Diablo Immortal the joint project by Blizzard and Chinese developer NetEase has seen its release in China delayed just days before it was set to go live. The news arrives after the studio's Weibo (social media platform) account was banned from making new posts last week - which adds an extra dose of strangeness to the announcement.

As per this report from Reuters, the delay is to make "multiple optimisation adjustments" to Diablo Immortal, though no new launch date was provided. As one of the most anticipated releases in the region (it has 15-million pre-registrations in China), the report goes on to state that recent regulatory crack-downs in the region on games with violent and religious content could be the reason.

Since its launch in several other markets Diablo Immortal has been met with fierce criticism based on the game's monetisation and free-to-play elements. There are several currencies, seasonal passes, loot boxes, and other systems within systems that play into progression and power that cost money. In our review-in-progress I wrote, "Diablo: Immortal lives up to its promise of delivering a fully fledged Diablo MMO you can play on-the-go", adding "it remains to be seen exactly how the monetisation side works". The pre-release version did not have the in-game store live. So in addition to this delay in the region the game was seemingly specifically targeting, it'll be interesting to see how Blizzard responds.

Ahead of its overnight global debut we’re ready to share our initial thoughts of the first brand-new Diablo game since Diablo III. As an MMO and a mobile-first title, you might think that it presents a very different style of action-RPG. Although it certainly carries a different feel, Diablo: Immortal is still every bit a classic Diablo game. So put on your best Legendary gear, polish your socketed gems, and dig into our initial thoughts.

A snippet.

With a narrative set between the events of Diablo II and III, the art style will no doubt be familiar for those that played the last Sanctuary outing. A vibrant mix of colour whilst still retaining a dark and brooding feel across locales that cover the classic Diablo mix of forests, towns, deserts, snowy mountains, and dark and dingy dungeons. With six familiar classes to choose from at launch, covering Barbarian, Crusader, Demon Hunter, Monk, Necromancer, and Wizard, both the character and monster designs feel every bit like an expansion of what we saw in Diablo III.

Playing as a Barbarian, familiar skills and abilities like Whirlwind and Leap make an appearance, but in a form that sees them level-up alongside your character. The classes are highly detailed, full of personality, and feature some great animation (alongside excellent sound design and voice acting).

This is not to say that Immortal is essentially Diablo 3.5 on mobile, but that familiarity definitely helps ground the experience for fans. Really though, it’s how the hack-and-slash simplicity and linear nature of the cinematic story almost immediately sets the ‘Yes, this is a real and full Diablo experience’ tone. AAA, if you will. Mobile games have expanded in size and scope over the years and it’s clear that Blizzard was aiming to bring Diablo to the platform without compromise.

Head Here For Our Initial Thoughts on Diablo: Immortal

Diablo Immortal has been built from the ground-up for mobile, and its release date for Android an iOS has been set for June 3 for Australia. After several beta tests and hints at a June release it's great to finally have a date, but what we weren't expecting was that the free-to-play title is also coming to PC in Beta form.

Which will include "all game features, including cross-play and cross-progression" and progress will carry over once the Beta period ends. Meaning that it will be the full version barring any technical issues that might need to be ironed out. In the following video that showcases new gameplay Blizzard notes that it's the biggest Diablo game to date and was designed to reach as many players as possible - hence the mobile focus. Adding PC into the mix is something that will allow the game to reach an even bigger audience.

Blizzard also confirms keyboard and mouse support for PC in addition to WASD control so you can aim skills with the mouse.

Diablo Immortal is an uncompromising AAA Diablo mobile experience featuring all the unbridled mayhem of the genre-defining action role-playing game franchise is known for but now in a massively multiplayer online world. Play anytime and anywhere with full cross-play and cross-progression between mobile and PC. As the first-ever MMOARPG of the series, Diablo Immortal offers rich social mechanics, a massive shared world where you will encounter other players, intense eight player-boss raid encounters, and more.

CROSS-PLAY AND CROSS-PROGRESSION WITH PC: Blizzard’s mobile-first experience is also on Windows PC via Battle.net, allowing players to adventure with everyone across all platforms and to seamlessly move from PC to mobile device without skipping a beat.

PC OPEN BETA: Diablo Immortal on Windows PC will be in Open Beta at launch. During the beta, the entire game and all features, including cross-play and cross-progression, will be available to players. When the PC version leaves the beta all progress will be maintained.

MORE WAYS TO PLAY: On top of the hand-crafted fluid touch controls on mobile, Diablo Immortal will also have integrated controller support. For those who choose to play on PC, there will be traditional Diablo point-and-click keyboard and mouse functionality and WASD character movement for the first time in the franchise.

IN-DEPTH SOCIAL MECHANICS: Explore Sanctuary in the first MMOARPG of the Diablo franchise. Form Warbands to join forces with up to eight players to tackle targeted objectives as a team, join 150-member Clans to earn achievements, and participate in a server-wide PvP faction conflict between the Shadows and Immortals. Experience the bustling hub city of Westmarch, where players will gather to refill on goods at the market, craft powerful
gems and upgrade gear, or take on hunts from the bounty board.

CYCLE OF STRIFE PVP: Players can band together to fight in a perpetual faction conflict as a member of either the Shadows or Immortals in the Cycle of Strife. The top player of the server will earn the Eternal Crown to become
the leader of the Immortals and will need to defend their reign in a brutal 1v30 showdown against the Shadows.

DIVERSE CLASS OPTIONS: The return of six iconic classes–Barbarian, Crusader, Demon Hunter, Monk, Necromancer, and Wizard—reimagined for intuitive
mobile play. Hunt for loads of Legendary gear and Set Items with game-changing affixes and bonuses that can completely switch up the playstyle for all classes.

A NEW CHAPTER IN THE DIABLO SAGA: A brand new story taking place between the events of Diablo II and Diablo III. The Lieutenant of Diablo himself, Skarn, is on a quest to gather the shattered pieces of the corrupted Worldstone and bring Sanctuary to its knees. With Tyrael presumed dead, players will partner with new and familiar characters in an expansive journey through 8 unique zones to gather the shards first.

With development on Diablo Immortal continuing, the global launch is due sometime in 2022, today comes word that an Australian and Canadian Closed Beta has kicked off for Android. The update not only beings a suite of new things like the Necromancer and build augmenting Set Items, but also controller support! Yeah, after consistent feedback Blizzard is "adding limited controller support to gather valuable feedback".

This means it'll be usable for in-game action, with UI and menus and inventory to arrive in the future. The list of supported controllers for the Closed Beta include the Xbox controller, Sony's DualShock 4, and the Razer Kishi. This has been implemented on top of the touch controls that have been there for quite some-time so there are some caveats.

We’ve heard players loud and clear and our long-term goal is to provide full controller support for Diablo Immortal. We’re not there yet, and there is more work to do. The Closed Beta will give players an early preview of this functionality. This early look at controller support will allow the use of a controller to navigate around the world and engage in combat with monsters. This early controller support comes with some major caveats:

1. The Closed Beta does not include controller support for UI menus such as inventory, skills, Codex, Paragon, or vendors. You will still need to use the touchscreen to navigate UI screens.

2. Not all controllers are supported. Device compatibility is part of our testing goals during Closed Beta.

3. You may experience some technical difficulties such as controller disconnection.

The Closed Beta brings a number of new things to the table so be sure to watch the trailer below or check out the detailed blog post here. Or check out the summary below.

THE NECROMANCER

The dead shall serve! The fan-favourite Necromancer joinsthe roster of playable classes alongside the Barbarian, Crusader, Demon Hunter, Monk, and Wizard. Reanimate corpses to create an army of the dead while inflicting curses and pestilence upon the enemies of Sanctuary.

PVP AND PVE UPDATES

CHALLENGE OF THE IMMORTAL: This new PvP mode is being added to the Cycle of Strife, the eternal war between the Immortals and the Shadows. After the Shadows win the Rite of Exile against the Immortal faction, they’ll face the top Immortals player in a 30 (Shadows) vs. 1 (Immortal) battle—an epic final fight for supremacy. The Immortal player will gain a host of awe-inspiring powers, essentially becoming a raid boss that the Shadows will have to band together to take down.

BATTLEGROUND LADDERS: Ladders are being added to the 8v8 Battleground PvP system, where players can fight for the top spot as they compete and measure their skills against each other. Various class balance changes and other impactful elements are being added to Battleground PvP as well.

SET ITEMS AND SET BONUSES: A new end-game gear system, Set items, is being added for secondary gear slots (hands, feet, neck, waist, and two rings). Players will loot Set items that confer unique bonuses if three and six pieces are worn together, allowing for even more customisation options to fit any playstyle.

THE HELLIQUARY: Players will now be able to challenge the Helliquary raid bosses with up to eight players, adding even more mayhem and coordination to these fights and greater rewards for those who triumph.

CONTROLLER SUPPORT: Players will be able to preview controller support for Diablo Immortal. Controller functionality will be limited to character navigation and combat, while all UI menus will still be controlled by the touch screen. This will give testers a taste of what controller gameplay for Immortal will be like before the game launches.

OPTIONAL IN-GAME PURCHASES: For the first time, optional in-game purchases will be enabled to gain valuable feedback from our community and to test theirfunctionality. Beta testers will be able to purchase the Empowered Battle
Pass, Eternal Orbs, and promotional bundles. In-game purchase options are never required for progression. All player progress will be wiped at the end of the Closed Beta, and any purchases will be converted to equivalent in-game credits
and available in Diablo Immortal at launch.

With Diablo Immortal kicking off its next testing phase in Australia just in time for the weekend, Blizzard steps us through the game’s massive PVE meets PVP endgame content called the Cycle of Strife.

Which we cover in-depth in our new preview.

The Cycle of Strife, goes back quite a bit to a character known as Daedessa the Builder, a master crafter that like others was in the business of protecting Sanctuary from Demonic Invasion. Except that she created the Eternal Crown, a powerful bit of headwear that was bestowed onto her son Kion who then used it created a group called the Immortals. Keepers of Sanctuary, protecting everyone from the Burning hells.



But, what with the whole giving a dude a powerful artifact deal and watching that powerful doodad corrupt him stuff, Daedessa also charged her daughter Akeba with keeping tabs on Kion. To make sure that it didn’t all go to his head – even though we’re talking about a crown. From that a new group was born called the Shadows, a secret group of watchers who would continuously test the Immortals.

Click Here For - Diablo Immortal’s Cycle of Strife Is All Out War Between Player Factions

Diablo Immortal is Blizzard's built-for-mobile entry in the action-RPG franchise and surprise, there's a Technical Alpha for the free-to-play title hitting Australia today. Yeah, surprise numero dos, it is free-to-play. And with a focus on story (the events take place between Diablo II and Diablo III) you wouldn't know it from playing it.

As per out hands-on.

With early access to the Technical Alpha, and once again rolling a Demon Hunter (natch), there’s just nothing quite like getting to experience an action-RPG from the get-go. To get a feel for the pacing, the early progression, the loot, the combat, the flow. The stats, the skills, the levelling. When it comes to an action-RPG like a Diablo, there are so many elements in play that getting a sense of it all piecemeal or a bit at a time is the ideal way to go.

But, there’s also the matter of presentation. And it’s this side of Immortal that hits you immediately, from the wonderful score to the overly dramatic voice acting (very reminiscent of Diablo III’s campaign) and the characters and stakes. There's a story here, and plenty of it - with its timeline sitting between Diablo II and III. So yeah, Deckard Cain is back, lovable old coot that he is. And so is the Town of Wortham -- on the account of it still standing. The driver, outside of slaying demons, is to find all the missing pieces of the shattered Worldstone and to stop Skarn, the Herald of Terror, from resurrecting Diablo.

Our Full Diablo Immortal Hands-On Preview