According to Rod Fergusson, General Manager of the Diablo franchise, Diablo 3 is significantly overshadowed by its predecessor, Diablo 2. During an insightful discussion at the 2025 DICE Summit, journalist Steven Totillo explored various topics with Fergusson, revealing compelling data regarding player engagement across the series. The evidence strongly indicates that Diablo 2 maintains a robust player base, illustrating its lasting appeal.
Diablo 2 Continues to Attract Players, Surpassing Diablo 3
Fergusson shared details from a comprehensive dashboard that tracks daily active users across Blizzard’s major titles, including Diablo 2 Resurrected, Diablo 3, Diablo 4, and Diablo Immortal. Although players tend to return to the franchise with new seasons of Diablo 4, the figures revealed by Fergusson are particularly intriguing, even though they are based on the day prior and not real-time statistics.
Fergusson highlighted that Diablo 2 Resurrected boasts a larger player count than Diablo 3 currently. During his conversation, he stated:
“We have more Diablo II Resurrected players than Diablo III right now.”
This trend suggests that many players from Diablo 3 have transitioned to Diablo 4, drawn by the excitement of fresh content, seasonal updates, and exhilarating gameplay experiences that allow for exceptionally high damage outputs.
The enduring popularity of Diablo 2, particularly with the release of Diablo 2 Resurrected, has revitalized this classic title. Players now have access to improved graphics, user-friendly enhancements, and online multiplayer features, making it more attractive than ever. However, some community backlash arose from the absence of local area network (LAN) support in the remaster.
While Fergusson refrained from disclosing exact player numbers, the comparison underscores how Diablo 2 continues to influence the action role-playing game (ARPG) genre in a way that Diablo 3 has struggled to replicate. Diablo 3, despite having its own enjoyable gameplay, cannot compete with the nostalgia and challenge that has drawn countless players to its predecessor.
With Diablo 3 now heavily reliant on repetitive seasonal content without significant new updates, Diablo 2 Resurrected remains immensely popular simply by existing. The game continues to provide diverse ways for players to engage with the ARPG format, such as pursuing unconventional passive play styles.