Our new Diablo III community site has gone live! This will be your sanctuary for all the latest developments from New Tristram and beyond, featuring community forums and regular blog updates.[more] Just like this site, you can post comments and share Diablo III news items via Twitter, Facebook, and other popular social media outlets. You'll want to check out the new Diablo III news feed regularly. We’ll use it to share everything about Diablo III and to highlight recent community activity, including your most entertaining videos, art, comics, fansites, and much more.

We hope you head over and get acquainted with the new site, and return often. We've got a lot in store leading up to the release of Diablo III, including the launch of the Game Guide section featuring lore, characters, classes, maps, and more. Additionally, you’ll see us on the new Diablo III forums. We look forward to sharing and discussing all the latest Diablo III news, content, and updates with you for a long time to come.

Blog comments, forum posting, and profile management are only available to those with an active StarCraft II, World of Warcraft, or Diablo III beta license.

Countless hours of consulting the ancient prophecies and poring over dusty tomes have resulted in the unearthing of new information about Diablo III. The upcoming Diablo III beta test will introduce a treasure trove of exciting new features, including a new Auction House that will provide a powerful new way for your characters to acquire the implements of war. Prepare yourselves!

Read on to learn more about the upcoming Diablo III beta and Auction House.

In Diablo III, your characters will wield their various skills to devastating effect. [more]But once you add a runestone to a skill, it’ll transform and become even more powerful. Runestones can alter nearly everything about a skill -- the way it looks, how many enemies it hits, and what happens to those unfortunate enough to be caught in its path.

In our newest systems article, we show off several examples of just how much runestones will change the game for each character class.

In Diablo III, going it alone is a valid option... but it's not always the safest one. Fortunately, there are others in Sanctuary willing to risk life and limb to strike out at the nightmares sweeping the land. Head over to our new followers page to meet three such companions: Kormac the Templar, Lyndon the Scoundrel, and Eirena the Enchantress. While you represent Sanctuary’s greatest hope for salvation, it never hurts to have a friend watching your back.

The Blizzard Fan Art Section has been updated with four new artwork from Diablo.

The heroes of Sanctuary have increased their ranks, now joined in their mission by the male demon hunter. This fanatical warrior has sworn himself to a single purpose: the destruction of the vile creatures of the Burning Hells.

Cutting through hordes of demons is a cornerstone of the Diablo series, but we’re taking battle to the next level in Diablo III, adding a slew of new creature behaviors to make sure combat is more fast-paced and tactical than ever. Check out our systems page to learn about the savage new attacks that Diablo III’s monsters are bringing to bear -- and how you can survive against them.

Just in time for the holiday season, SteelSeries is releasing the first in a series of Diablo III mouse pads. The QcK Barbarian Edition features artwork from the game, showcasing the might and fury of the barbarian. For more information visit SteelSeries at http://steelseries.com/diablo3.

We’re exploring a Diablo-related concept for consoles and are currently looking to fill a few senior console-related positions on the Diablo III team. As we’ve said in the past, with proper care the gameplay could suit the console platform, and we’re interested in seeing what talent out there might be interested in such a project. If you’re passionate about all things Diablo and have the requisite skill and experience, then head over to our jobs site to check out the positions and apply.

Please note that this is not an announcement of a console title. We are first and foremost developing Diablo III for Windows and Mac PCs and don’t intend to allow any possibility of a console interpretation to delay or affect the release of the game.

The second day of BlizzCon has begun! Yesterday, we gave everyone a first look at Diablo III’s new demon hunter class and unveiled our plans for PvP in Sanctuary, and players got to try out four upcoming Blizzard-wrought custom maps for StarCraft II, including Aiur Chef and Blizzard DOTA. Today’s events include the Diablo III: Crafting Sanctuary, StarCraft II Multiplayer, and perennially popular World of Warcraft Class Q&A panels; the finals for this year’s Warcraft III, StarCraft II, and World of Warcraft Arena tournaments; and, of course, the sure-to-be-destiny-altering closing concert featuring Tenacious D.

Check www.blizzcon.com throughout the day for more news and photos, and don’t forget you can follow our Twitter feeds @Warcraft, @StarCraft, and @Diablo. We’ll also have more updates from the floor on our Facebook pages for StarCraft, Warcraft, Diablo, and Blizzard.

Wondering what happened during the various World of Warcraft, Diablo III, and StarCraft II discussions at this year’s BlizzCon? We’ve got you covered! We’ll be providing regular updates on the latest news and information from developer panels and other activities throughout the show. You can check out the latest panel recaps as they’re posted at www.blizzcon.com.

During the opening ceremony of BlizzCon 2010, players got a first look at the fifth and final character class for Diablo III: the lithe and deadly demon hunter. Armed with twin crossbows, an arsenal of deadly contraptions, and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance against the legions of the Burning Hells, the demon hunter strikes quickly and excels at hit-and-run tactics.

Head to our new demon hunter page to watch the intro cinematic, see some of her moves in action, and read about her quest to purge evil from Sanctuary.

After you’ve slaked your thirst for demon-slaying, it’s always good to unwind with some good ol’ fashioned player-vs.-player combat. In Diablo III, heroes will be able to enter the arenas of Sanctuary to engage in team battles, earn points in matches on Battle.net, and otherwise prove their PvP prowess. Learn more about the plans unveiled at this year’s BlizzCon on our new Diablo III PvP page.

The fifth BlizzCon is now officially underway! Blizzard’s two-day celebration of the Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo games and the communities that surround them has just kicked off at the Anaheim Convention Center, and you can follow along with all of the exciting events, tournaments, and more at www.blizzcon.com. We’ll be updating the website regularly with photos from the show floor, news from the panels, tournament results, and more.

As a reminder, we’ll also be broadcasting the opening ceremony and the various StarCraft II, Warcraft III, and World of Warcraft Arena tournaments for free at http://blizzcon.rayv.com. You can check out the opening ceremony live at 11 a.m. PST or catch live streams of the matches throughout both days of the show.

If you're looking for up-to-the-minute coverage, follow us on Twitter @Diablo, @Warcraft, and @StarCraft, or catch some of the random sights we’ve captured from the show floor at our Facebook pages for StarCraft, Warcraft, Diablo, and Blizzard. We hope you enjoy the show!

BlizzCon Opening Ceremony and Tournaments - Free Live Streams
Hey, have you heard? BlizzCon 2010 begins tomorrow! You'll be able to watch the opening ceremony and the action on the World of Warcraft and RTS tournament stages streaming for free at http://blizzcon.rayv.com. DIRECTV subscribers can also catch the opening ceremony for free on the 101 Network. The opening ceremony is scheduled to begin on Friday at 11 a.m. Pacific, and tournaments run throughout both days of the show -- check out the BlizzCon schedule for details.

If you're interested in watching these in high def and accessing over 50 hours of BlizzCon coverage, including developer panels, the costume contest, the closing concert with Tenacious D, and more, you can still purchase a BlizzCon Virtual Ticket, which also includes this year's World of Warcraft pet and StarCraft II in-game items. We'll also be updating BlizzCon.com, our Twitter feeds, and our Facebook pages with news, photos, and more from the show, so we've got you covered pretty much anywhere you go. See you at BlizzCon!

Are you ready for BlizzCon 2010? Blizzard Entertainment's two-day gaming festival begins this Friday, October 22, at the Anaheim Convention Center. The sold-out show features developer discussion panels, top-tier tournament competition, the popular costume and dance contests hosted by Jay Mohr, an epic closing concert starring Tenacious D, and much more.

You can still join us from home by purchasing a BlizzCon Virtual Ticket, featuring more than 50 hours of live HD coverage as well as the exclusive BlizzCon 2010 World of Warcraft pet and StarCraft II in-game items. The Virtual Ticket is available globally via Internet stream and also through DIRECTV in the U.S.. For more information, read our recent press release or visit BlizzCon.com.

Diablo III's health system is designed to keep you thinking on your feet and rushing toward the next fight. Fleeing from battle to recover your strength isn't an option. Health globes drive Diablo III's tactical combat - read our latest systems article to learn more.

Click over to our new systems page to read about some of the crafting options that will be available in Diablo III. You'll learn about our design team's goals for crafting and salvaging items for components, as well as the capabilities of the artisans who contribute to your growing collection of weapons, magic, and armor.

In the future, we'll continue updating the systems page to discuss the philosophy and flavor behind Diablo III's new gameplay mechanics.

The new official Diablo III channel on YouTube is now live! Check out high-quality streaming versions of our cinematics, gameplay trailers, and in-game movies, including the brand-new caravan preview video. Make sure to come back often, as we will be adding even more video content in the future.

Be warned, all ye wordsmiths and masters of prose... the 2010 Global Writing Contest soon draws to a close!

If you have yet to submit your original tale from the Diablo, StarCraft, or Warcraft universe, the deadline is next Monday, August 23, 2010.[more]

Those who take us on the most brilliantly written journey shall reap the ultimate reward -- a trip to Blizzard Entertainment's headquarters to meet the writers and staff behind the lore of our games. You'll find all of the details here, including the winning story from last year.

Today at the gamescom trade fair in Cologne, Germany, Blizzard Entertainment unveiled a brand-new gameplay feature for its highly-anticipated action role-playing game, Diablo® III. Even in single-player mode, the heroes of Sanctuary won't have to face the hordes of the Burning Hells alone, as a persistent caravan follows them on their perilous quest. The caravan provides access to a group of unique support characters including a blacksmith, a mystic, and a jeweler, each of which offer exclusive gameplay benefits that will aid players in their epic struggle.[more] And these aren't just static NPCs -- each artisan has his or her own story and quest line, and they gradually grow in skill and learn new recipes over the course of the game as players take advantage of their services. The utility provided by these characters adds another layer of customization and depth to the Diablo III gameplay experience.

More information regarding the caravan feature and Diablo III in general can be found in our press kit on the Blizzard.com Press Kits page.

The BlizzCon 2010 Fan Art, Original Song, and Movie contests have begun! To enter, simply submit your original Warcraft, StarCraft, or Diablo-themed work before September 27. [more]We have over $25,000 worth of prizes to give away between these and our Dance and Costume contests on Friday night at BlizzCon, and winning entries will be showcased live at this year's show.

Head over to the Fan Art, Original Song, and Movie contest pages to see the submission requirements, read the official rules, and check out the prizes. Information and online sign-ups for the BlizzCon 2010 Dance and Costume contests will be coming soon, so keep an eye on BlizzCon.com for details.

Want to experience the panel discussions, tournaments, game-related announcements, and all the excitement of BlizzCon from the comfort of your own home? The BlizzCon Virtual Ticket multi-channel Internet stream is now available to order around the world for $39.95 USD (pricing may vary by region). In addition, new DIRECTV subscribers in the United States who sign up for DIRECTV service between now and September 24 through www.blizzard.directv.com will receive this year's BlizzCon Virtual Ticket coverage for free. Existing DIRECTV customers will be able to purchase the event on DIRECTV Pay Per View for $39.95 beginning October 9.

Anyone who orders the event will also receive this year's BlizzCon-exclusive World of Warcraft in-game item. In addition, for the first time, BlizzCon 2010 Virtual Ticket holders will have access to exclusive BlizzCon merchandise.

To order or learn more, visit the BlizzCon 2010 Internet stream or DIRECTV sign-up offer pages.

On Thursday, October 21, the evening before BlizzCon, we're hosting a special dinner to benefit the CHOC Children's Foundation, where guests will have an opportunity to meet and chat with game developers, artists, executives and other folks from Blizzard Entertainment. If you'd like a chance to attend, visit our ticket-drawing page between now and July 17 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific to enter a drawing for a chance to purchase up to two tickets to the event. Tickets are priced at $500 each and include admission to this year's BlizzCon. For more information or to enter the drawing, visit the BlizzCon 2010 Charity Dinner website.

Join us in celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Diablo II with a brief look back at this genre-defining action RPG. Visit the Diablo II anniversary page by clicking here.

Before the BlizzCon festivities begin, we’re inviting you to join us for an evening of good food and good conversation -- all for a good cause. On Thursday, October 21, Blizzard will be hosting a special dinner to benefit the CHOC Children's Foundation, where guests will have an opportunity to meet and chat with game developers, artists, executives and other folks from Blizzard Entertainment.

From July 15 through July 17, we'll be holding an online drawing to determine who can win an opportunity to purchase tickets to this event. A total of 200 tickets will be available for $500 USD each (limit two per person), and the proceeds will benefit the CHOC Children's Foundation. In appreciation of your donation, you'll receive:

• Dinner and an opportunity to converse with executives, artists, developers, community managers, and others from Blizzard Entertainment
• A signed print featuring Blizzard Entertainment artwork
• One BlizzCon 2010 ticket (a $150 USD value)

The BlizzCon 2010 benefit dinner will take place Thursday, October 21 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Hilton Anaheim hotel. To opt in to the ticket drawing and view the official rules for this opportunity, visit the official BlizzCon website between July 15 and July 17.

You're called to action once again, to use your wits and strength, to compete for the ultimate prize. Your weapons? They seem to be but a musty tome and quill, but know that their power is far stronger than the armies of the Scourge, far craftier than the zerg Swarm, and far mightier than any demon from the Burning Hells. Ready your tools, scribe, and prepare for combat with the inky beast called fiction!

Enter a short story for the chance to win a free trip to Blizzard's headquarters in southern California! This contest is open to entrants from around the world and will be judged by Blizzard's very own writers and masters of lore. For more information, head to the contest page.

We've put together a classy assortment of events pages on Facebook to support players who Like our Blizzard, StarCraft, Warcraft, and Diablo pages. Let folks know you're coming to BlizzCon this year by checking in at the BlizzCon 2010, BlizzCon 2010 - Diablo Community, BlizzCon 2010 - Warcraft Community, or BlizzCon 2010 - StarCraft Community events pages. We have great things in store for you this year, but nothing beats the opportunity you'll have to connect with your fellow players. See you at the show!

The second batch of tickets for BlizzCon 2010 has now been sold out. If you weren't able to get tickets this year, keep in mind that coverage of the gaming festival will also be offered by DIRECTV as a Pay Per View event, available both via satellite and multi-channel Internet stream. Keep an eye on the BlizzCon website for updates on panels, exhibits, events, DIRECTV and Internet stream info, and more. We look forward to meeting some of you at the show!

They say all good things come in threes; with that in mind, we're excited to announce three new pieces of Diablo III merchandise that are sure to be on every Diablo player's wish list.

Deckard Cain X-Treme Gamer Blanket: Optimize your body temperature for maximum performance and game in style with this fashionable Diablo-themed garment.
Diablo III Body Pillows: Enjoy the most epic sleeping experience ever with our line of body pillows.
Deckard Cain GPS Voice Pack: Transmute your commute into pure navigational bliss with the help of Deckard Cain.

For over a decade, Battle.net has connected players from around the world. With its upcoming overhaul, the service will take this capability to the next level with the introduction of its brand-new matchmaking functionality.

In our heart of hearts, what we are really looking for in another person is a connection that's deep, meaningful, and true; we are all looking for our perfect match. Find out now how Battle.net's new and improved matchmaking service will help you find someone to pwn noobs with on our Battle.net matchmaking website and make sure to watch the new service's introduction video.

The Blizzard Fan Art Section has been updated with three new artwork from Diablo.

The 1.13 patch for Diablo II is now live! With this patch we have included a number of changes including a new respec system, allowing you to reset your character's stats and skills. To update to 1.13 simply connect to Battle.net, or to download and install manually visit our Diablo II Patch page.

With the release of 1.13 the Diablo II ladder has been reset and all previous ladder characters are now normal non-ladder characters. To participate in the new ladder you'll need to create a new character and ensure the "Ladder Character" option is checked. For more information on ladder characters visit the Arreat Summit Realm Character Types page.

The female witch doctor has been added to our Diablo III site, and you can head over now to check out a new concept, as well as a close up of her in-game model. An apple a day will ensure you can avoid having to visit this alchemist of undeath at the witch doctor class page.

We've also added seven screenshots featuring the female witch doctor to the screenshot gallery, as well as an additional concept in the artwork gallery.

We will be resetting the Diablo II ladder on March 23 with the release of patch 1.13. We anticipate all Diablo II realms to be down for approximately six hours during the reset. More specific information on realm availability on the day of the reset will be posted in the Battle.net Status forum. When the ladder is reset, all existing ladder characters will be converted to non-ladder. All characters and items being converted to non-ladder will remain intact, but once converted these characters will no longer have access to ladder content such as creating ladder-only rune words. For more information on ladder characters please visit the Arreat Summit Realm Character Types page.

The Blizzard Fan Art Section has been updated with three new artwork from Diablo.

The wizard class page has been updated with a close-up view of the male wizard's in-game model. See this rock star of the mages up close and personal by visiting the wizard class page.

We've also added two screenshots depicting the male wizard to the screenshot gallery.

The Blizzard Fan Art Section has been updated with three new artwork from Diablo.

The barbarian class page has been updated with a new piece of concept art depicting the female barbarian as well as a close-up view of her in-game model. Check out this new look at a relentless terror of the battlefield over at the barbarian class page.

The monk class page has been updated with all-new art and the in-game model of the female monk. The monk class was announced at BlizzCon, but only the male version was shown at the time. The female option is now revealed on the monk class page.

We have added ten new screenshots.

The Blizzard Fan Art Section has been updated with one new artwork from Diablo.

The new official Blizzard Entertainment channel on YouTube is now live! Check out high-quality streaming versions of our cinematics, gameplay trailers, and in-game movies. Make sure to come back often, as we will be adding even more video content in the weeks ahead.

The Blizzard Fan Art Section has been updated with one new artwork from Diablo.

Blizzard Entertainment will once again be representing in full force at the 2009 Penny Arcade Expo, taking place this weekend, September 4-6 in Seattle, Washington. PAX attendees will have access to playable versions of Diablo III (including the recently announced Monk class), the earth-shattering World of Warcraft: Cataclysm expansion, and the engrossing StarCraft II single-player campaign. Community managers will also be in attendance to chat with attendees about the past, present, and future of Blizzard Entertainment games. We hope to see you there!

BlizzCon 2009 has officially come to an end! Ozzy Osbourne's thunderous performance brought down the roof of the Anaheim Convention Center; Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain escaped through the hole in their stetched zeppelin and headed to their next gig in Orgrimmar; and at least half of the audience members survived.

We'd like to thank everyone who helped to make this year's show a success, including comedian Jay Mohr, who hosted the contests on Friday evening, Ozzy Osbourne, and all of our partners and sponsors, including ASUS, DIRECTV, Intel, Mountain Dew, NVIDIA, and Razer. Most of all, we'd like to thank the community of gamers – without your dedication and support, BlizzCon wouldn't be possible.

You can check out some of the highlights from this year's show on www.blizzcon.com, from the World of Warcraft: Cataclysm announcement to the Diablo III monk reveal to the new details on what players can expect from the updated Battle.net when it launches with StarCraft II. And there's still more photos and other post-show updates to come, so be sure stay tuned to www.BlizzCon.com.

The fourth BlizzCon is underway, and we'll be giving players a look at the new game features and upcoming developments discussed in some of the World of Warcraft, Diablo III, and StarCraft II panels throughout the show. We'll be updating www.blizzcon.com with new information from the panels regularly, so be sure to check back often.

• World of Warcraft Dungeons & Raids – Delve deeper into the philosophies behind the design of the game's most epic player-versus-environment (PvE) encounters.
• World of Warcraft Game Systems – Learn more about the mechanics that make World of Warcraft tick.
• World of Warcraft Classes, Items, and Professions – Check out what's in store for World of Warcraft classes, professions, and items in the future.
• StarCraft II Battle.net Discussion – At the StarCraft II Battle.net developer panel on Friday afternoon, we gave players a first look at some of the cool new community and communication features that will be coming with the relaunched Battle.net online-gaming service, along with info on how it'll all be integrated with StarCraft II. Check out new details about Battle.net's state-of-the-art matchmaking system, achievement system, social networking features, and more in our new Battle.net FAQ.
• World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Panel – Learn more devastating details about World of Warcraft's third expansion, Cataclysm.
• Diablo III Heroes & Monsters – Take a closer look at the latest Diablo III class, the monk, as well as other characters and creatures from the game.

The second day of the BlizzCon gaming convention is now underway! Yesterday, we unveiled World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, Diablo III's new monk class, and discussed some of the new features of the updated Battle.net. Today's main events include the finals for this year's Warcraft III, StarCraft, and World of Warcraft Arena tournaments; more developer panels, including the World of Warcraft Game Systems, Diablo III Art, and StarCraft II Lore panels; and the epic closing concert featuring Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain and Ozzy Osbourne. Keep your eye on www.BlizzCon.com throughout the day for updates -- and don't forget that you can follow us on Twitter via @Warcraft, @StarCraft, and @Diablo.

During the opening ceremony of BlizzCon 2009, we revealed Diablo III's fourth playable class: the monk, a skilled holy warrior of unparalleled dexterity. Armed with speed, holy fervor, and the drive to achieve physical and spiritual perfection, the monk becomes a deadly apparition in the heat of battle, moving faster than the eye can follow to strike down enemies with a barrage of lightning-fast blows.

To find out more about Sanctuary's newest champion, check out the video introduction. You can also visit the new monk page to read an entry from the journal of Abd al-Hazir and watch videos of the monk in action.

BlizzCon 2009 is right around the corner, featuring -- among many other things -- hands-on demos of Blizzard games in development, including Diablo III. In this Q&A, Diablo III Game Director Jay Wilson talks about what players can expect to see in this year's demo and what players should look out for when battling the hordes of the Burning Hells.

Check out the Diablo III sneak peek Q&A now!

This year's BlizzCon is again being broadcast live on DIRECTV and, for the first time ever, being streamed live via the Internet -- and we're inviting you to play show co-director via Twitter. DIRECTV hosts will be reading your requests live from the BlizzCon show floor, helping to ensure that they're covering the events and activities that players want to see most. Simply send your suggestions with the tag #BlizzConDTV to one of these Twitter feeds: @Warcraft, @StarCraft, or @Diablo. You can also send your questions for the game developers or give feedback about the show using the same tag, as we'll be reading community tweets all throughout BlizzCon. Catch you at the show!

The Blizzard Fan Art Section has been updated with one new artwork from Diablo.

You can now follow all of your favorite Blizzard Entertainment news on Twitter. Just head over to @Warcraft, @StarCraft, or @Diablo for all of the news, events, contests, and more. We’re starting off with a bang, so you can enter contests for each of the franchises:

• @Warcraft -- Let out your #BattleCry to show your allegiance to Horde or Alliance in preparation for BlizzCon! Win Horde and Alliance prize packages while showing off your pictures during the ongoing battle across Twitter!

• @StarCraft -- Are you the biggest #SC2fan? If you are, you will have a chance at 500 StarCraft II beta keys we’re giving away in this challenge.

• @Diablo -- Have you always wanted to have an item in a game that you've named? Enter the #d3unique contest with your best item name and you could win the grand prize of seeing your item wielded by Diablo III players worldwide.

As we head into BlizzCon, we’ll also have live coverage and provide a spot to talk about news as it happens in real time. Be sure to check it out for contests and more over the next week. Do you plan to watch the DIRECTV Pay Per View or Internet stream? We’ll be Twittering live at the event and looking for your tweets! Things won’t end there, and we’re looking for you to help us reach a twittercal mass on our new Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo Twitter communities.

The Diablo III premium statue "Overthrown" depicts a mighty barbarian atop the conquered Diablo, shouting towards the High Heavens in vicious triumph. It was first unveiled as a grey prototype at San Diego Comic-Con 2008, and after a year and a half of continued development, is now being made available for pre-order.

Standing at a massive 18" (457.2mm) high, hand-cast in high-quality polystone, and painted to exacting standards, each piece is individually finished with a unique edition number. To see brand-new pictures of the painted statue, download an intense new wallpaper, or pre-order the piece (available fall 2009 for $299), head on over to Sideshow's website now.

The first Blizzard Entertainment global creative writing contest has been judged and the winning entries chosen. After poring over nearly 17 million words, our judges have decided on one grand prize winner and seven runners-up. Take a moment to enjoy the ideas and creative stories of all the winning entries.

The grand prize winner will visit the company headquarters to meet and eat with the Blizzard Entertainment creative writing staff, and will receive a Frostmourne sword. The seven runners-up will be sent signed copies of the Diablo Archive, Warcraft Archive, StarCraft Archive, and Warcraft War of the Ancients Archive.