Diablo Immortal, Blizzard Entertainment’s free Diablo game, will be released on Windows PCs and mobiles on Wednesday. But it is said to remain offline in two European countries: Belgium and the Netherlands.
This is due to the strict loot laws of these countries, according to a report by GamesIndustry.biz and the Dutch website Tweakers. A Blizzard support worker also told a Reddit user that this is due to game restrictions. Previously, Blizzard had simply removed loot systems from Belgian releases of its games, such as Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm. Representatives said the measure was aimed at complying with the rules of the Belgian Gambling Commission. But instead of choosing not to bring Diablo Immortal to Belgium and the Netherlands, it could be a clue as to how these systems are stuck in this game.
Blizzard has not responded to Polygon’s comment request.
Blizzard showcased some of Diablo Immortal’s customization and cosmetic options for the mobile game in March. He said Diablo Immortal’s new class change system would help support that, with plans “to launch a new set of cosmetics for all classes each month,” each of which coincides with the Battle Pass theme. Battle passes are a staple of free games, where players must purchase the pass to unlock rewards for playing.
Blizzard has said, however, that all of Diablo Immortal’s customizable equipment will be available to win through gaming and not just through shopping.
Like Belgium, the Netherlands has also previously ruled against looting in games, specifically in FIFA 21’s Ultimate Team mode. But that ruling was overturned in 2022, in a court case ruling that the decks of cards were not considered games of chance under Dutch law.
Diablo Immortal, first announced at BlizzCon 2018, was developed by Blizzard and NetEase. The game was delayed until 2022 in August 2021 following comments on the game’s alpha test periods.