It would seem that after somerumors and teasesfrom Blizzard, Nintendo Switch-wielding fans of the studio’s dungeon-crawling RPG,Diablo 3, can rejoice after all. According to journalist and “industry insider” Marcus Sellars, a Switch port for the game is planned for release in 2019.
Sellars tweeted about the game last month, saying thatDiablo 3was in development for the Nintendo Switch with the desire to implement local multiplayer. Since the RPG has a reputation as a multiplayer title, this emphasis makes a lot of sense.
Another tweet,this one from Blizzard itself, seemed to taunt fans with aDiablonight light being switched on and off. This seems like a fairly intentional clue to get fans hyped about the potential of the game’s arrival to the Switch, though Blizzard later said the post was simply “a fun engagement piece.”
In addition to these tweets,sources told Eurogamerthat the project is “very much in production,” but could not confirm whether the game’sReaper of SoulsandRise of the Necromancerexpansions will be included.
The sources also expressed some surprise toward Blizzard’s tweet, since the game’s actual reveal is still a few months away. It seems that the social media tease was blown a little out of proportion and even though Blizzard tends to encourage fan speculation about upcoming releases, Nintendo typically does not. And so far third-party Switch games, such asrecently-releasedOutlast, have often been announced fairly close to their launch.
Given the high sales figures of the Nintendo switch, combined with the fact thatDiablo 3is currently available for every other console, it comes as no surprise that a Switch port is in the works. The game was very well-received after its original release in 2012 and has enjoyed great success since, even featuring new content as recently as last year.
Diablo 3’s arrival to the Switch in 2018 could open the door for other Blizzard games to come to the platform as well, despite the studio’s recent announcement that it had no plans to releaseHearthstoneon the Switch. Perhaps the future will see not only classic Blizzard games, but also new ones releasing on the Switch along with the usual platforms.
