Blizzard Entertainment announces Diablo® III
for PS3™, confirms franchise coming to PS4™
World-first hands-on set for PAX East, March 22—24
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The fate of Sanctuary will soon rest in the hands of PlayStation gamers
around the world. Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced that it
is developing Diablo® III, the latest
entry in its award-winning action—role-playing-game series, for the Sony
PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. The company also
today confirmed plans to adapt the game for Sony's newly announced
PlayStation®4, its next-generation computer entertainment
system.
The PS3™/PS4™ version of Diablo III will be
based on the critically acclaimed core experience of the PC version,
including all of the latest upgrades, such as the Paragon leveling
system, customizable Monster Power, Brawling, and epic Legendary items.
In addition, Blizzard is designing an all-new user interface, including
an intuitive control scheme and a new dynamic camera perspective, that
will make questing and combat in the world of Sanctuary feel like second
nature on PlayStation platforms. Players will be able to battle their
way through the story in single-player mode and also experience the
hack-and-slash joy of destroying demons and collecting loot together
with their friends via seamless four-player online and local co-op modes.
Blizzard also announced today that the PS3 version of Diablo III
will be shown live at PAX East, taking place at the Boston Convention
and Exhibition Center from March 22—24. Attendees there will be the
first in the world to pick up a controller and experience the fast-paced
action and visceral gameplay of Diablo III via the new
custom-designed interface.
"Diablo III looks and plays great on the PlayStation," said Mike
Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. "We put a lot of
care and thought into the PlayStation version to make sure it would
deliver an authentic Diablogaming experience, and we're really
pleased with the results. We can't wait for players to try it out at PAX
East."
Diablo III continues the epic Diablo storyline, with
players taking on the role of one of five heroic characters—barbarian,
witch doctor, wizard, monk, or demon hunter—and embarking on a perilous
quest to save the world of Sanctuary from the corrupting forces of the
Burning Hells. As players adventure through rich and varied settings,
they'll engage in pulse-pounding combat with hordes of monsters and
challenging bosses, grow in experience and ability, acquire artifacts of
incredible power, and meet key characters who'll join them in battle or
aid them along the way. Diablo III was originally released for
Windows® and Macintosh® PC on May 15, 2012 and
within 24 hours became the fastest-selling PC game of all time. As of
December 31, 2012, Diablo III had sold through more than 12
million copies worldwide.*
To learn more about Diablo III, please visit the official website
at http://www.diablo3.com.
Further details about Blizzard's plans for the PlayStation versions of
the game will be announced on the site as development progresses. With
multiple games in development, Blizzard Entertainment has numerous
positions currently available—visit http://jobs.blizzard.com
for more information and to learn how to apply.
* According to The NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, and internal company
estimates.
About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft®
and the Warcraft®, StarCraft®,
and Diablo® franchises, Blizzard Entertainment,
Inc. (www.blizzard.com),
a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer
and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of
the industry's most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment's
track record includes fifteen #1-selling games and multiple Game of the
Year awards. The company's online-gaming service, Battle.net®,
is one of the largest in the world, with millions of active players.
PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment
Inc.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking
Statements: Information in this press release that involves
Blizzard Entertainment's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies
regarding the future, including statements about the console version of
Diablo III, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and
involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause
Blizzard Entertainment's actual future results to differ materially from
those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this
release include unanticipated product delays and other factors
identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard's most
recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports
on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based
upon information available to Blizzard Entertainment and Activision
Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Blizzard
Entertainment nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update
any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed
to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These
statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Blizzard
Entertainment or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks,
uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control
and may cause actual results to differ materially from current
expectations.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20130220006889/en/
Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
Rob Hilburger
VP, Global
Communications
949-955-1380 x13228
rhilburger@blizzard.com
or
Che'von
Slaughter
Associate PR Manager
949-955-1380 x14338
cslaughter@blizzard.com
Source: Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
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