Diablo III release date: Feb 1st, 2012?

[gothamhunter]

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/best-buy-thinks-diablo-3-is-coming-out-on-february-1-2012/

Best Buy apparently believes Diablo 3 isn't far off from launch in North America, as a Winnipeg, Canada-based Twitter user spotted a display for the game in a Rochester, Minnesota store showing a February 1 launch for the game alongside a countdown timer. Bizarrely, the tweet has since been pulled, but we snagged his image (addressed to former Joystiq previews editor Arthur Gies -- thanks Arthur!) and tracked down the Best Buy to confirm its existence.

A store employee politely assured Joystiq of the end cap's existence and noted the February 1 launch date, which will coincide with a midnight opening (at least at her location). We've reached out to Blizzard Entertainment for comment, but, well, this looks pretty legit.

Oh, and it also doesn't hurt that Best Buy's web store is showing a February 1 launch date for the game. In case you wanna pre-order it for launch or something, of course.

Update: UK retailer Gameplay is showing a February 3, 2012 release date for the game, adding more fuel to the fire. Thanks to Twitter user @JKeverne for the tip!

Sign looks pretty damn legit, and wouldn't be made for nothing. On a side-note, they spelled February wrong lmao.

edit: Best Buy has an official release date on their site now too:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Diablo+...150&skuId=1800081&st=diablo%203&lp=4&cp=1

 

[Grooveriding]

Saw this earlier on Reddit. It's a photoshop by some bastard unfortunately. Look closely at February, first of all, it's spelled wrong and if you look closely you can see it's offset from the rest of the text and the 'flash glare' is fake..

Unfortunately it's not true. No D3 until 2014 from the way things are going, lol.

 

[gothamhunter]

Saw this earlier on Reddit. It's a photoshop by some bastard unfortunately. Look closely at February, first of all, it's spelled wrong and if you look closely you can see it's offset from the rest of the text and the 'flash glare' is fake..

Unfortunately it's not true. No D3 until 2014 from the way things are going, lol.

Did you read any of the information?

Best Buy assured its existence, and release dates are popping up on websites...

 

[Bateluer]

Did you read any of the information?

Best Buy assured its existence, and release dates are popping up on websites...

Their poster still has February spelled wrong. Pretty big QA fail.

 

[gothamhunter]

Their poster still has February spelled wrong. Pretty big QA fail.

Agreed

 

[Dumac]

February?? But the beta has been lackluster thus far. It doesn't seem like they've tested all of the features they wanted to.

Although a game like D3 doesn't really need much testing honestly.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

This will have a single player, right?

Also, how does multiplayer work? Is it all co-op, do people run servers that they leave running 24/7, I never played any Diablos so zero clue.

 

[gothamhunter]

This will have a single player, right?

Also, how does multiplayer work? Is it all co-op, do people run servers that they leave running 24/7, I never played any Diablos so zero clue.

Better to just check their website or read the other Diablo3 thread here that's the basis for all of that information.

 

[Grooveriding]

Did you read any of the information?

Best Buy assured its existence, and release dates are popping up on websites...

At the time we were just discussing the pic without that link or the comment from a BB employee. Failed on actually clicking the link.

I still won't believe it until I hear from them, but hopefully this is true. I'd assume they'll have to announce it this coming week if it's accurate.

 

[IonusX]

Better to just check their website or read the other Diablo3 thread here that's the basis for all of that information.

this but as i understnad it.. no matter what u will still need an internet connection and an active credit card

 

[shortylickens]

I wouldn't doubt Best Buy wants pre-order money as early as possible. They are hurting badly.



Shit, think about how much cash Game Stop and Babbages rolled in with Duke Nukem Forever pre-orders!

 

[dfuze]

I wouldn't doubt Best Buy wants pre-order money as early as possible. They are hurting badly.



Shit, think about how much cash Game Stop and Babbages rolled in with Duke Nukem Forever pre-orders!

I'm sure companies have to hold that money in an escrow type account, but wonder how much money they make on the interest from it since the amounts can be staggering.

 

[BathroomFeeling]

...no matter what u will still need an internet connection and an active credit card

Active internet connection yes, credit card no.

 

[Zenoth]

I'd be very surprised if DIII is released in February... but who knows for sure, maybe it will. I might wait before buying it though, ME3 comes out in March and I don't want an addiction in the form of DIII to get in the way.

 

[shortylickens]

I hope not. I dont wanna fail any classes. Almost got my associates.

 

[darkxshade]

It's already Jan 8, Feb 1st is about 3 weeks away... has Blizzard ever provided release dates in such short notice? They haven't even officially confirmed this so it may well be shorter than 3 weeks.

 

[Grooveriding]

A Blizzard employee tweeted that this is bogus

https://twitter.com/#!/Bashiok/status/155773490904051712
https://twitter.com/#!/Bashiok/status/155771778038382593

 

[drebo]

A Blizzard employee tweeted that this is bogus

https://twitter.com/#!/Bashiok/status/155773490904051712
https://twitter.com/#!/Bashiok/status/155771778038382593

Neither of those tweets is an explicit denial. Nor was the one where he said "The story is lol".

 

[DeathReborn]

I've been seeing a few times now Q4 2012 for D3, which given that it's Blizzard sounds about right. Not sure how Activision feel about not being able to rake in more cash though.

 

[Texashiker]

Less then a month to release, and for some reason best buy is the only place talking about it?

 

[Anubis]

I've been seeing a few times now Q4 2012 for D3, which given that it's Blizzard sounds about right. Not sure how Activision feel about not being able to rake in more cash though.

it wont be that late, they actually said they were still planning a Q1 2012 release back at blizzcon

id expect it at the end of March

 

[Udgnim]

Blizzard has never kept a release date "secret"

what they have done is never provide a release date until they felt a game was ready and they have always announced a release date month's ahead of the actual date

 

[drebo]

Less then a month to release, and for some reason best buy is the only place talking about it?

They're not the only place talking about it. Several places have confirmed that they've been told 2/1/2012.

 

[zerocool84]

That seems waaaay too soon.

 

[Subyman]

The text in the image that says "Midnight Release" is crooked compared to the yellow label. Strange signage to have a misspelling and uneven type.

Feb doesn't seem unreasonable though.