If you visit the Blizzard website right now you'll get a strange splash page depicting ice with some runes. People throughout the Internet are speculating what this could mean ... perhaps Blizzard will be announcing a new game? Perhaps the long awaited Lost Vikings sequel will be announced this week at the Worldwide Invitational in Paris?

Well it's quite simple, it's exactly what everyone is hoping/think it's going to be.

Blizzard is going to formally announce they are developing Diablo III this week at the Worldwide Invitational in Paris (or D3 they like to call it).

In fact, much like Starcraft II , Blizzard has been hard at work on D3 for several years and people will quite surprised at just how far along they are with the development of D3. Again, like Starcraft II, D3 will have greatly enhanced graphics, updated gameplay, new classes, and will continue to tell the story of the struggle between the agents of Heaven and Hell (sure that's pretty vague, but it's D3 is D2 with enhanced graphics and updated gameplay, what more do you need to know?).

But when will it come out? Right now from what I understand the loose release schedule is as follows. World of Warcraft Wrath of the Lich King is to be released by the end of 2008. StarCraft II will be released towards the end of 2009. And Diablo III is aiming to be released by the end of 2010, but I would expect D3 to be delayed until at least 2011.

So all of those who have been patiently waiting for a sequel to Diablo will finally have their prayers answered this week ... and then will have to wait several more years. Well at least Starcraft II should be out to hold those starved D3 fans over.