Diablo 2 Resurrected Gets VR Mod, But There's a Catch

Ever dreamed of stepping into Diablo 2's dark world and blasting demons face-to-face? Well, one modder is making that a reality—sort of. Reddit user fantasticauthor2736 has created a VR mod for Diablo 2 Resurrected, turning the classic isometric ARPG into a first-person experience. But before you get too excited, there's a catch: it's not published yet, and even when it is, you might not be able to play it for long.

The mod builds on an existing 3D conversion mod called D2R-3D by emmericp, which gives Diablo 2 more robust camera controls. As emmericp explains, all the assets for a 3D view are already in the game—it's just a matter of rendering from the right point of view. Fantasticauthor2736 then used FlatVR to convert it to VR and BodyWalk to let you control your character with your body movements. Videos show it working in the first couple zones, with you pointing a motion controller at enemies to shoot fireballs. The UI has been redesigned too: inventory moves to your belt, while health, mana, and toolbar appear on your left wrist. Want the map? Just summon it as an orb in your hand.

But here's the big problem: the D2R-3D mod triggers Blizzard's file integrity checker, causing the game to crash after about a minute. There's a workaround, but it involves sketchy software that could enable cheating, so the modder won't detail it. Since Diablo 2 Resurrected requires an online connection, any code changes lead to crashes. So even when the VR mod releases, it'll likely have the same limitation.

On the bright side, it's a cool proof of concept. The modder had to tweak projectile calculations, lighting, and shadows to make it work when zoomed in. Some bugs remain, like item names floating in the sky and mouse/keyboard targeting issues, but it's impressive nonetheless. It makes you wonder what a fully official VR Diablo could be like.

Meanwhile, Diablo 2 is on everyone's minds as we inch toward Diablo 5. Game Director Joe Shely has promised a return to more methodical gameplay, and Path of Exile's Chris Wilson hopes Blizzard's next ARPG takes inspiration from the second game. So even if this VR mod is a fleeting novelty, the spirit of Diablo 2 lives on.

Would you risk a minute of VR demon-slaying before the crash? Let us know in the comments!