Diablo 3's PvP content now due post-launch

Blizzard has revealed that the Player vs Player systems of Diablo 3 will not be part of the gam at launch.

The statement on the Diablo 3 website argues that delaying the entire game for the sake of finishing up the PvP would be unfair, considering that the campaign - comprising solo and co-op content - is "just about complete".

This does, however, mean that the rather sizeable PvP mode (featuring specially designed arenas, a full matchmaking system, separate achievements, and a progression system all of its own) won't be seen for what we fear might be quite some time.

It also sets an interesting precedent in terms of having features of games excised before launch, only to be added later in patches. Considering Blizzard's glacial development cycles, we have to wonder when the PvP mode will be added - and considering the difficulties of balancing PvP content, it might necessitate a lot of balance changes to the core game, too.

Diablo 3 still has no release date, although with this decision in mind we don't think one will be far off.