Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV have both been delayed, until at least 2023 it seems, as Blizzard makes some internal leadership changes. The publisher and developer announced that both highly anticipated games were being pushed back to “reach their full potential” - and although we didn’t actually have release windows for these games, we know that they will not arrive in 2022.
The graphic from Activision Blizzard shown by journalist Stephen Totilo (see below) addresses that there are changes undergoing in the company, many of these fuelled by its recent lawsuits. The company has been facing legal action over alleged harassment, particularly against women and marginalised people.
Here is some of the gameplay already shown off for Overwatch 2...
As key roles change hands, both the Diablo and Overwatch teams need more time on their projects. Blizzard claims that it will have plenty of content to release in 2022, but Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV are now set for a later launch than originally intended. That likely means they’ve been pushed into 2023 at the earliest.
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The full post is as follows:
“As we have worked with new leadership in Blizzard and within the franchises themselves, particularly in certain key creative roles, it has become apparent that some of the Blizzard content planned for next year will benefit from more development time to reach its full potential.
"While we are still planning to deliver a substantial amount of content from Blizzard next year, we are now planning for a later launch for Overwatch 2, and Diablo IV than originally envisaged.
"These are two of the most eagerly anticipated titles in the industry, and our teams have made great strides towards completion in recent quarters. But we believe giving the teams some extra time to complete production and continue growing their creative resource to support the titles after launch will ensure that these releases delight and engage their communities for many years into the future.
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"These decisions will push out the financial uplift that we had expected to see next year. But we are confident that this is the right course of action for our people, our players, and the long-term success of our franchises.”
This isn’t a good sign for a live service title like Overwatch. The current game, which launched in 2016, has been neglected as the team worked hard to bring the sequel to life. The game has been going through the same seasonal events, very limited numbers of new maps, and the last playable hero was added back in early 2020. It might mean the plan for Overwatch’s maintenance changes with this news, but it might just mean it’ll remain only barely supported until 2 is released.
Featured Image Credit: Blizzard EntertainmentTopics: Overwatch, Activision Blizzard, Blizzard Entertainment, Diablo, Diablo 4
