Blizzard acquires Diablo3.com

  • By sebFlyte, GameSpot
  • Posted May 1, 2008 8:56 am PT

Activision is no stranger to speculative game name registrations, taking time out early last year to trademark Drum Villain and Guitar Villain, and it seems like its new stablemate Blizzard is treading a similar path.A statement on Diablo3.com yesterday indicated that the site was changing its URL...

Activision is no stranger to speculative game name registrations, taking time out early last year to trademark Drum Villain and Guitar Villain, and it seems like its new stablemate Blizzard is treading a similar path.

A statement on Diablo3.com yesterday indicated that the site was changing its URL to DiabloFans.com at Blizzard's behest, and that it was in the process of transferring the old domain to the Diablo publisher.

Knowing that such an acquisition would send the Internet rumourmongers into overdrive, Blizzard made it clear to mockery, the administrator of the fansite in question, that "this shouldn't be considered an announcement" of Diablo 3.

Blizzard's denial hasn't done much to slow the rumour mill, however, especially given the fact that this year's Blizzard invitational is only two months away. Last year's equivalent event was the scene of the surprise announcement of Starcraft 2, and the Paris event would be an appropriate stage for Diablo 3 to be introduced to the world.

[UPDATE]: A Blizzard representative confirmed the news for GameSpot, saying, "We did acquire the rights to www.diablo3.com. Please note that we regularly secure ownership of domain names to safeguard our intellectual properties, as was the case with this. Regarding any plans for a new Diablo game, as much as we'd like to eventually revisit that universe, we don't have any plans to announce at this time."

161 Comments

  • silentnsly

    Posted Jun 26, 2008 2:37 am PT

    Read http://www.diabloii.net/

    Diablo 3 will probably be announced at the WWI on Sunday, 29 Jun 2008.

  • FULLAUTONICK

    Posted Jun 25, 2008 2:52 pm PT

    I hate to say it, but I doubt Blizzard will make Diablo 3 while WoW is still around. D3 would take away from the WoW fanbase, and since WoW is the money maker, they don't want that.

  • Sparky2002

    Posted Jun 24, 2008 11:42 am PT

    CptObvious1031 Diablo did come to consoles buddy Sony playstation

    look it up if you want.....

  • blowtrees

    Posted Jun 21, 2008 7:17 pm PT

    Diablo 3 is easily my 2nd most anticipated game. Only behind Fallout ( I mean come on, 9 freakin years!) and seeing how people still play d2 on bnet and what with WoW being the prototypical MMO everyone else aspires to be - D3 is potentially the next era in MMO and maybe the only thing that has a chance to take the crown away from WoW.

  • padawanadam

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 8:55 am PT

    I played Diablo 2 the longest of any game only behind World of Warcraft. I am ready for Daiblo 3!!!

  • bluedragon99

    Posted Jun 17, 2008 7:50 pm PT

    the gaming industry needs D3 to boost its morale with all these lowly games around.

  • mafpy

    Posted Jun 14, 2008 8:07 am PT

    i wait to much 4 this game...... .....(

  • hehhahtsoria

    Posted Jun 10, 2008 9:20 am PT

    hmm i wonder.. this will be interesting

  • ScaryGaryJr

    Posted Jun 4, 2008 1:02 am PT

    i'm not 100% sure about this but didn't one of the divisions of blizzard complete a diablo 3 and the others rejected it, scrapped the game and sent it to a new division? a lot of people have been wondering why blizzard hasn't already made a D3 but i think they may have already, just not one up to par :-\

    edit: a link from diablofans.com
    http://www.igniq.com/2005/08/diablo-3-not-good-enough-for-blizzard.html

  • AgentWalter

    Posted May 27, 2008 1:44 pm PT

    I guess a lot of people are begging for D3, but it has just gone so long since D2. But the graphics must be amazing if it's getting produced right now;P

  • modfiz86

    Posted May 22, 2008 7:49 am PT

    D3...? Yeahhhhhhhhhhh...!!!

  • potts515

    Posted May 22, 2008 5:11 am PT

    diablo 3 ?????????????? blizzard is a bunch of losers !!!!!!

  • Phazor58

    Posted May 20, 2008 7:45 pm PT

    If they finally announce DIablo III, I may break out in tears. I need D3!

  • One-Vanilla

    Posted May 20, 2008 4:22 pm PT

    OH MAH GAWD!!!

  • Delston

    Posted May 19, 2008 1:56 pm PT

    I hope they continue the trend of free-online play like Diablo and Diablo II were...though with the sort of revenues they're bringing in with WoW, I'm not sure why they would ever go back. I'm not a pay-per-month gamer, so if that's how D3 is, count me out. Otherwise...woohoo!

  • OatmealKing

    Posted May 16, 2008 3:25 pm PT

    hmm....i pwned in D2 so...i sold all my stuff for 300$ n some change on ebay....is D3 ready for me....thats the real question.....haha jp but really....is it..??

  • sormahic

    Posted May 16, 2008 10:06 am PT

    King of The Action RPGs!

  • Ross0_JE

    Posted May 13, 2008 2:05 pm PT

    AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME

  • TRGonline

    Posted May 11, 2008 10:11 am PT

    This could mean 2 things.
    1 Blizzard will destroy it and call the site a nonsense
    or
    2 The more better choice to upload upcoming videos and make DIABLO 3 !!!! Anoucements

  • sc_ajk29

    Posted May 9, 2008 4:08 pm PT

    "Regarding any plans for a new Diablo game, as much as we'd like to eventually revisit that universe, we don't have any plans to announce at this time."

    Whoa, what's exactly what they said when asked about StarCraft II. How about giving us some more concrete information Blizzard?

  • dead_god86

    Posted May 8, 2008 7:39 pm PT

    @mysterylobster, if you mean to say that 'mockery' the administrator and owner of diablofans.com sold diablo3.com to blizzard, you are mistaken, he simply GAVE it to them, however this does mean the site 'diablofans.com' will have special consideration to possible future beta keys etc. as for the speculation, i agree, this could very well be telling us all some great new, and if it is, then it will be announce in paris imo. but we really can't say for sure, we can speculate, but no-one will know until blizzard officially announce it (if they do) "...we don't have any plans to announce at this time." this dosn't mean that don't have any plans on making a diablo 3, simply that they don't plan to ANNOUNCE it...lol there i go speculating hehe. i'm hoping diablo is the 'next-gen' MMO they are making though, hopefully they will stop supporting and making expansions for wow, when the world is ready for their next MMO though

  • luciotss

    Posted May 6, 2008 7:59 pm PT

    DIABLO 3 HA !!! GREAT !

  • xophaser

    Posted May 4, 2008 8:32 pm PT

    Diablo I and II were one of my favorite games, but that was some time ago. If this is being release in the 2010-12 range, I am out. They going to have to sell to a younger generation, since us older one can't play epically long games in our free time anymore. But it might be too good to pass.

  • tig1979

    Posted May 4, 2008 10:08 am PT

    You would think with all the hype that surrounds Diablo 3 and the amount of people screaming for it they would get their heads out their butts and make it if they aint doing already, but for god sake please make it before the people that want it have arthritis in their hands and can't hold a mouse!! Don't let it become a Duke Nukem!

  • speedjunkie4

    Posted May 3, 2008 8:06 pm PT

    Next thing for Diablo 3:

    "Diablo 3 offcialy announced!" lol

  • thestickman

    Posted May 3, 2008 1:47 pm PT

    Anxious to see whether the announcement will actually mean a third installment in the franchise If it is, can't wait to see how the game will be.

  • advandam

    Posted May 3, 2008 5:12 am PT

    @ classicfan, i totally agree. both diablo1 and 2 were hits so why no diablo3, they've had years and years to make it. just think they can't be bothered with there fans. still i'll just have to look foward to starcraft 2.

  • classicfan

    Posted May 3, 2008 2:30 am PT

    Diablo3 yeah like when! When hell freezes over more then likely! Thanx but no thanx! I swear You gamer developers are such slacker's today that its not even funny anymore! and then out of the blue you announce taking over diablo3.com why so you can keep our mouth's shut?.well I got news for you Blizzard screw you!.You ruled in 1998 -2003 R.I.P Blizzard! Sorry but you guys had long enough time to get D3 done by now whats next for this years 2008 Blizzard Con you'll say 2015 for D3 LMAO Please! No more damn lies I can't stand people who lie behind my back!-But yeah I agree a PS3 version of Diablo 3 would kick a$$!

  • Trajectorize

    Posted May 3, 2008 2:16 am PT

    Alright, time to buy diablo4.com and sit on it until it comes out in 2015. Uh, hope I still can turn a profit on it by then.

    Oh wait, it already redirects to worldofdiablo.com. Heh.

  • Goliathvv

    Posted May 2, 2008 9:27 pm PT

    Diablo... 3... Oh man, blizzard just keeps surprising me!

  • pause422

    Posted May 2, 2008 5:53 pm PT

    Everyone should try to remember..the core team behind diablo(more so "the" team behind diablo) all left Blizzard and made Flagship Studios,obviously everyone knows Blizzard still has plenty of talent to make good games,but with that entire team gone..I don't think jumping for joy is the right solution just yet.

  • kammenos

    Posted May 2, 2008 1:18 pm PT

    every year the same things ...! it is time 4 D3 ... MAYBE WE LL SEE IT MAYBE NOT

  • advandam

    Posted May 2, 2008 1:16 pm PT

    anyone know where blizzard are based? i might go and beg them. the first 2 games were immense and expansion packs amazin. i

  • motionxsickness

    Posted May 2, 2008 12:40 pm PT

    this just in: with world of warcraft already rampant, starcraft 2 in line for release, and the anticipation behind diablo 3, blizzard has officially become the world's most notorious drug distributor, topping the el salvadorian cartel and the chinese triads.... >

  • andyrae11

    Posted May 2, 2008 10:09 am PT

    Thats good news! Hopefully this time they could be a little more considerate and leave the racial slurs out of the game.

  • Xxgood-timesXx

    Posted May 2, 2008 7:57 am PT

    hmm d3, sounds good.

  • bka4u2c_basic

    Posted May 2, 2008 7:35 am PT

    "nth1739 Its amazing how blizzard has become so successful off of only three games. Warcraft, Starcraft, and Diablo. "

    That is amazing, and its because they pay attention to what gamers want and they deliver on that. Instead of concentrating on graphics only and making game play and storyline secondary.

  • CokaColaKid

    Posted May 2, 2008 6:44 am PT

    They just said no plans for an announcement, that franchise is a big money machine. Of course bliz has plans to release no3 at some point.

  • jknight5422

    Posted May 2, 2008 6:38 am PT

    Instead of having Bland Game 3 and Dull Game 5, how about they concentrate on creating new games instead of perpetual sequels of old ones?

  • CptObvious1031

    Posted May 2, 2008 6:10 am PT

    D3 for consoles!!!! Diablo II for consoles!!!! Gamers have been screaming for this ever since Diablo was ported to PSX. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Blizzard give us a Diablo for the 360...online multiplayer dungeon crawling hack & slash goodness is what we crave.

  • commander1122

    Posted May 2, 2008 5:06 am PT

    THIS IS MADNESS

  • commander1122

    Posted May 2, 2008 5:05 am PT

    -_-

  • jansdman

    Posted May 2, 2008 3:25 am PT

    ZOMG, I want my D3 !!!

  • HypnoticDj321

    Posted May 2, 2008 3:10 am PT

    PLEASE GIEF !!!!

  • izzy_stradlin

    Posted May 2, 2008 1:32 am PT

    diablo 3 is a definite, that site has been up for an extreamly long time, if blizzard wasn't planning to make this game then why would they wait all this time to get the domain name

  • yaberingyeti

    Posted May 2, 2008 12:47 am PT

    Diablo for consoles? They once tried, and failed. For diablo to work on a consoles controls it would have to be changed drasticaly. Why change a proven winning formula?

    Point and click RPG's only work on PC's.

    But, knowing blizard, it would even work on your fathers dell. They never push the high end, and barely tax the mid range.

  • SirFatalChaos

    Posted May 2, 2008 12:15 am PT

    YEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!! YEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!! ********************* YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

    This is relevant to my interests.

  • IguanaBob

    Posted May 1, 2008 11:35 pm PT

    I guess it's time to lay claim to Diablo4.com?

  • Humikimi

    Posted May 1, 2008 11:34 pm PT

    Diablo 3 eh? Diablo was the only Blizzard game I did not get into. Well, time to pull out my rusty copy and finally play it I suppose, because if there is a Diablo 3, I want in.

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