Blizzard is notorious for keeping fans waiting, and Diablo 4 was no exception. After months of speculation, Diablo 4 was ultimately introduced at BlizzCon 2019, but fans were left in the dark until 2021, when we were given further Diablo 4 details. It seemed like the buildup to a 2022 release date, but gamers were forced to wait another year. Now, in 2023, we may prepare to defend Sanctuary from the armies of Hell once more, with a particularly renowned foe returning to cause havoc.
What is Diablo IV about?
Diablo, Blizzard's action RPG dungeon crawler franchise, had been in production since 1997. Since then, there have been three mainline editions, as well as a plethora of additional content. The story of Diablo 4 takes place several years after the events of Diablo 3's Reaper of Souls expansion, which was released in 2014. Diablo 4 will be more like Diablo 2 with a darker and gorier backdrop, as evidenced by the trailers we've seen.
In the 2019 reveal video, gamers witness cultists summoning Lilith, Mephisto's daughter and one of the architects of the Sanctuary realm. Lilith was a tremendously powerful boss in Diablo 2's Pandemonium event, and now that the forces of demons and angels have been reduced by the events of Diablo 3, the 'Mother of Pain' has spotted an opening to fill the power vacuum created in Sanctuary.
Lilith can be seen again at the end of the teaser broadcast at The Game Awards, but the focus was on the Angel Inarius, the other founder of Sanctuary. As Inarius is encircled by soldiers as they prepare to repel Lilith's demons, it appears that the protagonist and their party will become involved in this battle and may be forced to pick which side they support.
So far, that's all we know about the overarching tale. The Diablo 4 world and lore panel was particularly focused on the minor stories in the game being more of a driving force than the large overarching plot found in Diablo 3. Chatting with NPC locals, exploring the world, and completing side missions will provide players with information about what is going on in Sanctuary.
Diablo IV announcement trailer
Together with the first announcement, Activision Blizzard released a cinematic Diablo 4 video, which depicted a group of thieves attempting to break into a hallowed tomb while being pursued by monsters. When three of the robbers narrowly make it inside the inner rooms, someone is left behind, but they quickly realize they shouldn't be there.
During The Game Awards 2022, another Diablo 4 cinematic trailer played, depicting Inarius, Archangel of the High Heavens, facing back Lilith and her approaching army of demons with his own slave bulwark of Pale Knights. The trailer ends with Inarius tossing his spear at Lilith and declaring that he has returned to hell for her.
What platforms will Diablo IV release on?
Diablo 4 will be available for the PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One at the same time. Cross-platform multiplayer has been a goal for Blizzard since the beginning of development. The action-RPG will be available across all platforms on June 6, 2023.
Blizzard has announced that Diablo 4 crossplay will be available from the start. This ensures that gamers on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One will be able to freely play, party up, and fight together.
Diablo IV character classes & customization
Upon debut, Diablo 4 will have five character classes. The Barbarian, Druid, and Sorceress are back - three fan favorites who are considered iconic by many. The party is completed by Diablo 4's new Rogue class, which has not appeared in the series since the original game, and the Necromancer. Diablo 4 will also have a new character customization system that would give players access to hundreds of different armor, facial features, and body forms.
To bring more unique touches to the game, the dye system has been enhanced to allow players to customize their armor in numerous hues. Each class has its own set of gaming elements that players can enjoy. The Barbarian can wield up to four weapons at the same time, switching between them depending on skill use.
Druids will shapeshift between werewolf, werebear, and human forms via a skill from each. The Sorceress brings heavy spellcasting to the table. Rogues will use a combo points mechanic to maximize the effectiveness of their daggers and knives. Diablo 4's Necromancer will be distinct from prior games thanks to a new feature that allows players to customize undead minions.
Diablo IV open world and gameplay
The game will be open-world and huge in scale. About 100 towns and villages can be found throughout Sanctuary's five primary zones. There are several pathways and hidden regions to explore, and players can approach the globe in any way they want, as opposed to being guided from one location to the next as in previous games. There will be a core objective to finish, but you will be free to explore the world as you like, with possibilities to participate in world events that you can team up with other players to complete, or side quests to obtain extra items.
This does not imply that Diablo 4 is a full-fledged MMO, as game director Luis Barriga stated in a developer update that "dungeons and key story moments are always private," and that once the player and their group leave those key instances, they will encounter some other players as they travel around the world.
A solitary player can easily join a world event and be on their way in Diablo 4, but including some of these MMO components is a method to help make Diablo 4's world feel more alive.
When will Diablo IV be released?
Diablo 4 is set to be released on June 6, 2023, and was announced in December 2022 with an epic global premiere trailer at The Game Awards, where Blizzard revealed the date alongside the release of a new cinematic video.
Diablo 4's June release date has been confirmed after years of speculation and anticipation, following its debut at BlizzCon 2019. If you preorder the ultimate or digital deluxe editions, you can play the game four days early, on June 2.
