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Overwatch 2 & Diablo IV Delayed By Blizzard
Activision Blizard confirmed during its latest investor's call that both Diablo IV and Overwatch 2 will be released later than expected. Although it wasn't specifically noted when the two games will release, it's believed that Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV will now reportedly launch in 2023, according to reputable industry insiders.
It was recently reported that Overwatch 2 would launch in 2022, specifically sometime before the summer. The report noted that Blizzard prioritized the release of the game and locked-in all of its content so the team could begin polishing. Now, it seems plans may have changed, seeing as Blizzard has delayed the game out of its original expected time frame and possibly moved it to an entirely new year. Blizzard has been selective with the details it has publicly shared regarding Overwatch 2, so it's unclear what will happen moving forward.
Activision Blizzard confirmed during an earnings call (via Stephen Totilo) that Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV are both planned for a "later launch than originally envisaged." Blizzard's Mike Ybarra confirmed (via Jason Schreier) the delays were due to leadership changes on both games as Diablo IV's former director left the company in August following the Activision Blizzard lawsuit. Although Activision Blizzard did not give a new time frame, insider Tom Henderson reported that both games would now launch in 2023.
It's unclear when Blizzard will begin sharing more on these games as it sounds like they'll be taking an extensive amount of time to work on the two titles. Both Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV were expected to be major releases for the company next year, but now it seems like Activision will be limited to Call of Duty and mobile releases throughout the remainder of the year.
A previous rumor also suggested that Overwatch 2 would release in 2023, but it's unclear if this now aligns with the specifics in that report or just a coincidence. Activision also hasn't officially stated that Diablo IV and Overwatch 2 will release in 2023, but it's likely it will be confirmed as 2022 moves closer.
