This approach strikes us as the right balance between preserving the game's original look and feel and glossing things up for higher-res action at a 60fps refresh. Despite this split, every element benefits from a new dynamic lighting system that otherwise preserves the game's original, dark aesthetic. In the 'new graphics' mode, heroes and monsters appear as 3D polygons, while all backgrounds are otherwise made of 2D textures and sprites.Blizzard is sticking to the game's original source code, which the company says has been left intact-and to prove that, players can tap a 'swap graphics' button at any time to return to the 2000 original, much like in StarCraft: Remastered.

If you want to deal with online logins (and, obviously, co-op and PvP content), you get a handy perk: cross-progression for your characters between platforms, should you wish to switch between, say, your home PC and your portable Nintendo Switch.

We've grown increasingly skeptical of Blizzard's sales pitches in recent years, but so far, everything about D2:R strikes us as the right kind of ' Blizzard Classic' approach, including the following sales pitches: Sign-ups for D2:R's technical alpha are now live ahead of the game's launch on PC and consoles 'in 2021.' The right balance between preservation and polish? At first glimpse, this top-to-bottom remake seems to get everything right that WarCraft III: Reforged got so very, very wrong-and we won't have to wait very long to come up with our own impressions. This long-rumored remake includes everything from both the base 2000 game and its 2001 expansion, Lord of Destruction. In at least one respect, the outlook is optimistic, thanks to an impressive reveal of Diablo II: Resurrected.

That led us to wonder: can today's streaming-only BlizzCon showcase of games and plans show that the company's recent hires and behind-the-scenes reshuffling are paying off?

Game delays, notable departures, botched remakes, smartphone-gaming backlash, and an anti-protester reputation have weighed down what was once a sterling RTS/RPG reputation.

Blizzard's latest BlizzCon event sees the longtime PC game maker at perhaps its most beleaguered yet.

Diablo 2 hd remake release date