First announced in 2019, Diablo 4 is the upcoming dungeon crawler action RPG published and developed by Blizzard Entertainment. While a release date has not yet been confirmed, fans of the Diablo series have been impressed with the glimpses of the game that Blizzard has provided so far, and anticipation is high for the next installment. The developer has released fairly regular updates on Diablo 4, so despite some question marks still surrounding when gamers will actually be able to get their hands on it, they at least have a pretty good idea of what they can expect from the title.
Diablo 4's cinematic trailer blew fans away with its gorey brilliance, playing into the series' dark themes and showcasing the game's macabre design. The lengthy clip introduced Diablo 4's main villains and showed how the series was returning to its roots when it comes to dark fantasy. Most of Blizzard's updates regarding Diablo 4 have had a positive reception from fans, with the developer looking for ways to improve on the well-received previous installments. With around a decade in between Diablo 3 and Diablo 4, there are a few key areas like dungeons that Blizzard can improve upon to make sure that the newest entry continues to elevate the Diablo experience.
Elevating The Previous Games
It seems like Blizzard is keen to change things up with its Diablo formula in order to provide players with something fresh and unique while still improving upon the elements of the previous titles that gamers loved so much. Many of the series' staples are set to remain, like the re-playable, procedurally generated dungeons and isometric loot-focused gameplay. There will still be character-building aspects that have defined RPG games, but Diablo 4 will introduce a vast open-world and PvP features to broaden the Diablo horizons while also providing players with a more grounded story compared to Diablo 3's.
Things like complete character customization in Diablo 4 are already helping to set it apart from previous entries while also making sure it keeps up with other ARPGs. The classes available for players to choose, like Druid or Rogue, in addition to the specialized weapons and abilities will freshen up the gameplay and make Diablo 4 a much more immersive experience. Character customization is usually a fan-favorite aspect of RPGs, and Diablo embracing this aspect is a smart move by Blizzard. Along with improvements to the Paragon System, Diablo 4 appears to be overhauling a lot of classic series elements in order to provide a better overall experience.
Diablo 3 faces a more mixed reception than its predecessors, and it seems like Diablo 4 has learned its lesson from the previous installments. Diablo 4 appears to be reinforcing the classic Diablo gameplay loop and will let players allocate stat points again instead of the skill and rune-swapping mechanics of Diablo 3. Diablo 4 is also upping the ante when it comes to game design, not only with smoother and faster gameplay, but also better-looking environments. This inevitably comes with time as technology advances, but art director Chris Ryder detailed how Diablo 4 was embracing a "return to darkness" as well as taking inspiration from painting masters like Rembrandt when it comes to lighting and scene composition.
Dungeons In Diablo 4
Aesthetics aren't the only thing improving in Diablo 4. From the sounds of it, its seems like the game is aiming to be bigger and better than previous Diablo entries in almost every way, from its map sizes to the amount of dungeons on offer. There will be "five distinct regions and hundreds of dungeons" for players to explore, each with its own themes and atmosphere. Blizzard will be recapturing the medieval Gothic inspiration from the earlier Diablo games, bringing that dark, demonic vibe to its updated gameplay and new dungeons.
While "weather and lighting [will] play a more prominent visual role" in the newest title, Diablo 4 will also focus on making dungeons feel distinct. There will be a range of tile-sets that can be arranged in a multitude of configurations to create a wider environment lineup, which associate art director Brian Fletcher says makes the whole process more flexible and allows for "seamless floor transitions or traversals" while also letting Blizzard "connect two different tile-sets together in the same dungeon" for more diverse exploration options.
With over 150 dungeons to bring to life, this feels like a tall order. However, Blizzard's new method of customizing the tile-sets with different cosmetic items and props in a layer that can be easily toggled on and off will make them feel visually distinct and provide plenty of options without needing a massive overhaul. With players adopting the same grinding gameplay loop, it's important that it doesn't feel like they're having to explore the same environments again and again, and it seems like Diablo 4 has come up with a great solution for potential dungeon-fatigue.
The Rocky Path To Release
As is the trend with big releases over the past few years, Diablo 4 has encountered some delays in its development. Partly pandemic-related and partly not, Diablo 4 was pushed out of its initial 2022 window and will now likely launch in 2023. When it was initially announced in 2019 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, players took this as a sign that it would release before the next generation of consoles launched. However, due to a number of internal issues and a high staff turnover, Diablo 4 has faced a good deal of development hurdles that have caused its launch date to slip.
Blizzard has also had its share of woes, from lawsuits and accusations of toxic working environments to a game-changing takeover from Microsoft that sent ripples through the video game community. While a high staff turnover can spell trouble for a game in development, the regular quarterly updates from Blizzard on Diablo 4 have sought to allay fan fears of disruption. It seems like Diablo 4 is steadily progressing, and with plenty of exciting details for players to read up on, it seems as if anticipation for the next title in the Diablo series is only growing.
Diablo 4 is in development.
