Russian and Belarusian account holders will not be able to purchase and install Diablo IV. The Blizzard company, which releases the game, did not specify whether this ban will be temporary or permanent. The release of the game is scheduled for June 6, 2023, reported Blizzard DTF support.
The next part of the popular game from Blizzard will offer crossplay (PC, PlayStation and Xbox owners can play with each other) and co-op option on the same console. The game will have five hero classes (Druid, Rogue, Witch, Barbarian and Necromancer) and over 140 dungeons.
Diablo IV could be given away to Russian or Belarusian players with an overseas account, but it’s not yet known whether this option will continue after new restrictions are introduced, notes DTF.
Blizzard suspended sales in Russia and Belarus in early March. November 11 Izvestia reportedthat the State Duma intends to ban dozens of computer games that, according to deputies, contain “LGBT propaganda”.
The first deputy chairman of the State Duma Education Committee, Yana Lantratova, prepared the relevant amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses. It is proposed to punish people with a fine of up to 200 thousand rubles, officials – up to 400 thousand, legal entities – up to 4 million. Lantratova believes that it is necessary to prohibit “propaganda of non-traditional values and the desire to change sex in this entertainment segment”.
According to the deputy, “LGBT propaganda” is in Inquisition, Assassin’s Creed, Syndicate, Borderlands, Divinity: Original Sin 2, Dragon Age: Origins, Life Is Strange, The Last of Us, The Last of Us: Part 2, Fallout, Apex Legends, RimWorld, Overwatch.