With BlizzConline (the online version of BlizzCon) coming in just a few weeks, players might be anticipating release timelines for a few of Blizzard's upcoming titles like Overwatch 2 or Diablo IV. In an earnings call today, information was relayed that may not be altogether surprising, but might still disappoint players. While I don't think anyone was expecting a Diablo IV launch this year, Overwatch 2 is another matter entirely, and it doesn't look like that's on deck to launch this year either.

During earnings call, Activision Blizzard said it does not expect Overwatch 2 or Diablo 4 to launch in 2021. pic.twitter.com/C2BmDP53JA

— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) February 4, 2021

Diablo IV looked great when we saw it at BlizzCon over a year ago, but it clearly has a long road to release and expectations have been fairly clear on it taking quite a while in the bowels of hell marinating until it's ready to go. I don't think many of us expected to see it this year, though Diablo Immortal may prove a worthwhile snack for those seeking a taste of damnation and demons. Of course, plenty of folks are looking for a core Diablo experience outside of the mobile sphere, but hopefully we do have a chance to learn more about what's coming in terms of systems and mechanics for Diablo IV at this year's digital BlizzCon event.

Overwatch 2 may be a different story, depending on your perspective. While the perils of Covid-19 have been pervasive and ubiquitous across the world and the industry, Overwatch 2 looked in a much more "release-ready" form at the last BlizzCon, showcasing co-op missions and a new PVP mode. We know that the shift for many companies to work from home models brings with it many challenges that impact game development that are not always obvious. BlizzConline will be an opportunity to let players know what's happening with Overwatch 2, since there's no expectation of a release this year. While that may come as a shock to some, I'm hoping that Overwatch will continue to get plenty of updates as development continues on the sequel.

We got to play, discuss, and dive deep into both Diablo IV and Overwatch 2 for a massive Blizzard cover story a while back, which you can dig into here. BlizzConline is set to show off all things Blizzard on February 19-20.

As the landscape of technology changes to give gamers, creators, critics, and companies more and more ways to interact with each other, the conversion around "overhyping" continues to evolve. From a studio's consumer-facing front to the media's takes on games as they come out, the topic of "too much hype too soon" is an important conversation to have. Moon Studios' CEO and Ori game director Thomas Malher added to this discussion recently, calling out other game companies for misrepresenting their properties ahead of launch. 

The director took to the gaming forum Resetera to air out a lengthy reflection regarding the hype train, beginning with Peter Molyneux and how he handled the games under his care, then progressing further down the rabbit hole with games like No Man's Sky and Cyberpunk 2077. 

"It all started with Molyneux," began his lengthy forum post.  "He was the master of 'Instead of telling you what my product is, let me just go wild with what I think it could be and get you all excited!' - And that was fine until you actually put your money down and then the game was nothing like what Peter was hyping it up to be." He likened the "hype" around games Molyneux was involved with to be tied to an "Uncle Pete" relationship he had with the community. 

The director's discussion surrounding this general cycle centers on "lies and deception," saying that a big problem in the gaming industry is hyping up features that don't exist or misleading what games will offer on day one. To him, this puts developers like himself in a precarious situation because the excitement drudged up through misrepresentation often takes precedence with the ongoing talk of what's the latest and greatest game to come out next. 

To read the full thread, you can read his thoughts in their entirety right here. Mahler continues by discussing the promises made about No Man’s Sky prior to its release, as well the unhealthy expectations surrounding Cyberpunk 2077. While some of what he says is on the sensational side – which he acknowledges by saying "I know this whole thread might come off as me sounding bitter" – the root of the conversation is important. Prior to a game’s release, people only see what the companies present. Sometimes those looks represent works-in-progress that are subject to change, but other times, certain facts are being deliberately concealed.  With Cyberpunk 2077, only PC codes were offered for the optimal experience and previous "this-gen" trailers were used not using accurate gameplay. The problem with that is that this is all the public saw and all the media saw, which meant that was all we could present. 

With the rise of content creators and YouTubers also becoming a vital part of the marketing process as a new way to amplify a game’s message, the increasingly blurry line between traditional coverage and sponsored content also plays a role in how companies generate excitement for upcoming games. 

The Ori director ended his note saying, "at the end of the day, gamers and journalists don't seem to mind much," because there will always be those who say that they enjoy a game regardless of the state it releases in, seemingly excusing any misleading practices that proceeded a title's launch.

To read the full thread, you can read his thoughts in their entirety right here. 

[Source: Resetera via GameIndustry.biz]