| DIABLO
II SHATTERS SALES RECORDS WORLDWIDE WITH 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD IN TWO WEEKS Diablo
II becomes fastest selling computer game ever IRVINE,
Calif. – July 17, 2000 – Blizzard Entertainment“ announced today that
Diablo‘ II has surpassed 1 million copies sold worldwide, based on
information from PC Data and key retail accounts worldwide. The game, which
had an initial retail shipment of two million copies just two weeks ago,
already has reorders in excess of more than 600,000 copies and begins shipping
for Macintosh“ this week. Following
in the tradition of other Blizzard titles, Diablo II becomes not only the
fourth consecutive Blizzard title to sell 1 million copies, but also to debut
as the number-one selling game. The game, which shipped on June 28, is topping
PC sales charts in North America, Europe and Asia. In the U.S. alone during
its first week in stores, the game earned a record 39 percent of the entire
dollar amount spent on games, according to PC Data. Said
Mike Morhaime, president and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment,
"Diablo II’s success is meaningful on many levels. For Blizzard, the
game’s popularity is confirmation that our long hours and hard work paid
off, and our customers are enjoying our product. From an industry standpoint,
it is evidence that top PC games can rival revenues for movies, books and
music. Computer gaming has gone mainstream as a form of entertainment." Said
Bob McKenzie, Director of Merchandising for Babbages, "The rate at which
Diablo II is selling is unprecedented. In a matter of days, the game has sold
more copies than most PC products sell in their entire product cycle. This
product is the Harry Potter of computer games." In
Diablo II, players return to a dark world plagued by evil forces. After
possessing the body of the hero who defeated him, Diablo resumes his nefarious
scheme to shackle humanity into unholy slavery by joining forces with the
other Prime Evils, Mephisto and Baal. Players face a new series of quests to
rid the world of Diablo and his vile brethren forever. Diablo
II is available immediately at most computer and software retail chains for
approximately $60. The game is also offered directly from Blizzard at (800)
953-SNOW and www.blizzard.com . The game
has received a Mature rating from the ESRB. When Diablo released in 1997, it
was an instant hit among gamers and debuted as the number-one selling game its
first month in stores. The game has sold 2 million copies worldwide and was
the number-one selling computer role-playing game in 1997. Best
known for blockbuster hits including the Warcraft“ series, StarCraft and the
Diablo series, Blizzard Entertainment“ (www.blizzard.com)
is a premier publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating many of
the industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard’s track record
includes four consecutive number-one selling games and multiple Game of the
Year awards. The company’s free Internet gaming service Battle.net“ reigns
as the largest in the world with millions of active users. Blizzard
Entertainment is a division of Havas Interactive, itself a division of French
media company Havas, S.A, a subsidiary of Vivendi, a world leader in utilities
and communications and one of the largest publicly owned companies in Europe. #
# # For
more information contact: Ivan A. Hernandez (310) 477-4647 ext. 243 ivan_hernandez@bhimpact.com Debra
Osborne 310.793.0600,
x1581 dosborne@blizzard.com |