Blizzard Entertainment extends beta test for hotly anticipated action
role-playing game
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Despite a sterling record of always hitting its release targets,
Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced that the expected launch
window for Diablo® III, the next title
in the company's critically acclaimed series of action role-playing
games, will be moving into early 2012.
"With every game we make, the temptation is always very strong to launch
as soon as possible. However, we didn't put so many years of work into Diablo
III to release a game that was almost ready," said Mike Morhaime,
CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. "The beta test is going
very well, and we look forward to making the most of the extra time
we're taking to deliver an experience that lives up to our vision for
the game and the expectations of our players. Next year is going to be
an incredibly busy one for Blizzard, and we hope an incredibly fun one
for Blizzard gamers."
Blizzard will use the additional time to extend the Diablo III
closed beta test, which began September 20, potentially adding more
testers than initially projected. Players who have an active Battle.net®
account with any Blizzard game attached to it should visit Battle.net
account management to opt in for a chance to participate in the beta
test. Additional testing phases, as well as further details regarding
the launch plans for the game, will be announced on the company's Diablo
III community website: www.Diablo3.com.
For more information about Diablo III, please contact Rob
Hilburger in Blizzard public relations (rhilburger@blizzard.com).
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking
Statements: Information in this press release that involves
Blizzard Entertainment's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies
regarding the future are forward-looking statements that are not facts
and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Blizzard Entertainment
generally uses words such as "outlook," "will," "could," "would,"
"might," "remains," "to be," "plans," "believes," "may," "expects,"
"intends," "anticipates," "estimate," "future," "plan," "positioned,"
"potential," "project," "remain," "scheduled," "set to," "subject to,"
"upcoming" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking
statements. 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, but are
not limited to, sales levels of Blizzard Entertainment's titles, shifts
in consumer spending trends, the impact of the current macroeconomic
environment, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game
market, declines in software pricing, product returns and price
protection, product delays, retail acceptance of Blizzard
Entertainment's products, competition from the used game market,
industry competition and competition from other forms of entertainment,
rapid changes in technology, industry standards and consumer
preferences, including interest in specific genres such as real-time
strategy, action—role-playing and massively multiplayer online games,
protection of proprietary rights, litigation against Blizzard
Entertainment, maintenance of relationships with key personnel,
customers, licensees, licensors, vendors and third-party developers,
including the ability to attract, retain and develop key personnel and
developers who can create high quality "hit" titles, counterparty risks
relating to customers, licensees, licensors and manufacturers, domestic
and international economic, financial and political conditions and
policies, foreign exchange rates and tax rates, and the identification
of suitable future acquisition opportunities, and the other factors
identified in the risk factors section 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.
Blizzard Entertainment
Rob Hilburger, 949-955-1380, x13228 dir
rhilburger@blizzard.com
Source: Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
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