If you’ve been playing Diablo 2: Resurrected online, you may have come across the message “Gem Activated” after clicking the blue gem underneath your character, whether by accident or out of curiosity. What exactly is the meaning of the “Gem Activated” message in Diablo 2: Resurrected, and what does it do?
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Gem Activated Meaning in Diablo 2: Resurrected
Simply put, the “Gem Activated” message means nothing and clicking the gem does nothing. The blue gem in the Lobby screen, known officially as the “Chat Gem”, dates back to the year 2000 with the original Diablo 2. When clicked, it turns magenta and displays the message “Gem Activated”. Clicking the gem again makes it regain its original blue color and display the message “Gem Deactivated”. On rare occasions, after constantly clicking, a message displaying “Perfect Gem Activated” or “Moooo” (a reference to the Secret Cow Level), will be displayed instead.
The Chat Gem was subject to wild speculation and many rumors in the early 2000s. When asked, Blizzard’s official response was “The chat gem is working as intended.”, leading to even more theorizing throughout the years. However, in 2011, Jay Wilson, the lead designer of Diablo 3, confirmed that “the chat gem did nothing” during an interview. It’s simply an Easter egg crafted by Blizzard to mess with the player and create a buzz in the community.
Chat Gem in other Diablo & Blizzard Media
The Chat Gem has become a reoccurring gag in official Diablo media, with Diablo 2: Resurrected‘s official website having the gem at the bottom of the page. Continuing to click on the Chat Gem causes blood to splatter the screen, to the delight of classic Diablo 2 players. Diablo 3’s website also featured the Chat Gem, which would randomise hero builds when the Skill Calculator page was open.
While the Chat Gem doesn’t reappear in the sequel, there is a direct reference to it with the ‘Gibbering Gemstone’ item, which is required to access Diablo 3‘s version of the Secret Cow Level. Warcraft 3, another popular Blizzard title, features a green version of the Chat Gem that will make any deleted units display their death animation, instead of simply disappearing. Hopefully, this recurring gag will appear in some form or another in the upcoming Diablo 4.
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Diablo 2: Resurrected is available for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch.
