Next Diablo 3 Class Will Anger Fans, Says Blizzard

Diablo III lead designer Jay Wilson has predicted that some fans will inevitably take exception to the next class his team will announce, while adding that the swapping of classes is necessary to establish the game's "identity."

"All the Barbarian players are delighted and all the Necromancers hate us. I understand, I don't begrudge them that," said Wilson to VideoGamer.com. "I would hate me too! But what I would say is that when we announce the next class, which is quite similar to a previous class, then all those players will hate us too."

Blizzard has already confirmed that the Barbarian will be the only class to return from Diablo or Diablo II. The announced Witch Doctor class is largely seen as a replacement of Diablo II's Necromancer.

"You can't make everybody happy," continued Wilson, "but I think when the game finally come out players will find there's a good class for them, one they will love as much as the ones that came before. And if they don't, I absolutely promise that in the expansions we'll consider bringing back old classes. We just don't want to do it with the first release. We want to establish our identity."