Diablo II: Resurrected won’t have full ultrawide, but some modding will ‘be possible’

Recently, Blizzard published an update for Diablo II: Resurrected, addressing some concerns and offering more info on the game’s features. Diablo‘s global community development lead, Adam Fletcher, dropped a rather lengthy note on the Blizzard forums, one that caused a bit of a stir. At least, it created a stir for those who currently own an ultrawide monitor. Due to the fact that this is a remaster of a fairly old game, Diablo II: Resurrected won’t support full ultrawide monitors. Those who own such wide boys will have options, but not completely at 21:9. Fletcher also addressed the recent issue with the loss of TCP IP. While, no, Blizzard still won’t have it in Diablo II: Resurrected, some modding “will still be possible.”

The reason for the lack of 21:9 ultrawide? It will literally break the game. According to Fletcher, those who ran an ultrawide during the Technical Alpha had AI that “failed to sense the player and trigger attacks.” Due to how much in-game distance the monitor could cover, “monitors were able to pull many more monsters into battle at a range limit beyond the original game’s intention.” Players with ultrawide monitors could also attack enemies beyond the regular screen space, and they would basically stand still and take it. To combat this, Blizzard will set ultrawide support up to 19:9 and use a vignette on both sides of the screen.

Frankly, it’s not a bad compromise. Although users with ultrawide monitors will have to settle with 19:9 in Diablo II: Resurrected, it’s far better than sticking to a smaller aspect ratio with black bars. The original Diablo II still runs at 800p with obnoxious black bars on either side. That’s how I played the game when I did a revisit of it earlier in the year.

Diablo II: Resurrected will support some modding

PC games that are decades old tend to freak out a little when pushed beyond their screen space limit. According to PCI’s resident cat, Tim McDonald, older games like Fallout 1 or 2 have broken when players try to stretch out the screen space farther than what it’s programming was ever meant to allow. These games were designed with those clunky 4:3 CRT monitors in mind. Ultrawide monitors must be like cosmic space magic to them.

Before talking ultrawide, Fletcher also commented on the removal of TCP IP. Blizzard, at one point, promised that the game would include TCP IP support, like the original version before it. However, back in August it quietly removed the feature, sparking some controversy from fans. The multiplayer option, which allowed for connection via LAN, won’t be in the game, which likely meant that mods were no longer possible. Fletcher, though, wrote that you will be able to mod to an extent. Modding in Diablo II: Resurrected will be limited, allowing players to “modify specific files which include adjusting values of skills, items, and more.” He does point out that if you really want to play modded Diablo II, the original is there for you. How nice.

Diablo II: Resurrected will be available starting September 23.

Activision Blizzard is currently dealing with a lawsuit alleging harassment and discrimination. The Diablo IV director has left the company, as well as Blizzard President J. Allen Brack.