Blizzard announces May 15 release of Diablo 3

Blizzard Entertainment announced Sunday that its global release of the firm’s popular action role-playing online game, Diablo 3, will take place on May 15.

Mike Morhaime, chief executive and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment, told local media that he felt Korea’s strong response following the announcement of Diablo 3 release date and that it is in the final development stage for better game play and language customization.

However, the company decided to leave out the cash auction house function from the Korean server until it receives authorization from the state Game Rating Board. The cash auction house function enables game players to sell and buy game items using cash -- a function which may have prevented it from releasing the online game in the country in May.

Reservations for Diablo 3, available in two different versions -- DVD and digital -- can be made on the company’s website.

In the meantime, questions surrounding the launch of a console game version of the newest Diablo still remain to be answered.

Jay Wilson, game director for Diablo 3, told reporters at game trade show G-Star in Busan last November that the firm was in the process of servicing a console game version of Diablo 3 through the establishment of an internal group at Blizzard.

Stating that the group includes a lead designer and a lead programmer, the company planned to put more effort into the development with the finalization of Diablo 3’s launch, according to Wilson.

By Cho Ji-hyun (sharon@heraldcorp.com)