- Starting with MXL 2.10, the old launcher is decommissioned and can't update the mod to the latest version
- You can download the new launcher here
- If you need help with the new launcher, you can turn to our tech support channel on Discord
- Due to technical limitations, the new launcher is not compatible with older versions of Windows (Windows 8 and earlier)
- As an alternative for players using an older system, a small utility tool built by aahz can be used to install Median XL updates
Several years ago, before the "Sigma" era of Median XL, we aimed to streamline the user experience when it came to installing, updating, and configuring the mod. As Activision/Blizzard continued to release new Diablo II patch updates after 1.13c, it became increasingly difficult for inexperienced users to install the mod. This obstacle likely led to some players never trying it. Furthermore, for those who had already installed the mod, we, as developers, had no straightforward way to notify users of new updates or ensure that everyone was using the latest version for optimal compatibility.
That’s when we decided to build our own game launcher. This new application would handle the complexities of installing the mod on a vanilla Diablo II installation and automatically keep it up to date. At the time, whist recommended Electron as the baseline technology for building the application. Back then, Electron was a relatively new framework that allowed developers to create desktop applications using Node.js/JavaScript, with HTML/CSS for the graphical interface. Quirinus then took the lead on the project and pretty much single handedly built the first MVP (Minimum Viable Product) of the application. While many other development team members contributed in small ways to the project’s success, it was Quirinus who spearheaded the effort and remained the primary maintainer, iterating and improving on the initial MVP.
Success! We finally had our own game launcher to streamline the user experience. Unfortunately, it didn’t work as smoothly as we had hoped. While the launcher did make it easier for many users to install and try Median XL, and allowed us to efficiently distribute updates (that part was a total game changer for us as developers), it also had several technical issues. For many users, the experience was not without problems, and over time, we had to acknowledge that the launcher wasn’t fully achieving its goal of streamlining the user experience—especially for those less familiar with technical setups. While it was an improvement over the old method, it still acted as a gatekeeper, likely preventing some from ever trying the mod.
There were several reasons for the launcher’s inconsistencies and technical issues. First, the project lacked a clear design from the outset because we weren’t entirely sure what we wanted to build. As a result, functionalities were often designed on the fly as they were being implemented. Additionally, technical challenges related to Diablo II itself were tackled quickly, sometimes resulting in less-than-optimal solutions. We also used an early version of the Electron framework, and none of the team members were highly experienced JavaScript developers. Eventually, community member Deafwave, a more experienced JavaScript developer, took over the project, attempting to stabilize and improve the application. Despite some successes, the launcher still wasn’t as stable as we had hoped. Nonetheless, it was a significant improvement over the previous system, and we are incredibly grateful to Quirinus, Deafwave, and the staff who tirelessly helped hundreds of users resolve their technical issues on Discord's tech support channel.
As the launcher's instability continued to be a recurrent complaint among the community, we began discussing the possibility of building an entirely new launcher from scratch, incorporating the lessons we had learned. The new design would be clearer, the user experience even more straightforward, and the technical challenges related to Diablo II would be properly addressed. In 2021, whist took charge of the new project, gradually designing and developing its components. Since the game engine remained the primary focus, progress on the new launcher was slow. However, by 2023, a working MVP was ready, and it was officially released to beta testers in May 2023. Finally, in March 2024, the first public build was released, and since then, several updates have been rolled out to improve functionality and fix issues as more players began using it.
The old launcher continued to coexist with the new one, receiving updates until the new launcher reached a state we deemed satisfactory. Now, here we are, near the end of 2024, and it’s time to say goodbye to the old launcher and fully transition to the new one. Starting with the upcoming 2.10 patch update for Median XL, the old launcher will no longer be able to install the latest version of the mod and is officially decommissioned. If you’re still using it, you’ll need to migrate to the new launcher. Unfortunately, due to technical limitations, the new launcher will not work on older versions of Windows and is meant to be used on Windows 10 or Windows 11. While we're aware some members of our community are still using Windows 7 and maybe even some earlier versions of Windows, as these systems have been in EOL for several years, technologies that allow us to build applications like the launcher are dropping support for these systems, and it becomes increasingly difficult for us to remain compatible with older systems without considerable drawbacks, and so we had to choose and move forward.
Enjoy the new upcoming season!