Diablo II 25th Anniversary

Some people write fanfiction. Some add their own stuff to games. Some do both.
Or maybe even mod the hell out of Diablo II for the fun of it.

It’s a real pain sometimes, working with a 25-year-old game, I’m not going to lie.

To mark the countdown toward the upcoming 25^th Anniversary of Diablo II — and Alpha T-6 release of my mod for the game, I’ll be sharing four dev blogs about my process, once a week.
Each one peeling back the curtain on a different corner or aspect of the world. I’m inviting you to dive deep into a very slightly enhanced Sanctuary; one that respects its ancient roots while venturing cautiously ahead.

Nothing is resurrected here — just restored to the dreams it always hinted at, the unfulfilled dreams sacrificed due to constraints of time and technology.

It’s a love letter to Diablo II, written in interface panels you can click, tilemaps you can traverse, and the mysterious excel tables that dwell unseen in the back end of the game.
It’s a celebration of all the little things that made Sanctuary feel vast, and dangerous, and strangely sacred.

This was never about bugfixes or game balance. It’s about bringing my cherished memories of Sanctuary back to life.
About realising my childhood dreams of interacting with this game not as a player but as a developer. And you, too, can enjoy the fruits of this meaningless labour.

Here’s what is soon to come from the East:

1. Kurast Docks Unmoored (May 29)
This one’s about quality-of-life changes that make the game more enjoyable to play for one as spoiled by modern games as my current self.
But also, about how your spawn point in Kurast Docks will perhaps no longer induce PTSD (according to double-blind controlled clinical trials).

2. The Jewel City Anew (June 5)
Lut Gholein returns to reclaim its crown, rebuilt from the sand up. A palace walled in as it once was meant to be, a market with real trade, a mighty Vizjerei fortress that finally feels defensible.
I could call this an architect's insight into redesigning Diablo II’s iconic desert city. Except I’m not an architect.

3. Rogue Encampment Resettled (June 12)
The “town” of tents and rickety walls earns its place as the first beacon of resistance in a world gone to hell.
We’ll get nostalgic, exploring subtle changes to the game’s starting hub — and meet your improved mercenary companions.

4. Friends, Vendors, Countrymen (June 19)
What began with Deckard Cain’s free ID service has spiralled out of control.
Imbuing, shopping, and a few dangerous ideas. The old ways of item hunting, honoured and hacked: vendors have wares — if you have coin.
No mobile app required.

There’s a trailer, too — stay a while and watch, if you like.

I hope it captures the spirit of what I’ve built.

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