Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV Not Expected for 2021

Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV, two of Blizzard Entertainment's biggest upcoming games, are not expected to release in 2021. This information is taken from Activision Blizzard's most recent earnings call that took place Thursday.

Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4 Not Expected for 2021

During Thursday's earnings call, Activision Blizzard stated that neither Overwatch 2 or Diablo IV are expected to be included in the company's 2021 financials. This suggests that Blizzard anticipates a 2022 release for either game at the earliest. Both games were announced at 2019's BlizzCon event.

This news will leave a sour taste in the mouths of fans of both games. Both franchises have dedicated player bases that have been eagerly anticipating their releases. Not only will they not be getting these games this year, but no expectations for 2022 have been revealed either.

Overwatch 2 is the sequel to the acclaimed tactical hero shooter Overwatch. Overwatch has quickly amassed one of the largest player bases in gaming and developed into a premier esports title. The 2021 Overwatch League is set to begin in April and many thought that Overwatch 2's release would coincide with the start of the new season.

Overwatch 2 will take an interesting approach to sequels, as it will conjoin with the first Overwatch rather than be an entirely separate game. Rather than fazing out Overwatch, Blizzard intends for its first game to eventually be absorbed into Overwatch 2. This will allow owners of both Overwatch and Overwatch 2 to play with one another.

Diablo IV will be the newest entrant to the critically acclaimed hack-and-slash RPG franchise. It will be the first Diablo game since 2012's Diablo III. Diablo IV will retain the series' core gameplay while adding a host of new features, including player vs. player interactions.

The most notable new feature in Diablo IV is the inclusion of an open world. The Diablo games are typically categorized as dungeon crawlers where players navigate a closed procedurally generated map. An open-world format brings the franchise to the modern era of gaming and offers new opportunities for gameplay and content in Diablo IV.

It is unlikely that either Overwatch 2 or Diablo IV release in 2021. A remote edition of BlizzCon is scheduled for Feb. 19 that will possibly provide more closure on the upcoming games.