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Diablo III Beta Coming Before October, Finished Game Might Arrive By Year's End [UPDATED]

Try to keep your composure. This is Blizzard we're talking about. Oh, screw it. We're excited.


 Diablo III by year's end? Be still my heart.
 Diablo III by year's end? Be still my heart.
UPDATE: There's been some confusion over Blizzard's reference to dropping the Diablo III beta during the third quarter of 2011. I'd assumed Blizzard meant the calendar year quarter, which meant July through September, but I wanted to confirm this with Blizzard. 

"The Q3 reference in today’s earning's call was a calendar quarter," said a company representative. "We're aiming to launch the Diablo III beta between July 1st and September 30th. Please keep in mind that it's our current goal, and of course that can change as development continues."

--


Let's keep this one short 'n sweet: a Diablo III beta is coming. It's coming in third quarter 2011, which means sometime before September 30, when Activision Blizzard's third quarter ends.

"We began internal, company-wide testing this week," said Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime on the Activision Blizzard quarterly call this afternoon.

Betas are important, but betas don't last forever. When are we going to play the finished thing?

"The development team is working hard to try and launch Diablo III this year," said Morhaime.

Unlike basically other game in Activision's lineup, however, Blizzard does not have to commit to release dates. Diablo III is no different, which is why Blizzard is non-committal about the release date.

"We will not compromise the quality of the game in order to hit a window," he concluded.    
Patrick Klepek on Google+

132 Comments

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deactivated-5d8bd173e1e3b

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They really just need to poop this game out already. I really want it!

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dvorak

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Edited By dvorak

I've got my spare mice lined up.

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MrGetBonus

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Edited By MrGetBonus

Oh, man. I just finished playing a whole mess load a Diablo 2 again a few months ago. So excite.

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deactivated-5f90eabee6bba

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Remember how that one game was delayed and was really good and now no one remembers how long it took to come out? Then remember that game that came out on time but was really rushed and uninished? ITLL BE BAD FOREVER

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Fish_Bulb

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Edited By Fish_Bulb

Who do I have to mail my left testicle to in order to get in the beta?

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zityz

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Edited By zityz

That's cool and all. I'll still play the hell out of some torchlight 2 as well. Problem is they don't make many of these top down loot whore games much as they used to anymore. Usually it's 1 good one every XX amount of years and then 3 or 4 no one cares about because they're garbage.


There is PLENTY of room for diablo 3 and Torchlight 2 to ride the ski lift to the top.
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OrderInChaos

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Edited By OrderInChaos

Damn, pretty excited about this - cant wait!

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SockLobster

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Edited By SockLobster

Yessssssssss

I'm gonna be playing this shit all the way through Uni baby. I FUCKING LOVE LOOTS.

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mesklinite

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Edited By mesklinite

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

finaly finaly finaly!!!!!!!

I my fingers will die and my mouse disintegrate, but it will pure bliss!

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siln

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Edited By siln

Didn't Blizzard already release a game this decade?

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chilipeppersman

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Edited By chilipeppersman
@Crono said:
" This is both the best and worst news of the year for me. The best because I will be playing Diablo 3 very Soon©

The worst because I will soon be failing out of college.
"
yeeeep me too. at least we will get more time to play videogames, eh? I have so much to catch up on, I havent even played through Dragon age or the Witcher. Not including all the other games that have come out that I havent been able to play on my laptop. :(
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John1912

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Edited By John1912

God I hope its out this year.  I REALLY need a mindless time sink with some depth to it.  

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ChickenPants

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Edited By ChickenPants
@blueduck:
Powerful post old sprout!
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pr1mus

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Edited By pr1mus

In blizz speech this means Beta in 2013 and the game in 2015!!  Can't wait!:D

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Azteck

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Edited By Azteck

Oh Blizzard, you just foolin'

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wizzrobe

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Edited By wizzrobe

As a fan of the series, I hope they take all the time they need to develop a game which will entertain us for many years to come. Sure, the graphics may look outdated in 2012, but Blizzard games are never cutting-edge in terms of visuals. On the contrary, that company is all about gameplay, just like Nintendo.

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blueduck

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Edited By blueduck

No Caption Provided
Diablo what is best in life!?
To Crush Console Gamers
See Them Driven Before You
And To Hear the Lamentations of Their Women!
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Pop

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Edited By Pop

Just make it GOD DAMN IT!

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ReyGitano

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Edited By ReyGitano
@gamefreak9 said:
" @SlashseveN303 said:
" @ChickenPants said:
" @gamefreak9 said:
" @SlashseveN303 said:
" I'll be there! I've been waiting for this game for the majority of my life. "
Its been in development for like 7 years? so your maximum age is 13? "
It's been in and out of development in various forms since 2000. "
Exactly, which means I've been waiting for this game 11 years now, and I'm 21. "
It might have been in development then, but saying you have been waiting for diablo 3 before diablo 2 expansion came out is kind of silly. "
That expansion wasn't Diablo III, just more Diablo II with snow.
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Ghosthead84

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Edited By Ghosthead84

NEED!
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gamefreak9

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Edited By gamefreak9
@SlashseveN303 said:
" @ChickenPants said:
" @gamefreak9 said:
" @SlashseveN303 said:
" I'll be there! I've been waiting for this game for the majority of my life. "
Its been in development for like 7 years? so your maximum age is 13? "
It's been in and out of development in various forms since 2000. "
Exactly, which means I've been waiting for this game 11 years now, and I'm 21. "
It might have been in development then, but saying you have been waiting for diablo 3 before diablo 2 expansion came out is kind of silly.
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gamefreak9

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Edited By gamefreak9

I just called the computer Union, i said, its time to update my computer... 

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Davin

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Edited By Davin

Can't freaking wait for this.

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xpgamer7

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Edited By xpgamer7

MY HEART IS EXPLODING WITH HAPPINESS!

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Crono

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Edited By Crono

This is both the best and worst news of the year for me. The best because I will be playing Diablo 3 very Soon©

The worst because I will soon be failing out of college.

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tzmhero

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Edited By tzmhero

It would be great if Diablo III came out soon, but we know Blizzard now, they go Big or go home. Much like portal 2, this will be tested like all hell and perfected before it ships. Asking them to ship it sooner just makes it that much less perfect.

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WinterSnowblind

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Edited By WinterSnowblind
@Kombat said:
" @MattSchwabby said:
" Kinda sucks this is coming out around the same time as torchlight 2. The two games I really want to play and have been waiting for so long for, and I have to choose between them when they finally come out? "
Will Torchlight II even be released as a full-priced game? I'm not sure anyone has said yet. Hopefully not. "
I'm pretty sure it's still a £15 Steam title..  But it would easily be worth paying full price for.
It's also apparently coming July-ish.  Even if Diablo does make it this year (and it won't) that still gives you a few months to play through Torchlight.
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phrosnite

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Edited By phrosnite

I'M SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO not excited...

P.S. - Very, very disappointed by Diablo 2.

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Rayeth

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Edited By Rayeth

Man, my clicking finger has very little life left after playing so much Starcraft 2, now they want me to play Diablo 3?  I dunno I can click that fast any more man.


I may be getting too old for videogames.
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ReyGitano

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Edited By ReyGitano
@ChickenPants said:
" @gamefreak9 said:
" @SlashseveN303 said:
" I'll be there! I've been waiting for this game for the majority of my life. "
Its been in development for like 7 years? so your maximum age is 13? "
It's been in and out of development in various forms since 2000. "
Exactly, which means I've been waiting for this game 11 years now, and I'm 21.
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Sniper_Fox

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Edited By Sniper_Fox

Diablo 2 was my favourite game ever. I am pretty sick of it now, but I used to play it until sunrise in my day. Can't wait for Diablo 3.


A console version would be nice for those who despise PC gaming.
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sjupp

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Edited By sjupp

DIABLO THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

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TorMasturba

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Edited By TorMasturba

Never played the Diablo series, and remember my friend raving about it and playing it constantly.

 

Played games that that same friend said were based on the design ideas of Diablo, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance etc... That I absolutely love, so definitely want to get my chance to see what the fuss was all about in this.

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MordeaniisChaos

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Edited By MordeaniisChaos

So, before September 30? But how much before? I leave for Basic at the very beginning of September, and I have a bad feeling that they don't mean it's coming too much earlier than September... all things considered.

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ChickenPants

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Edited By ChickenPants
@gamefreak9 said:
" @SlashseveN303 said:
" I'll be there! I've been waiting for this game for the majority of my life. "
Its been in development for like 7 years? so your maximum age is 13? "
It's been in and out of development in various forms since 2000.
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RandomInternetUser

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WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

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the8bitNacho

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Edited By the8bitNacho
@MattSchwabby said:
" Kinda sucks this is coming out around the same time as torchlight 2. The two games I really want to play and have been waiting for so long for, and I have to choose between them when they finally come out? "
Will Torchlight II even be released as a full-priced game? I'm not sure anyone has said yet. Hopefully not.
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WinterSnowblind

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Edited By WinterSnowblind
@HarrySound: It'll almost certainly get a console port.  PC elitism be damned.
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thebatmobile

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Edited By thebatmobile

nnngggggnnnhhhh!!

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gamefreak9

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Edited By gamefreak9
@SlashseveN303 said:
" I'll be there! I've been waiting for this game for the majority of my life. "
Its been in development for like 7 years? so your maximum age is 13?
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MudMan

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Edited By MudMan
@SnakeEyes327 said:
" @NoelVeiga said:
" Yeeeeah, so what are the chances that the Beta uncovers something gamebreaking that needs a significant rebuilding and a second beta to fix and this slips into 2010? Bets anyone? No? Nobody? Oh, well... "
I'm not sue a game can slip backwards in time.  "
Typing in the dark, no backlight on my keyboard... but you know what? I totally own that. Much funnier that way.
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Roasted

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Edited By Roasted
@Slaker117 said:
" Beta coming January of next year? Awesome! "
Only 3 months? you're giving Blizzard too much credit.
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jozzy

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Edited By jozzy

Ok, realistically I see two options now:
* I am going to lie and cheat myself into a position where blizard will hire me so I can get in on the internal beta right now
* I am going into an induced coma (or cryo sleep) and will awake come release date

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snakeeyes327

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Edited By snakeeyes327
@NoelVeiga said:
" Yeeeeah, so what are the chances that the Beta uncovers something gamebreaking that needs a significant rebuilding and a second beta to fix and this slips into 2010? Bets anyone? No? Nobody? Oh, well... "
I'm not sue a game can slip backwards in time. 
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papercut

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Edited By papercut

I believe the might in the title should be spelled in all caps. 

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HarrySound

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Edited By HarrySound

big E3 news...it's coming to 360 too.....o wait no, they dont need microsofts money


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MarioBoza

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Edited By MarioBoza

Ive never played a Diablo game but I have played games like Torchlight and loved it. Can anyone recommend me a good starting point in the Diablo Universe were I can start playing and pick up the necessary story before playing Diablo 3?

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koobz

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Edited By koobz

I am going to click on a bunch of things between now and release so that I will be prepared.

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MudMan

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Edited By MudMan

Yeeeeah, so what are the chances that the Beta uncovers something gamebreaking that needs a significant rebuilding and a second beta to fix and this slips into 2010? Bets anyone? No? Nobody? Oh, well...

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ceno

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Edited By ceno

No way it's out by end of year. This is Blizzard.