Global Impact and Implications of Diablo 2: Resurrected's Release in China for Gamers Across the Globe
The Chinese market is about to witness the launch of Diablo 2: Resurrected, a remastered version of the classic game, at the ChinaJoy 2025 entertainment expo. Blizzard President Johanna Faries announced the upcoming launch on LinkedIn, marking an exciting development for Diablo fans in China.
The Chinese version of Diablo 2: Resurrected offers tiered launch packages for purchase, catering to different player preferences. The standard pack, priced at 168 Yuan (approximately $23 USD), includes Diablo 2: Resurrected, a 30% boost to experience and magic find for 30 days. The deluxe pack, costing 278 Yuan (about $40 USD), offers the same benefits as the standard pack, along with 9 middling items and a few low runes. The ultimate pack, priced at 458 Yuan (approximately $63 USD), includes the most content, such as a new set called "Glory of the Warlord." This set adds a level 10 Meditation aura, +1 to all skills, 15% life leech, and some extra protection stats.
However, the Chinese version of Diablo 2: Resurrected differs significantly from the global version by including pay-to-win mechanics such as exclusive early-game advantages and additional features like an extra stash tab. Chinese players who pre-order the deluxe or ultimate editions gain two Stone of Jordan (SoJ) rings immediately, which are highly valuable and rare items in the game. They also receive a 30% boost to experience gain and gold acquisition lasting for 30 days, extra stash tabs beyond what the global version offers, and unique, powerful runes useful for early-level runewords.
In contrast, the global version of Diablo 2: Resurrected does not include such pay-to-win pre-order bonuses and sticks closer to the classic gameplay without giving monetary advantage to early paying players. The Chinese version is tailored due to local censorship laws, which affect content like gore and blood, and is published through NetEase in China rather than Blizzard directly, making it incompatible with the standard global multiplayer realms.
The Chinese launch of Diablo 2: Resurrected does not affect the game for players outside of China. Meanwhile, the developers are still working on Diablo 2: Resurrected, which can be seen as good news for players worldwide. The launch in China may be a sign of more intriguing developments for the game's future for players around the world.
Interestingly, Diablo 4 is expected to launch "soon" in China as well. The Chinese version of Diablo 2: Resurrected is not expected to be playable with the standard version of Diablo 2: Resurrected, but players in China can purchase up to three more stash tabs, providing a total of four more stash tabs compared to the rest of the world. Chinese pre-orders of Diablo 2: Resurrected receive an extra free stash tab.
Blizzard's Diablo team is working with major game publisher NetEase for the Chinese market launch of Diablo 2: Resurrected. Johanna Faries shared a teaser trailer for the Chinese market of Diablo 2: Resurrected, further fuelling excitement among Diablo fans in China. The launch of Diablo 2: Resurrected in China presents a more monetized and restricted variant to comply with regulations and market strategies, whereas the global edition focuses on preserving the original game experience without explicit pay-to-win features or the same content alterations.
The Chinese market's Diablo 2: Resurrected edition presents an array of acclaimed gadgets, such as the additional stash tabs, exclusive to the region to enhance the gaming experience. The upcoming release of Diablo 4 is set to continue the trend of technological advancements in PC gaming, following the launch of Diablo 2: Resurrected. Meanwhile, Xbox players eagerly await the arrival of more intriguing gaming updates from the Diablo franchise.
