?Diablo 3? Release Date Sets PC Sales Record, Blizzard To Rollout Hotfixes For Monk, Wizard Classes And More

We're definitely thrilled that so many people around the world were excited to pick up their copy of 'Diablo 3' and jump in the moment it went live, said Mike Morhaime, CEO and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment.

That number does not include players who received Diablo 3 as part of signing up for the World of Warcraft Annual Pass promotion, according to a press release from Blizzard. This marks a total of 4.7 million gamers that stormed the Sanctuary on May 15th, the biggest PC launch date in history. Within a week the number had grown to more than 6.3 million, excluding players in the Korean Internet game rooms. Diablo 3 has become the top played game in these Korean Internet game rooms, achieving a record share of more than 39 percent as of May 22nd.

Regarding today's announcement, we recognize that setting a new launch record is a big achievement, Morhaime also added. However, we're especially proud of the gameplay feedback we've received from players worldwide. We're pleased that 'Diablo 3' has lived up to the players' high expectations, and we're looking forward to welcoming more players into the Sanctuary in the days ahead.

Blizzard also acknowledged the issues players have been facing with account security, saying that the company is taking measures to address these concerns.

We also regret that our preparations were not enough to ensure everyone had a seamless experience when they did so, Morhaime continued. I want to reaffirm our commitment to make sure the millions of Diablo III players out there have a great experience with the game moving forward, and I also want to thank them for their ongoing support.

However, some are looking at Blizzard's success with a skeptical eye. According to Kotaku, the company seems unsure about their figures since the players in Korean game rooms and those with the World of Warcraft pass have not been accounted for.

So, congratulations, Blizzard! writes Evan Narcisse of the publication. Even with a rocky launch, you've made history. Just how much history is a little bit unclear.

Blizzard has also begun rolling out hotfixes for Diablo 3, meeting a heated response from players according to Video Gamer. One major change is the Monk's Boon of Protection rune, whose alterations include amount of damage absorbed is now capped at the amount of healing provided by Mantra of Healing in the first 3 seconds after activation.

Blizzard community manager Bashiok recommended discontinuing the Boon of Protection rune until its replaced with a new rune mechanic and an upcoming patch.

The Boon of Protection rune was approximately ten times over its budget on the benefits it provided, and it was quite simply a mistake on our part to let the rune ship as it was, he said. We don't intend to take these quick and drastic measures often, but considering the severity of the issue, we felt it important to correct it swiftly.

Blizzard will be releasing a full list of hotfixes sometime tomorrow, according to Video Gamer, since other users are discovering slight changes within their classes as well. The Wizard Force Amour has disappeared, and players have also said that the Demon Hunter's Smoke Screen ability has been heavily altered.

Just as Blizzard celebrates its record-breaking launch, it seems to have its' hands full with other issues to remedy. Be on the lookout for the rest of the Diablo 3 hotfixes to come soon.