavern Brawl, a hooded stranger awaits, holding a grim deck in his hands. Will you unravel the secrets surrounding this dark wanderer?
Overwatch:
Bring the battle for Sanctuary into the fight for the future with in-game sprays representing your favorite Diablo III classes—along with a new player icon modeled after the Lord of Terror!
StarCraft II:
Put the Lord of Terror to work for you with a Diablo-themed worker portrait.
World of Warcraft:
Strange things are afoot in the world of Azeroth as denizens of Sanctuary cross over into an unfamiliar world.
