Blizzard recently announced that Diablo II: Resurrected will feature cross-progression, an innovative feature that allows gamers to transfer their save data to multiple consoles or PCs and continue their campaign right where they left off. However, while cross-progression is great, many gamers hoped to see cross-platform play implemented into the remaster.
Online multiplayer has been at the core of Diablo II since its creation. Blizzard built the game with multiplayer in mind, so the absence of crossplay is disappointing. Although fans will still be able to play online, gamers won't be able to scour the land of Sanctuary with friends who are playing on different platforms. With crossplay becoming more common on next-gen consoles, it seems like Blizzard is missing a massive opportunity by leaving it out.
There's nothing worse than waiting to join an online lobby only to find out none are available. Although rare, playerless lobbies are not unheard of. Gamers tend to move on to new games once older titles start losing their flare, but crossplay widens the pool of players, diminishing playerless lobbies and allowing gamers to join with friends across several platforms.
The console wars divide gamers into subsections depending on their console preference. Games like Diablo II: Resurrected are best when people play them with real-life companions rather than strangers, but it's common for a group of friends to be split between two or more consoles. This makes it difficult, if not impossible, to enjoy online titles together. Crossplay allows friend groups to join each other's online party regardless of everyone's preferred hardware. One friend could play on PC, while another plays on an Xbox Series X, and another joins from their PlayStation 5. Without it, some friend groups will be forced to play through Diablo II: Resurrected with strangers, lessening the online experience.
However, although many would love to see crossplay in Diablo II: Resurrected, it's much easier said than done. Making a game mesh with multiple platforms while combining their online player base is no simple task, and it often poses tons of technical issues. For one, unlike controllers, computer mouses give players freer rein over their character. Players can click on specific areas to move or use specific abilities or spells.
Controllers are less precise, causing Blizzard to establish a default place to drop abilities and spells for console players. The subtle difference between controllers, computer mouses and even the Nintendo Switch's Joy-Cons pose several problems gamers might not be aware of, which would make crossplay difficult to pull off in Diablo II: Resurrected.
Although Diablo II: Resurrected won't feature crossplay upon launch, it isn't entirely out of the question. Blizzard is still evaluating crossplay and hopes to implement it some time after release. It's possible Blizzard doesn't want to rush the feature out before it's properly polished. As stated before, crossplay can pose some problems that take time to iron out. Hopefully, Blizzard will work everything out and bring crossplay to Diablo II: Resurrected sooner rather than later.