Summary

  • Diablo 2: Resurrected surpasses Diablo 3 in player numbers, attracting a "very healthy" fan base.
  • Diablo 3 faced backlash for changes to the franchise formula, pushing some fans to stick with older titles.

Diablo 2: Resurrected has seen a surge in popularity recently, with the game now outperforming Diablo 3 in terms of the number of total players. Diablo 3 has long been a controversial entry, not just in Blizzard's now-iconic action RPG franchise but in the genre itself. A decent chunk of the fandom clung to the Diablo 2 formula all these years later in the form of Diablo 2: Resurrected, which repackaged the original game with reworked visuals and other gameplay improvements, with the game now seeing an uptick in overall players.

Each new entry in the Diablo franchise has been met with lots of excitement, though the launch of Diablo 3 was notoriously plagued by issues, errors, and other network bugs that hindered the game's reputation long after its release date. Over time, Blizzard worked to make the Diablo 3 experience as fun and rewarding as possible, even dropping some of the game's more controversial features, like the Auction House. Blizzard has faced numerous controversies in regard to Diablo 4, the most recent entry in the franchise, with some players opting to stick to the classics. However, so many players are now enjoying Diablo 2: Resurrected that the game is outperforming Diablo 3 entirely.

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According to new information from Diablo franchise head Rod Fergusson, Blizzard's numbers indicate Diablo 2: Resurrected has more players than Diablo 3. Fergusson explained in a recent interview with GameFile (shared via PureDiablo) that he has a franchise dashboard that monitors all the Diablo games, with Diablo 2: Resurrected having a "very healthy" player base. The game launched in 2021 to positive reviews, with players praising both Diablo 2: Resurrected's updated visual fidelity and the game's array of quality-of-life improvements.

Diablo 3 proved to be quite controversial, both on release day and in the months that followed, as it not only made changes to the classic Diablo formula in the form of combat and itemization but it also significantly changed the franchise's art style, shifting away from a more dark gothic look to something a little more cartoonish and fantastical. Some players opted to stick with the classics like the original Diablo as well as its sequel Diablo 2 from 2000. However, Diablo 2: Resurrected gave both new and old players alike a great place to jump in and enjoy an updated yet still authentic Diablo experience.

Despite Diablo 2: Resurrected' s increase in popularity, it's hardly the most recent entry in the franchise, with players currently in the middle of Diablo 4' s latest seasonal update. While the game has mostly been able to satisfy players, just like with Diablo 3, Diablo 4 has faced a number of controversies. Most of these issues and gripes have been addressed in subsequent updates, with Diablo 4's current season 7 update making significant adjustments to item and class balancing.

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Diablo 2: Resurrected Tag Page Cover Art

Diablo 2: Resurrected
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Action RPG
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 78%
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Released
September 23, 2021
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Developer(s)
Blizzard Entertainment, Vicarious Visions
Publisher(s)
Blizzard Entertainment
Engine
Unreal Engine 5
Multiplayer
Online Co-Op
Franchise
Diablo
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Diablo II: Resurrected is the definitive remastering of Diablo II and its Lord of Destruction expansion - two hallmark entries in Blizzard Entertainment’s genre-defining action role-playing series.  Veteran players, as well as those who missed out when the original game was first released on PC twenty years ago, can now experience Diablo II’s timeless gameplay with modern visuals and audio that take advantage of PS4 and PS5.

Number of Players
1-8
Genre(s)
Action RPG
How Long To Beat
22 Hours
OpenCritic Rating
Strong