Diablo 2: Resurrectedis set to be a faithful recreation of the originalDiablo 2game, though there will be some slight changes here and there. One of the more controversial changes inDiablo 2: Resurrectedcomes with the Amazon character, who has gotten a new look that has upset some fans. Blizzard has now addressed theDiablo 2: ResurrectedAmazon controversy, explaining why it made the decision to change the character’s appearance in the remake.
The original design of the Amazon inDiablo 2was heavily sexualized and has been criticized by many over the years. The developers took these viewpoints into consideration when it came to changing theDiablo 2: ResurrectedAmazon class. In an interview with Axios, it was explained that the developers wanted to make sure thatall of theDiablo 2: Resurrectedcharacterslooked like their role as opposed to people who “rolled out of a nightclub.”
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There is an especially big spotlight on the sexualization of female characters in Blizzard games thanks to the ongoing lawsuit between Activision Blizzard and the state of California. The lawsuit has accused Blizzard of gender discrimination and sexual harassment. Blizzard has responded to the lawsuit by censoring oldWorld of Warcraftin-game art and promising to change McCree’s name inOverwatch(as he was named after Blizzard employee Jesse McCree, who is part of the controversy), though the changes made to theAmazon class inDiablo 2: Resurrectedwere done well before the lawsuit situation came to light.
There are some fans who are upset about Blizzard’s decision to change the Amazon’s look inDiablo 2: Resurrected, and there are others who would’ve been upset had the character’s original portrayal stayed in the game. Ultimately, it was the decision of Blizzard andDiablo 2: Resurrecteddeveloper Vicarious Visionsas to how they wanted the Amazon class to be portrayed in the new game, and it’s not like it will have any impact on gameplay.
Besides this change, Blizzard otherwise seems to be sticking close to the originalDiablo 2and presenting a game that’s faithful to the original. Some of the changes that have been made mainly focus on bugs and other lingering issues, like theDiablo 2Trapsin bugthat will reportedly be removed as part of a day one patch forDiablo 2: Resurrectedwhen the game launches later this week.
Diablo 2: Resurrectedis thefirst new Blizzard game since the lawsuit, so it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out come release day.
Diablo 2: Resurrectedlaunches September 23 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
