Blizzard teaser augurs new game?

World of Warcraft developer's official Web site gated by image of shattered ice in advance of Worldwide Invitational this weekend.

This weekend, Blizzard Entertainment will be holding the first of its two conventions for 2008, and the last as a wholly owned subsidiary of Vivendi Games. Held in Paris, France, the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational 2008 will be the first of its kind in Europe, and offer a host of event standards, such as tournaments, cosplay contests, music, and developer panels.

What's beneath the ice?

More importantly, Blizzard has shown a proclivity to tease new games just before they are announced at one of the developer's main events. Leading up to the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational 2007 in Seoul, Korea, the Irvine, California-based developer surprised few with the official debut of Starcraft II after running a teaser campaign on its official site and Starcraft2.com.

Now, signs have appeared that Blizzard may be brewing up yet one more reveal. The developer's home page is currently gated by a teaser image depicting what appears to be shattered ice bearing a runelike marking--and not much else. Upon clicking the image, the user is then redirected to Blizzard's standard home Web site.

With Starcraft II and the next World of Warcraft expansion accounted for, Blizzard has two other properties that could blow in at the event. The first is a new massively multiplayer online role-playing game, which VP of development Itzik Ben Bassat said in January would not be an addendum to its current MMOG colossus, World of Warcraft.

Speculation is also rife that Blizzard is on the cusp of making public its quest to revive the infernal Dark Lord in Diablo 3. Back in 2006, Diablo novel scribe Richard A. Knaak dropped not-so-subtle hints that the third full installment in the franchise is in development. More recently, Blizzard began scooping up Diablo 3-branded fansites, namely diablo3.com. The developer, though, was quick to dismiss the acquisition as standard operating procedure to "safeguard its intellectual properties."

When contacted by GameSpot, Blizzard declined comment. "We're not telling anyone anything," a rep cheerfully said.

451 Comments

  • Vizard666

    Posted Jun 27, 2008 11:37 am PT

    From what i see is that Blizzard is the ice introducing a new game which can possibly be diablo 3 more than starcraft 2 and WoW WotLK. Why would blizzard make a release date such a grand thing to make people discuss about? Starcraft 2 will release not far from WotLK and since people already know about the game its useless to put up a Protoss breaking from the ice. Basically if blizzard announced something new which means that its a game that has no data released yet which is diablo 3( thats my opinion). Evidence of having changed the diablo.com which use to redirect to the diablo fan site can be one possibility of this release. Why would Blizzard bother of doing this if Diablo was not involved anywhere but well on the other hand it could also be related to the previous games. This is not an announcement of a new game date release, its an announcement of a new game so its best we should get things right for the best of whats going to happen. Diablo 3 is what most of us want.

  • mwdjwan

    Posted Jun 27, 2008 2:03 am PT

    well i've changed my mind, today it's Arthas. thats no diablo staring back.

  • bcardamone

    Posted Jun 27, 2008 12:22 am PT

    I'm not sure where anyone is getting Diablo out of the teaser picture. I see a view looking toward space from the ground in the middle of a blue mineral field. That says World of Starcraft to me.

  • hesgonnajump

    Posted Jun 26, 2008 10:11 pm PT

    The Battle.net Forums now have a Diablo III General Discussion Board.

    It's true Ladies and Gentlemen. We're in for one hell of a ride. 8 )

  • bruno321

    Posted Jun 26, 2008 2:12 pm PT

    I just noticed that June 18th this year, they have released patches for Diablo II and Lord of Destruction. They're getting prepared at this point. They know as soon as they announce a new Diablo, everyone is going to go pick the old ones up again to get refreshed with the story. Gotta make sure everything is running smoothly...

    I'm sorry but at this point, there are just too many things that make this too obvious. Diablo 3 is going to be announced, this has NOTHING to do with WotlK.

    X-RS, I've looked at your color inverted image. How does this help?

  • X-RS

    Posted Jun 26, 2008 1:13 pm PT

    http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/4376/blizzardtease239screensvv9.jpg

    does this help?

  • togra88

    Posted Jun 26, 2008 10:30 am PT

    http://www.diabloii.net/

    It's coming, read the articles man.

  • mortono

    Posted Jun 26, 2008 7:55 am PT

    Oooh... DIABLO EYES!

    Also...

    "Blizzard Entertainment, the developer of Diablo and Diablo II, is looking for a lead 3D environment"

    From the art job on the front page. Why would they only put Diablo I and II? It's Diablo!

  • Kcoshiob

    Posted Jun 26, 2008 6:20 am PT

    ALTHOUGH...
    when I get to thinking, I can't escape the fact that I believe Blizzard is resting on its laurels, and do not NEED to put out anything new.
    That very assumption is ALSO what Blizz knows, and what better way to sucker punch someone, than knowing and utilizing their assumptions

  • Kcoshiob

    Posted Jun 26, 2008 6:12 am PT

    There is no new game here. It is obvious. Calm down, no more sugar for you.
    The eyes in the middle of the ICE are obviously the eyes of the Lich King. Just compare them to the artwork.

    You guys get so excited over nothing.
    And Blizz knows this.

  • norgemuggen

    Posted Jun 26, 2008 5:26 am PT

    It's without doubt the lich king expansion to WoW they are presenting again.

  • ne0man

    Posted Jun 26, 2008 5:20 am PT

    that's not ice, thats the mineral you harvest on starcraft...

  • mwdjwan

    Posted Jun 26, 2008 2:30 am PT

    your spot on, SO FAR it does look like protoss eyes . 10 points for anyone who knows what the new rune on the bottom right is!!

  • moneylow

    Posted Jun 26, 2008 12:41 am PT

    take a look in the middle of the screen, Doesn't the two stars appear to be two eyes? kinda looks like protoss eyes doesn't it? i mean, it could look lie a face is starting to appear..

  • FreelanceX86

    Posted Jun 26, 2008 12:15 am PT

    combatsoldier: I agree. Their headquarters is located in Irvine, supposedly next-door to where my campus is. Let's do it.

  • samus8792

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 10:20 pm PT

    It'd be funny as hell if this was a teaser for Starcraft: Ghost and they made it confusing as hell to mess with your heads to think it was something else.

  • xkojimax

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 9:23 pm PT

    looking to be diablo 3. oh my.... time to get a new PC

  • combatsoldier

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 8:09 pm PT

    If its not diablo we should rally and kick down the doors demanding a new diablo.

  • hesgonnajump

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 7:55 pm PT

    I really hope everyone is correct and that it is Diablo 3 I have another idea. I think the ice is just representing Blizzard as a whole, and now they have all their 'current' franchises represented in 3 of the four corners. I think there's a large chance the fourth corner will be filled by a new Franchise entirely. Though I'm praying I'm wrong, I want Diablo 3 More than anything. And the Ice totally makes sense for that if your familiar with the series.

  • t37nguye

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 6:31 pm PT

    Here are my guesses:
    The first rune is from Warcraft -> WOTLK
    The second rune is from Diablo->Diablo 3
    The third rune is from Starcraft->Starcraft 2
    The teaser says that all the 3 games are coming.
    I think the next splash teaser will probaly go back to Warcraft.

  • sieg555

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 4:51 pm PT

    Its most likely Diablo 3, but what if its something entirely new? The three runes so far on the ice is one from each major series (Warcraft, Diablo, starcraft). What if the ice is actually from the Fortress of Solitude breaking and this is actually an announcement to a new Superman game? Blizzard made a Superman game before and activision has made superhero games before. The red and blue could represent the colors of superman. lol i really hope it isn't though because im really hoping for Diablo 3

  • mpatrickkeeling

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 4:44 pm PT

    If it's not Diablo 3 then they're resurrecting their Lost Viking franchise.

  • evildarkling

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 4:25 pm PT

    was the ice always opened in the middle because if it wasn't maybe it is a countdown

  • tHeJwAy13

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 3:48 pm PT

    Also, those of you who think this is WoW related because the teaser is showing up on WoW's main page...as you might recall last year when they started the teaser for Starcraft II it was also on WoW's main page. The only reason why it is listed there is because WoW.com receives just as much if not more traffic than Blizzard.com, so it only makes sense to get the word out.

  • tHeJwAy13

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 3:42 pm PT

    Those of you who are mentioning the ice aspect as a sure-fire for WotLK are completely ignoring the fact that this is BLIZZARD, the term BLIZZARD relates to ice, so that automatically makes the ice issue irrelevant.

    So far these are runes (which are prominently used in the Diablo series) and are aligning to form a 5 pointed pentagram, which is also popular in the Diablo series.

    This is a teaser for Diablo III, I bet my soul on it and I also reserve the right to laugh at you WoW idiots (the game blows anyway).

  • Wanderer5

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 3:23 pm PT

    It probably going to be Diablo 3, but it would be cool if it Warcraft 4.

  • JediMutantX3

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 3:17 pm PT

    DIABLO 3!!!!!!

    PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • mortono

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 2:40 pm PT

    It's going to be a lost vikings sequel. LOL

  • bruno321

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 2:36 pm PT

    http://www.diabloii.net/n/667423/diablo-3-announcement-at-wwi

    Believe the hype. Diablo 3 is coming...

  • mortono

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 2:34 pm PT

    To Blazius,

    Why it's not WOTLK:

    "With Starcraft II and the next World of Warcraft expansion accounted for, Blizzard has two other properties that could blow in at the event. The first is a new massively multiplayer online role-playing game, which VP of development Itzik Ben Bassat said in January would not be an addendum to its current MMOG colossus, World of Warcraft."
    -The article right up there.

  • Toggy

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 2:33 pm PT

    Seriously though... Diablo 3.. You guys see 1 rune from Diablo and you go NUTS about it. There is 1 symbol from Starcraft... and 1 from the upcomming expansion to WoW.

    Calm down. And now stars in the background as well. Though I will give you this.. http://www.videogaming247.com/2008/06/25/insiders-sure-diablo-iii-will-be-announced-this-weekend/

    This could just be a bad gamming site or a bad source that wants publicity, so be careful what you believe.

  • XenoSage

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 2:25 pm PT

    bruno321

    "Blazius, it's on Blizzard.com and Diablo.com (not just worldofwarcraft.com). And, all three runes are from existing Blizzard games (again, NOT just WoW)."


    Dunno what you're talking about but when I go to the official Diablo site nothhing shows up. And if u type diablo.com it just takes you to the blizzard site.

    It's obvious that it's for the Lich King.

    Also the image is labeled as ICE which should be an obvious clue.
    I think if they were announcing Diablo 3 they would have made it more dramatic like they did with the announce of Starcraft 2.

  • Darthnaevus

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 1:46 pm PT

    blazius , why would they bother announcing WOTLK and creating such a hype for fans and then deceive them?

  • Emraldo

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 1:02 pm PT

    A SSBB-esque merge of all three franchises into a 2D fighting game? I'd buy it

  • bruno321

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 12:47 pm PT

    Blazius, it's on Blizzard.com and Diablo.com (not just worldofwarcraft.com). And, all three runes are from existing Blizzard games (again, NOT just WoW).

  • zorky

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 12:47 pm PT

    Now it's showing a Starcraft rune.
    http://pc.ign.com/articles/884/884280p1.html

  • mortono

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 12:10 pm PT

    Man it's Diablo. Look at the Ice. It's melting or cracking or something.

  • Blazius2 posted Jun 25, 2008 12:00 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Blazius2

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 12:00 pm PT (hide)

    It's on the WORLD OF WARCRAFT website, not on the blizzard website or some diablo website. The next expansion for WoW mainly TAKES PLACE on a continent dominantly covered in ICE. WotLK is mainly based on ICE concepts. From what i've seen, Diablo has more to do with FIRE. Quit fooling yourselves.

  • Nerkcon

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 10:29 am PT

    "California-based developer"

    I thought Blizzard Entertainment was in Texas?

  • FROZEN_FLAPJACK

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 10:27 am PT

    If you go to the website right now you can see that the ice is cracking!

  • bruno321

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 9:44 am PT

    It's a Diablo announcement. The "ice" isn't relative to the game, Diablo is a Blizzard North production and therefore, the "company" (ice) is revealing the game. With plenty of Warcraft gaming going on and a new Starcraft 2 game in the bag, Diablo is the last major franchise Blizzard hasn't done anything with in almost 7 years to the date (Lord of Destruction was released June 27, 2001). So far, all the runes have been accounted for, furthering the idea that all of these games belong under the Blizzard umbrella.

    I guess WotlK and Starcraft 2 wasn't enough to keep my attention for the next couple years. Blizzard is profiting out of control. I can't wait to see what they come up with next...

  • xanisk89

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 8:58 am PT

    The first day it was shown (which is the picture Gamespot has) It really did look like Wrath of the Lich King. However, as the days have progressed I noticed it's opened more and it's come to my attention that those runes....are not from warcraft. If this ISN'T Diablo then I will be utterly shocked.

  • gamerboy100

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 7:56 am PT

    "The developer's home page is currently gated by a teaser image depicting what appears to be shattered ice bearing a runelike marking--and not much else."

    Aren't runes used in the Diablo series?

  • Warshock

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 7:39 am PT

    IF you look at it again, it's opened up!!!!... COME ON!!! SHOW US MORE!! I guess they want us to keep looking on the site to see what it is revealing!

  • bruno321

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 7:01 am PT

    One thing I find kind of interesting is that the teaser image displays only on Blizzard.com, Worldofwarcraft.com and Diablo.com (but not Starcraft2.com).

  • perfectdefect

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 6:43 am PT

    blizzards version of SSB!

  • MJ-X

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 6:42 am PT

    somehow looks look like chidori 2 me.
    very interesting indeed, still wondering how some of u figured its frostmourne runes and protoss ones, i may have a bad sight if thats the case..... or mayb i dunno where to look.
    hope it's gud, cheers anyway...

  • dashawnthl

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 6:30 am PT

    Its only a release date for WotLK,.......... Thats All.

  • jansdman

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 5:27 am PT

    It's a new blizzard logo, lol.

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