Diablo

Diablo

Developers
	Blizzard North
Publishers
	Blizzard Entertainment
Release dates
Windows	December 31, 1996
Mac OS (Classic)	May 8, 1998

Diablo
Diablo	1997
Diablo II	2000
Diablo III	2012
Diablo II: Resurrected	2021
Diablo Immortal	2022
Diablo IV	2023

Key points

20 FPS gameplay and 15 FPS videos without mods.

General information

Official Diablo Support

Official Diablo Series Forum

Unofficial Diablo Wiki

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail		DRM: Simple disc check, no physical copy protection.

Not available via digital distribution.

Later versions of the Diablo Battle Chest no longer include the original Diablo.

DLC and expansion packs

Name	Notes
Hellfire	Authorized third-party expansion. Cannot be played on Battle.net.

Essential improvements

IPXWrapper

IPXWrapper provides a workaround for Windows Vista and beyond not supporting IPX, used in multiplayer. Put ipxwrapper.dll, mswsock.dll, and wsock32.dll in the directory where Diablo.exe resides.

Patches

Battle.net's support section has the latest patches; spawn versions of the game require separate patches from the full versions. Battle.net will not connect without the latest patch.

Mods

Diablo 1 HD

An unofficial mod, also known as "Belzebub", in beta state for single player (only) with a host of features including increased resolution and updated compatibility with modern Windows. Copy the contents to the Diablo directory and open Belzebub.exe to play.

Allows running at up to 60 FPS, in windowed mode, in resolutions scaled up to 1024p and various non-scaled, fixes crashing and DirectDraw compatibility issues, multi-monitor compatibility, and continuous attacking with the left mouse button held down.

Can't play the vanilla game without the added content, multi-player isn't currently available, and the viewing area is simply increased; sprites remain small at higher resolutions.

The Hell

An unofficial mod that requires the expansion Hellfire to run which has various additions such as new spells, makes the game considerably more difficult, and has a tool for running the game on modern Windows.

The Awakening

Another unofficial mod that also requires the Hellfire expansion.

Play the game without the CD

Instructions

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

Template:Game data/rowTemplate:Game data/row

System	Location

Windows: Multiplayer chat hotkey macros are stored in <path-to-game>\diablo.ini.

Save game data location

Template:Game data/rowTemplate:Game data/row

System	Location

Video settings

Selecting 320x240 in vidsize.exe (Windows) renders videos quarter size centered.

Windowed

Instructions

Audio settings

In-game options.

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English

Network

Multiplayer types

Type	Native	Players	Notes
LAN play		4	Co-op
Online play		4	Co-op

Only up to 2 players are supported via modem.

Connection types

Type	Native	Notes
Matchmaking
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated
Self-hosting
Direct IP

Ports

Protocol	Port(s) and/or port range(s)
TCP	6112-6119
UDP	6112-6119

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.

Issues unresolved

Music doesn't play on the character and multiplayer selection screens

The official patches introduced a behavior where music no longer plays on the character or multiplayer selection screens.

Instructions

Game crashes when switching to another process

The game crashes when switching to another process on modern Windows, typically done using Alt+Tab ↹ or through the lock screen using Ctrl+Alt+Delete.

Instructions

Instructions

Game locks up when returning to the main screen from multiplayer

The game can lock up with a black screen when returning to the main menu from the multiplayer menu on modern Windows.

Instructions

Incorrect ancillary text display when entering a character name

When entering a character name on modern Windows other text around the text entry area that should be cleared remains and appears partially cut off.

Instructions

Diablo.exe process doesn't end after quitting game

When quitting the game the Diablo.exe process can remain indefinitely on modern Windows.

Instructions

Title screen effects partially disappear

Title screen effects such as the fire sometimes partially disappear on modern Windows.

Instructions

Issues fixed

Rainbow or washed out colors on Windows

Colors can appear washed out, appear as a rainbow, or simply white due to a DirectDraw compatibility issue in Windows XP, Vista, and 7, including running in compatibility mode for these versions.

Instructions

Instructions

Periodic crashes

The game can crash periodically with modern Windows, especially due to modern GPU drivers.

Instructions

Can't create character in multiplayer mode

After entering a character name in multiplayer you can get an error due to Windows compatibility issues.

Instructions

Instructions

Can't connect to Battle.net

You must be running the latest version and not have the Hellfire expansion installed.

Instructions

Instructions

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
DirectDraw	3

Executable	PPC	16-bit	32-bit	64-bit	Notes
Windows
Mac OS (Classic)

Middleware

	Middleware	Notes
Cutscenes	Smacker Video Technology
Multiplayer	Battle.net

Continuous attacking with left mouse button held down

Normally on left mouse button down it only attacks once even if held down. Later games in the Diablo series provide this capability.

Instructions

Instructions

Freeablo

A FOSS reimplementation of the Diablo engine currently in an alpha state; see the site for details.

System requirements

Windows

Mac OS (Classic)

Windows
	Minimum
Operating system (OS)	95, NT 4.0
Processor (CPU)	60 MHz Pentium or better
System memory (RAM)	8 MB 16 MB for multiplayer
Hard disk drive (HDD)
Video card (GPU)	DirectX 3 compatible
Other	2x CD-ROM drive

Mac OS
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	7.5
Processor (CPU)	PowerPC
System memory (RAM)	16 MB with virtual memory 32 MB with virtual memory for multiplayer	32 MB with virtual memory
Hard disk drive (HDD)
Video card (GPU)	640x480 resolution and 256 color support
Other	2x CD-ROM drive