Blizzard to offer compensation, refunds for poor service of Diablo 3

Blizzard Entertainment has finally given in to growing demands by consumers for refunds and compensation over its poor data-server management and service for Diablo 3.

It will fully pay back 55,000 won to unsatisfied users who digitally downloaded Diablo 3 via the Battle.net account, or those who purchased the packaged game after 5 a.m. on June 21, according to Blizzard’s Diablo 3 website.

Players whose game level is below 40 can also apply for a refund, it noted.

Blizzard will begin accepting refund applications online between 9 a.m. on June 25 and midnight on July 3.

It will further post notifications on June 25 on the Diablo 3 home page, the company said.

The U.S. gaming company is currently under investigation by Korea’s Fair Trade Commission, the anti-trust watchdog, following complaints from users.

The FTC is expected next month to come up with measures to alleviate consumer dissatisfaction and decide whether Blizzard violated any laws.

Diablo 3 was released in May amid much fanfare, but caused frustration among consumers for log-in failures and slow connections.

As further redress, Blizzard will hand out tickets to play StarCraft 2, it said on the Diablo 3 website.

By Park Hyong-ki (hkp@heraldcorp.com)