There is no way that D2R Items Blizzard will be using words such as mistake, error, or regret in the context of Diablo However, the message to me is clear that the team has been quick to extol the virtues of what's changed but has not been seen as mourning the things that have gone.

"I am aware that some of you think we've broken our promise to release Diablo 'when it's finished"" said Wilson on the Blizzard forums when the game's creator announced his decision to step out of Diablo at the start of 2013.

"While our efforts aren't perfect, we strive to make the best decisions we can based on the data and information available at the time. That doesn't mean we always make the right decision however, if we did make mistakes, then I'm sure we've put in a great effort to rectify it."

The only thing to know is whether Reaper of Souls will be appreciated by the 280.000 vocalists in a manner that the original Diablo was not. "It's difficult to determine the source of ideas and which ones they didn't come from," continues Mayberry. "I believe Jay had the harder challenge of just getting Diablo out, and that was a huge strain on Jay, and I think that for Josh the challenge is that he's arrived now and helped put that next layer on. I think they've done fantastic job."

Reaper of Souls, with its procedurally generated adventure modes, intends to be that next layer. Mayberry claims that the expansion makes the game more of an open-world sandbox and less like a directed experience that closely mimics the original game.

"If you go to traditional Diablo, the first game. Diablo the initial version of Diablo you're playing the story of the game. That's the way they developed back then and one of the challenges in creating buy d2r items was.