'Diablo 3' news: franchise's 20th celebratory DLC pack causes divide among longtime series players

In light of the franchise's 20th-year anniversary, "Diablo 3's" free celebratory expansion pack called "The Darkening of Tristam" has already been available in the current iteration of the game all month long. However, it seems like the move has been garnering equal amounts of applaud and backlash from gamers with their respective reasoning and opinion on the matter.

For the whole month of January, Blizzard is taking "players to a trip down memory lane with the reimagining of the first "Diablo" gameplay inside the current game iteration, which is fascinating to say the least. The way "The Darkening of Tristam" works, which will come via Patch 2.4.3, is that a player can trot down a dungeon in "Diablo 3" where all of the debut games' backdrops are set up with the mechanics reimagined. This prompts 16 new levels in the game peppered with easter eggs that will definitely make any longtime fan feel special. A recently released video guide walks players through how they can access the dungeon via a portal in the town of Old Tristram.

"Head to Old Tristram in Adventure Mode during the month of January to discover a portal where you can explore a 'Diablo III' recreation of the events that transpired in the original 'Diablo.' Filled with iconic enemies, familiar faces, and some old-school items, this event is a nostalgia-packed adventure down memory lane. Transmogrification rewards, achievements, and a few extra surprises await those brave enough to plumb the depths below Tristram," an excerpt from the pack description released reads.

While the special feature is arguably fitting to celebrate the 20th birthday of the first game from the action-horror video game series, fans are interestingly divided over what Blizzard has announced. In the community forums on Blizzard for "Diablo," as well as in the comments sections of the video guide, gamers are not shying away from voicing out their respective opinions. Some are content about it while some feel like it is somewhat lacking given the monumental event. At the heart of the disappointment, however, is the loud clamor for a proper remaster of "Diablo" so it can finally be ported to newer consoles instead of just dangling its gameplay for a limited amount of time.