Back on February 9, Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime said during a Q4 2010 Results conference call that more details surrounding a Diablo 3 Beta would likely be revealed during the next conference call. If all goes according as planned, eager fans may know more about an early glimpse into the highly-anticipated action-RPG game in just a matter of hours.
"Development continues to go well, and we’re very excited about the game," he said back in February. "Our most recent public showcase for Diablo III was at the G-Star show in Korea, where demo stations attracted huge lines of players. I’m looking forward to sharing some more news about the game and our upcoming beta on the next call."
The time has now come, and fans interested in getting the scoop should turn on their listening ears today at 1:30 pm Pacific Time (4:30 pm Eastern Time) during the Activision Blizzard First Quarter 2011 Financial Results conference call. Based on his track history with the StarCraft 2 beta, Morhaime is expected to reveal an approximate or an official confirmed date for the beta's launch-- possibly eight days away from today.
Just recently Diablo 3 game director Jay Wilson said that the team was currently in crunch mode. "That's when the magic happens," he said, indicating that fans may finally see the game in their hands by the end of the year or Q1 2012. It could also mean that the team is ready to unleash the game's current state as a closed beta to test the online multiplayer component.
Still, right now this is all speculation until we hear the actual announcement in a few hours. Those interested in listening to the call can tune in to the webcast right here. We'll update this article with whatever the company reveals. Keep your fingers crossed, though.
UPDATE: Mike Morhaime just announced during the conference call that Blizzard is shooting to release a public beta of Diablo 3 in Q3 2011. As seen in the image above, the game is already undergoing company-wide internal testing, but so far Blizzard is unwilling to provide an actual launch window. If everything progresses smoothly, then there's a possibility Diablo 3 will launch late this year.
Also during the call, Morhaime stated that tickets for BlizzCon 2011 will go on sale later this month, and like last year, the show will be available to view online and via DirecTV. He also said the StarCraft 2 team will showcase Heart of the Swarm to the press later this month too, so expect to see previews and hands-on videos soon.
