Animated projects based on Diablo and Overwatch are in the works

Shawn Knight

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The big picture: Developers are increasingly turning to their existing catalog of intellectual property for monetization purposes. It's cheaper than creating new characters, plus it gives fans the opportunity to dive deeper into established storylines.

Netflix’s long-rumored animated series based on the popular Diablo franchise appears to be a lock.

Nick van Dyk, president of Activision-Blizzard Studios, notes on his LinkedIn profile that he is the executive producer of Diablo, a TV adaptation of the franchise that is rendered in anime style. The show is currently in pre-production and will be distributed worldwide through Netflix, he added.

A premiere date wasn’t mentioned although given its pre-production status, it could still be a ways out. We also know that Blizzard is working on Diablo IV which it showed for the first time at BlizzCon 2019 back in November. That project is likely a ways out, too – perhaps the two will be timed for a simultaneous launch?

The executive also revealed that, along with his creative partner, he developed and sold an animated series based on Blizzard’s Overwatch franchise.

The fate of the Overwatch series seems far less uncertain as van Dyk didn’t say who it was sold to or what the new owner is planning to do with it.

Blizzard wouldn’t be the first developer to turn to steaming to monetize IP from its catalog. Konami teamed with Netflix a few years back to develop an animated series based on the Castlevania franchise. Netflix last month also confirmed rumors that an anime film based on The Witcher is in the works.

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Aren't they a bit late with this, Blizzard has been falling hard 2019 and already in this year isn't exactly making positive waves, Diablo 3 was just terrible as a Diablo game while it as a game wasn't bad it wasn't great either but shared little in common with 1 or 2 other than in name.

Honestly after being at Blizzcon 2019, seeing the great trailer, and then being let down actually playing the game that was more shallow than D3 in mechanics Im not exactly sure if they have the fans to matter as much.

Most of the actual fans moved onto Path of Exile because it shared more in common with d1+2 despite some of its flaws and after many years I would say the next 2.0 version may finally out do d1+2. Blizzard almost feels afraid to tackle an adult serious game at this point without turning stuff into child's humor.
 
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