7 weird things you may not have known the Diablo franchise


While I am a huge fan of the Diablo franchise, I find myself grappling with my love for the game against the backdrop of Blizzard’s well-documented and tumultuous history. However, I couldn’t resist picking up a copy of Jason Schreier’s latest book, which chronicles the company’s evolution from its founding by three unassuming university graduates to its current status as a subsidiary of Microsoft.

Many readers may dive into the book for its more controversial content, but I was delighted to uncover fascinating nuggets of information about the Diablo franchise—details I had either never encountered or had only skimmed over on a Diablo Wiki page. Here are seven of the most interesting things I learned about Diablo’s history.

1. Diablo was originally turn-based

The Butcher in Diablo 1

Fresh meat! (Image credit: Jennifer Young – Windows Central)

David Brevik, the creator of Diablo, initially envisioned it as a turn-based RPG inspired by games like X-COM. You can actually read the full PDF of the Diablo pitch online.

After showing the concept to Blizzard, they agreed to support it—but only if two key changes were made. The game needed to be multiplayer, and, like Warcraft, the gameplay had to unfold in real-time. Though Brevik was initially horrified by the idea, he eventually admitted that it “was the right call” after developing a prototype.

2. One of the most memorable characters was the result of a bug

Image of Deckard Cain discussing Wirt in Diablo

You meet Wirt in Diablo, and later use his leg in Diablo 2 (Image credit: Dark Lore Dash / Youtube)

One of the most iconic characters in Diablo and Diablo 2, Wirt, became famous for his wooden leg, which is even used to access the game’s hidden cow level. This wooden leg wasn’t part of the original design—it was added by artist Eric Flannum out of frustration when a bug caused Wirt to limp. “I just ripped his leg off and put in a peg leg,” Flannum recounts in Jason Schreier’s book.

3. Diablo 2 development took its toll on the creator

Cow Level

Diablo 2 was so successful it’s shadow loomed over Diablo 3 development (Image credit: Youtube)

While Diablo 2 solidified David Brevik’s place in gaming history, the game’s development came at a high personal cost. The intense work schedule ended his marriage and strained his relationship with his daughters. “For me to be part of that team and recognized as the leader is really special, but it was extremely costly,” Brevik reflected, underscoring the sacrifices behind the success.

4. “Starblo”— Diablo in Space?



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