2 words: Local play. Over the years, console games have gone more and more towards online play. While this is all well and good, and is wildly successful for PC gamers, multiplayer for console gamers started on the couch. That’s one thing I’ll give to the Halo and Call of Duty series on consoles. Despite the yearly sequel grind and over all lack of innovation, they make sure not to leave out the family and friends. One of the main features Blizzard’s Chris Metzen talked about at the Playstation 2013 event was local play. “One couch to rule them all,” he called it. I remember back in the day, I used to play Diablo II on Battle.net and it was pretty cool. I even hooked up a LAN game a few times with my siblings, but always wished we could sit down in front of the TV and play together. Thanks to Blizzard, it looks like we’ll be able too, with out requiring an internet connection. That’s awesome.
The Playstation 3 version of Diablo III will debut this year at PAX East in Boston, Ma. The retail version of Diablo III for Playstation 3 and Playstation 4 will feature all the updates and levels from the PC version. Blizzard announced, “Diablo III for the PS3™/PS4™ will be based on the core PC game and feature all the latest updates, including Paragon levels, the Infernal Machine event, Monster Power, Brawling, and more. This version is also being tailored with customized controls, a new user interface, and a dynamic camera perspective to provide an awesome Diablo III experience for PlayStation gamers.”
“Players will be able to wage war against the Burning Hells on their own in single-player games as well as team up and destroy countless demons with their fellow Nephalem in multiplayer games. For multiplayer, players will have the option to choose between four-player online (complete with matchmaking) and four-player local co-op modes for their couch-based warfare.”
Check out these official Diablo 3 screenshots running on Playstation 3:
One thing that many players are curious about is whether Diablo III on PS3 and PS4 will have the auction house. Details like that should come as the months go by.
This game seems to perfect for the Wii U Gamepad, hopefully Blizzard decides to go that route as well.