‘Diablo 3’ & ‘The Necromancer’ In Anniversary Update; Blizzard Adds Classic ; Releases Diablo 3 Patch; No 'Diablo 4' In The Future?

By Rita Mendoza - 07 Nov '16 04:00AM

"Diablo" is celebrating its 20th year in 2016, and apart from the Hearthstone and Overwatch unveiling, Blizzard surprised its BlizzCon viewers with a new anniversary "Diablo 3" patch “Darkening of Tristram.” While the news is not as big as another Diablo IV release that many Diablo fans have been waiting for, Blizzard had made public of its plans of adding a patch to its Diablo III game along with another character class.

In the BlizzCon event last week, Blizzard unveiled its plans of giving "Diablo" fans a new patch - but it’s not Diablo IV. Rather, it is bringing the original Diablo to "Diablo III" in a new anniversary update named “Darkening of Tristram.” The new patch has brought the original Diablo’s graphics, gameplay, and style to the most recent Diablo 3. The “Darkening of Tristram” update includes 16 levels of dungeon along with four big bosses from the original Diablo. The players will be limited to an 8-degree level of freedom movement and will be playing with a classic filter that uses the original Diablo feel. The new update will be free upon release and can be played within the week in its Diablo 3 Public Test Realm server.

Aside from the anniversary patch, an update of "Diablo III" called “Rise of the Necromancer” pack is slated for 2017 which features a new character class named “the Necromancer” in Diablo III that will be released anytime next year. This is a paid content, however, and requires the "Diablo III" game and “Reaper of Souls” expansion to access.

Blizzard also added two new zones in Diablo 3 next year with its adventure mode called “Shrouded Moors,” and “Temple of Firstborn” which, once released, will be a free add-on to the game.

Many have been hopeful, but Blizzard made no mention about "Diablo IV" in the BlizzCon. But the retro looks coupled with the new character of two games built together with modern tech, Diablo fans will nevertheless be thrilled with the update of the decades-old game.