It seems that Blizzard is, for the first time that I can ever remember, launching an incomplete game to hit their target release date. Yesterday Blizzard announced that Diablo 3 would be launching without the PvP Arena system because it is not “living up to our standards“. PvP will then be patched into the game once its been completed.
This is quite a turn-around for Blizzard; who has been known to delay games for months, even years, just to make sure that every part of the game is in near perfect condition. Blizzard has been well known for stating time and time again that their games ‘will be ready when they’re ready‘; often not even providing a target release window until a few months before the actual release.
Since merging with Activision, Blizzard now has more people to answer to then just their fans; they must answer to investors, who in general, could care less if the game isn’t 100% ready for release. Blizzard has also done other things out-of-character since the merge such as: becoming more aggressive with WoW, expanding the item-shop, adding fees for server transfers, name-changes, faction changes, race changes and appearance changes.
Quite frankly, I don’t think Blizzard would have ever launched an incomplete game if they remained independent. This definitively marks a turning point in Blizzard’s history.
I think the fans would be more upset than even Activision Blizzard Inc or Vivendi if D3 would be postponed again. I really think at least one of the main reasons for this decision is to avoid fan backlash too, especially with Annual Pass subscribers kinda starting to get itchy too.
Also, delaying PvP makes sense… very few people will notice its absence in the first few months. Everyone will be busy finishing the game on all levels, farming, getting skills etc.
Still, Activision ruins game studios.
Personally, I think most studios should remain independent and have their games contracted out to publishers. It tarnishes the quality (it’s arguable for both sides of the pros & cons) of games when a studio is a subsidiary of a larger company (Bioware, EA for example).
It’s odd after all of the production time and release delays for them to come out and say the game won’t even be fully complete on release.
I agree, Blizz claims forever “ready when its done” then cuts a major feature. One that has been highlighted at the previous two BlizzCons. Big curveball.
They can cut PVP completely out of Diablo 3 as far as I’m concerned. I never really plan on doing PvP in D3 anyway, so I’m not affected by this at all.