After much teasing and a supposed leak, Blizzard finally unveiled the highly anticipated Diablo 3 for the Nintendo Switch. The beloved dungeon crawler marks the first time in 15 years that a Blizzard Entertainment IP was seen on a Nintendo system of any kind (a collection of Game Boy Advance games was relicensed back in 2003). Despite the title having been released six years ago, and now playable on most major platforms, the level of anticipation for a Switch port speaks to both the longstanding appeal of the Diablo franchise as well as the perpetual demand of fans for the optimal handheld-console hybrid experience.
It’s fairly evident that to celebrate the rebirth of the two companies’ partnership, Blizzard went all out on this port; this is undoubtedly the definitive version of the game. Bundled with the core game are the two DLC expansion packs, Reaper of Souls and Rise of the Necromancer, along with a plethora of crossover Nintendo-exclusive items that should appeal to gamers everywhere. Specifically, fans can look forward to obtaining a Cucco pet, a Triforce themed portrait, wings from Majora’s Mask, and best of all, a cosmetic transmogrification set that allows players to look exactly like the King of the Gerudo himself, Ganondorf.
Perhaps the best adaptation of the port is the capabilities for 4-player cooperative play. With local wireless, four players can dungeon crawl through the Sanctuary with ease and on the go, a level of mobility that was previously unattainable. Diablo 3 for the Nintendo Switch offers remote play as well, for those that want a wider range of co-op. However, remote play will require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
Impressively, Diablo 3: Eternal Edition will run in 60fps for both docked and handheld mode, as well as support multiple controller options for even more added versatility. Blizzard has yet to announce a release date, but it will launch some time this year.