No matter where Diablo 4 players come from or what their platform of choice is, Blizzard has announced in a press release that the next installment of the franchise will feature cross-platform play and no region lock, allowing friends to enjoy the game together with no restrictions. Though Diablo 3 was one of the best-selling PC titles of 2012, when the Ultimate Evil Edition came out for PS4 and Xbox One, it significantly revitalized the game's audience. It was the first Blizzard release on consoles in the company's modern era, and it paved the way for Overwatch, Diablo 2: Resurrected, and now Diablo 4 to follow.
Given how well Diablo 3's gameplay was translated to consoles, players should expect the same quality for Diablo 4. The sequel represents a return to what made Diablo so beloved in the first place, while still embracing the parts of Diablo 3 that were universally considered good. However, this doesn't mean that Diablo 4 is just the sum of the franchise's best parts – it is introducing an open world to Diablo and a level of customization that is as exciting to players as it is ambitious for the developers.
According to Blizzard, Diablo 4 players will be able to enjoy all of that and more in 2023, across all platforms and in all regions. Unlike its predecessor, Diablo 4 will not be region locked. Whether they're from the Americas or Europe, players will be able to group together and take on the forces of Hell. Moreover, Diablo 4 will have cross-platform play. A player on an Xbox console will be able to match with their friend on the PC, in a move that symbolizes Blizzard's recent philosophy when it comes to its Battle.net service and the games hosted there.
Though Blizzard hosted a closed beta for Diablo 4 earlier this year that focused on its endgame, Diablo fans can expect to get a hands-on preview when its open beta launches in early 2023. The full extent of the content provided for the open beta remains unknown, but if Diablo 3 has established any precedent, players should expect to see all five Diablo 4 classes made available to them in a limited half-Act duration.
As for when to expect the game's official premiere, recent rumors pinpoint Diablo 4's release date on June 5, 2023. Though this date remains unofficial, it comes from a source of high credibility in the video game industry, and Diablo fans should expect to see it confirmed either during The Game Awards on December 8 or in the weeks after.
Diablo 4 will launch in 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: Wowhead
