Blizzard crossing its fingers that Diablo III will hit "this year"

Blizzard vice president Rob Pardo has said the developer still hopes to release Diablo III by the end of the year.

Speaking with Kotaku while he was walking the red carpet at the AIAS Awards, Pardo said that Diablo III coming out this year was the "goal," but getting it right was more important.

"We really, really hope [it is out in 2011]," he said. "That's our goal. Our goal is to get there. But you know, at the end of the day, we are going to get it right. That's more important.

"We're going to promise, we're going to get it out there when it's awesome. And, we're crossing our fingers, maybe it will be this year."

During a call to investors this week, Activision AFO Thomas Tippl said the firm's outlook for 2011 did not include a release from Blizzard, and that until it goes into beta, a release date will not be locked in.