Bringing Diablo 4 to the Nintendo Switch 2 would be a win for Blizzard, but the real hurdle isn’t hardware-related. Diablo series lead Rod Fergusson acknowledges that launching a live service title on the original Switch was “challenging,” yet remains optimistic about the new system’s future potential.

After Nintendo officially unveiled the Switch 2, a flood of third-party developers announced their commitment to support the console following its June 5 launch. Thanks to the upgraded hardware, the new hybrid device will be capable of running experiences previously out of reach for the original Switch—making it a golden opportunity to tap into a broader player base. Blizzard, naturally, is enthusiastic about this, especially when it comes to bringing ambitious titles like Diablo IV to the system. But according to the head of the franchise, there’s another crucial factor at play.

Rod Fergusson, the man at the helm of the entire Diablo saga, sat down for a YouTube interview on Danny Peña’s channel to chat about topics including Season 8 of Diablo IV and Blizzard’s forward-looking strategies. When asked about a potential Switch 2 version of the game, he admitted to having mixed emotions: “I think there’s an opportunity there, for sure. I mean, Diablo III and Diablo II: Resurrected are already on Nintendo Switch and, with backwards compatibility, they’ll also be playable on Nintendo Switch 2. It’s great that the Nintendo Switch 2 has the power to run a game like Diablo 4, so that’s something to keep in mind, for sure.”

He went on to clarify his position: “I think the challenge isn’t so much with the hardware, but how… You know, games as a service on Nintendo Switch has been a bit of a challenge in the past and I’m hopeful that when they launch [the console] this June and as we look to the future, that it’ll become easier and easier to bring a game as a service to that platform.”

It’s true that the original Switch did offer a handful of GaaS (Games as a Service) experiences and online-centric titles, but Blizzard is still playing it safe. The company has yet to fully commit to bringing Diablo IV to the new device, and it appears that more internal assessment will be needed before a final decision is made about long-term support.

Season 8 Marks a New Era for Diablo IV

Meanwhile, Blizzard’s development teams are pushing ahead with the content for Diablo IV Season 8. The studio views this next chapter as a pivotal moment for its flagship action RPG. On one hand, the new seasonal structure presents an opportunity to introduce fresh content and refine existing systems. On the other, developers believe they’ve struck “a good middle ground” in terms of balance—justifying a spike in overall difficulty to better challenge players moving forward.

Source: 3djuegos