Diablo 2: Resurrected is set to be a faithful recreation of the original Diablo 2 game, though there will be some slight changes here and there. One of the more controversial changes in Diablo 2: Resurrected comes with the Amazon character, who has gotten a new look that has upset some fans. Blizzard has now addressed the Diablo 2: Resurrected Amazon controversy, explaining why it made the decision to change the character's appearance in the remake.
The original design of the Amazon in Diablo 2 was heavily sexualized and has been criticized by many over the years. The developers took these viewpoints into consideration when it came to changing the Diablo 2: Resurrected Amazon class. In an interview with Axios, it was explained that the developers wanted to make sure that all of the Diablo 2: Resurrected characters looked 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 old World of Warcraft in-game art and promising to change McCree's name in Overwatch (as he was named after Blizzard employee Jesse McCree, who is part of the controversy), though the changes made to the Amazon class in Diablo 2: Resurrected were 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 in Diablo 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 and Diablo 2: Resurrected developer Vicarious Visions as 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 original Diablo 2 and 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 the Diablo 2 Trapsin bug that will reportedly be removed as part of a day one patch for Diablo 2: Resurrected when the game launches later this week.
Diablo 2: Resurrected is the first new Blizzard game since the lawsuit, so it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out come release day.
Diablo 2: Resurrected launches September 23 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.