Even though Activision and Blizzard Entertainment are one and the same, Blizzard's treated differently than the rest of the company, with Activision never committing Blizzard to release dates or guaranteeing revenues until the game's actually out.

Blizzard was as non-committal as ever in today's call with investors, with Blizzard CEO Michael Morhaime once again restating that the company hopes to deliver Diablo III before the end of the year.

This is just a hope, though.

"[We're] not ready to commit to a release date at this time," said Morhaime.

"There's a lot of moving parts in putting out a complicated release like Diablo III," he said later. "We're not yet in beta. It's really going to come down to when the game is ready for prime-time. We'll know more when we hit beta and we'll know more when we put some of these new systems into test."

The new systems he's alluding to are, for example, the controversial real-money auction house.

Morhaime also said the impending beta test is scheduled before the end of the current quarter, which means sometime between now and the end of September.

Cross your fingers, folks.

Even though Activision and Blizzard Entertainment are one and the same, Blizzard's treated differently than the rest of the company, with Activision never committing Blizzard to release dates or guaranteeing revenues until the game's actually out.

Blizzard was as non-committal as ever in today's call with investors, with Blizzard CEO Michael Morhaime once again restating that the company hopes to deliver Diablo III before the end of the year.

This is just a hope, though.

"[We're] not ready to commit to a release date at this time," said Morhaime.

"There's a lot of moving parts in putting out a complicated release like Diablo III," he said later. "We're not yet in beta. It's really going to come down to when the game is ready for prime-time. We'll know more when we hit beta and we'll know more when we put some of these new systems into test."

The new systems he's alluding to are, for example, the controversial real-money auction house.

Morhaime also said the impending beta test is scheduled before the end of the current quarter, which means sometime between now and the end of September.

Cross your fingers, folks.

I would love to play Diablo III this year. Yes please.

Summer 2012 release for sure-

2013 cant come fast enough. ... what? you know its not coming out anytime soon....

I'm betting Spring or Summer 2012.

I don't really mind if it comes out next year. Kinda hope it does. More time for Torchlight 2!

Heavy DRM, real money for items and no mods.
I'll wait and see...

don't even care anymore. DRM.

I'd put AH money on it that Diablo 3 will be released this year. The beta will begin this month.
 
I only play these sort of games online so the DRM doesn't bother me. It isn't as invasive as most DRM that gets such a bad rap. Of course it has no mods, none of the previous titles had no official mod support and with a real-world money AH, no-mods = level playing field. I find the inclusion of the real-money AH to be really awesome, personally. Can't wait to see how it all plays out.

I would love to play this game NOW!

"It's not even quarters away!"

Shrug.

I was super excited in what was it 2008 when they first said it was realy real, most of that excitment has faded to anoid pesimism but I still realy want to play this game

I still think it would be amaising if Diablo 3 released side by side with Torchlight 3

I think we're all hoping they do too. It's the only game I've pre-ordered since... damn, I can't even remember. Probably Half-Life 2: Episode 2 (The Orange Box).

I'm out anyway (earlier I was on the fence because I don't like the art style, but now I'm out for good).

Vinny put my feelings into words in the last bombcast: some of the fun is lost when you put too much real life into the game.

Even if I forced myself to not use the real money AH, I'd always wonder how much my rare items are worth when I find them. It just gets in the way of enjoying the game as a pure gaming experience. Blizzard can keep this moneymaker. I want to play videogames.

I wasn't really interested in this game to begin with. but with the whole auction house thing I lost the last bit of interest. I will pass on this one but as a PC game I wish blizzard the best and hope it turns out successful for them.

Anybody else feel like Activision and Blizzard are try to time this release around The Old Republic?

Ummm....the odds of Blizzard releasing DIII this year are the same as that of the government managing to balance the budget. 

100 brad bucks that it doesn't come out this year.

@2HeadedNinja said:

but as a PC game I wish blizzard the best and hope it turns out successful for them.

Well, I don't but it will probably turn out to be successful. And then gamers will get used to it and others will follow with similar crap. It pushes the boundaries of gaming further into a direction I don't like at all.

I highly doubt this.

Anybody else feel like Activision and Blizzard are try to time this release around The Old Republic?

sadly if the beta hasn't started yet i don't think the game will be released this year, perhaps Q1 next year 
also people who won't buy the game because of the real money AH are stupid.

@phrali said:

don't even care anymore. DRM.

Sadly, this. The latest news about DIII have left a terribly bitter aftertaste in my mouth.

Wow, talk about Blizzard brainwashing almost everyone here. Apparently you guys are cool with constant online DRM, but when other companies pull it off, all hell breaks lose.

i volunteered for the beta -- hopefully i'll be one of those playing it two months from now!

@v0rt3xRo said:

also people who won't buy the game because of the real money AH are stupid.

also people who will buy the game despite the real money AH are stupid.

also people who will buy the game despite of the real money AH are stupid.

NO!!! Please come out next year! To many games this fall! :,(

@ch13696: I'm not getting DIII for quite a few reasons, but I'm cool with Blizzards DRM to be honest. I play SCII and it works well overall with only a few frustrations.

@v0rt3xRo said:

@CptBedlam said:

also people who will buy the game despite of the real money AH are stupid.

typical answer from people who act before they think, and have no ability to look at the big picture

Right back at ya, leet speak user.

Seriously, people like you are so short-sighted you don't even realize how Blizzard turns you into their own authorized dealers. They provide the product (game items), you sell/buy it and Blizzard makes money off of every transaction. What an awesome videogame for which you will be working for all day after you bought it! I feel sorry for you.

If it's released this year then OMG the end of the year is going to be stacked with games i want to buy.

''Even though Activision and Blizzard Entertainment are one and the same''

That's not exactly true, Activision and Blizzard are two separate companies, both subsidiaries of the parent company Activision-Blizzard. The way Activision handles its business and franchises (CoD, xHero, etc.), does not necessarily have an effect on what Blizzard does.

Some people tend to think of that big merger as 'Activision buying Blizzard', when really it was more like Vivendi buying Activision. Which is why Blizzard is still completely autonomous, and therefore not subject to the same treatment as internal studios of Activision.

When does Heart of the Swarm come out? I bet this is six months before then.

I just hope that the auction house stuff isn't going to hold up the actual game release. That's totally something that could be patched in at a later date. The game is going to require an internet connection anyway.

Am I the only person in the world who doesnt understand what is wrong with DRM? I've never had a problem with any type of DRM for the 20 years Ive been gaming. Every game Ive ever bought with some type of DRM I can still play without issues.

I doubt it'll come out this year.

"Hope? There never was much hope.

Just a fool's hope!" ~ Gandalf

Yeah right.

I WANT TO BELIEVE

MY BODY IS READY

Looking at how they approach Diablo 3, I think World of Warcraft will be my last game from Blizzard.

@DexterKid said:

''Even though Activision and Blizzard Entertainment are one and the same''

That's not exactly true, Activision and Blizzard are two separate companies, both subsidiaries of the parent company Activision-Blizzard. The way Activision handles its business and franchises (CoD, xHero, etc.), does not necessarily have an effect on what Blizzard does.

Some people tend to think of that big merger as 'Activision buying Blizzard', when really it was more like Vivendi buying Activision. Which is why Blizzard is still completely autonomous, and therefore not subject to the same treatment as internal studios of Activision.

Your first paragraph is accurate, but Morhaime reports to the COO of Activision, so saying Blizzard operates with complete independence is overly simplifying the matter.

who plays diablo offline?

@FMinus said:

Looking at how they approach Diablo 3, I think World of Warcraft will be my last game from Blizzard.

Why? D3 unfortunately seems to be a lot like WoW.

@QKT said:

who plays diablo offline?

For me Diablo was always a solo or Lan-game.

Honestly, I'm getting to the point where I don't care if the game comes out or not.  For the PC, my focus is switching to SWTOR.

@Brad said:

@DexterKid said:

''Even though Activision and Blizzard Entertainment are one and the same''

That's not exactly true, Activision and Blizzard are two separate companies, both subsidiaries of the parent company Activision-Blizzard. The way Activision handles its business and franchises (CoD, xHero, etc.), does not necessarily have an effect on what Blizzard does.

Some people tend to think of that big merger as 'Activision buying Blizzard', when really it was more like Vivendi buying Activision. Which is why Blizzard is still completely autonomous, and therefore not subject to the same treatment as internal studios of Activision.

Your first paragraph is accurate, but Morhaime reports to the COO of Activision, so saying Blizzard operates with complete independence is overly simplifying the matter.

I don't think their level of autonomy is any lesser today than it has been under Vivendi since '91. There is a good reason why the parent company is called what it is, and it's more than just for the brand recognition.

Damn, they didn't even commit to a date to start the beta :(. Wishful thinking on my part I guess, but I thought they were ready to start w/the new announcements and private showings and all last week.

Am I the only person in the world who doesnt understand what is wrong with DRM? I've never had a problem with any type of DRM for the 20 years Ive been gaming. Every game Ive ever bought with some type of DRM I can still play without issues.

@Brad: Hey Brad, apparently players will be able to buy ingame gold with real money, not just items. Just to let you know for the next D3 discussion on the bombcast. ;) Cheers!

I sincerely wish Blizzard would stop announcing games 3+ years before they're ready for release.  It's not like they need THAT much time to gather hype.

the more I hear/see/read about this game...

the less interested I get. I stop playing WoW a few months ago, maybe cuz it's reminding me too much about WOW