Diablo 4 is hands down one of the most anticipated games on the planet. As the release is fast approaching, we take stock of the essentials to know about this major title. Ready to enter the world of Sanctuary?
More than ten years after Diablo 3, the license will be making a comeback! Granted, we’ve had Diablo 2 Resurrected and Diablo Immortal to wait on, but it’s this installment that fans have been waiting for for years. Announced since 2019, Diablo 4 promises us mountains and wonders. Full customization of your character, breathtaking graphics, nervous gameplay and content-rich “endgame”, here is what Blizzard wants to offer us in this title which already promises to be incredible.
In this file, we will take stock on what there is to know about Diablo 4. Whether you are a historical player of the license or a newcomer, Diablo 4 wants to welcome you with open arms. Prepare to enter Sanctuary…
Devil, what is it?
Let’s start with the fundamentals. Diablo is what is called a hack and slash, it is even the game that created the genre. The principle is simple: you choose a character among several offered and in an isometric 3D environment, you must slay monsters with a shovel to progress. The more you kill, the stronger you get, the better gear you earn, and the tougher the monsters get… an endlessly repeatable pattern that proves extremely addictive.
Diablo also has the particularity of taking place in an extremely dark fantasy universe. The player has to face hordes of demons to protect mankind. The goal is to eradicate Diablo, the Lord of Terror. A very different atmosphere from Warcraft, Blizzard’s other fantasy license.
Diablo 1 was released in 1997. on PC and was a monstrous success. Blizzard developed a sequel in 2000 (with an extension in 2001), which imposed the license in the video game landscape. It then took until 2012 to be able to play Diablo 3.
Since, Diablo 2 got a remake (Diablo 2 Resurrected) and a mobile component was released recently (Diablo Immortal). But with Diablo 4, it’s a “big” episode that is about to land. A game that is supposed to last ten years, like the previous ones.
Read also – Diablo 2 Resurrected test: evil is back and it feels good
When will Diablo 4 be released?
Diablo 4 will be released in 2023. If no specific date has been given by Blizzard, we can assume that the game is scheduled for the first half. The release date was indeed announced at the Xbox conference on June 12, 2022, during which Microsoft promised that the games presented “would be released in less than a year”.
Diablo 4 has long been desired. After being fantasized for years, it was made official in 2019, well ahead of its release. A usual process for Blizzard.
What platforms will Diablo 4 be released on?
Diablo 4 will be released on PC, Xbox Series X/S and PS5. Blizzard said the game will also be released on PS4 and Xbox One.
The game does not seem to be planned to integrate the Game Pass, at least not at launch (remember that Microsoft owns Blizzard). Important note: the game will be cross-play. A PC player will be able to play with his friends on PS5 or Xbox without worry.
At what price will Diablo 4 be sold?
For now, Diablo 4 does not yet have a price. Blizzard has not launched pre-orders. However, we can already venture to say that the game will be sold at the usual price, ie 60 euros. We can also assume that a collector’s version will be offered for fans.
What are the playable classes in Diablo 4?
Diablo 4 features five playable classes: Sorcerer, Barbarian, Druid, Necromancer and Thief.
Each has of its own gameplay. For example, the barbarian rushes into the heap while the wizard sprays enemy troops from a distance. See which class you like the most! You also have to build your “build” via a very complete talent tree. Each player will have their own way of dealing with the monsters in Sanctuary.
It will be possible to choose the gender of your character (as in Diablo 3) but also to customize its appearance (which is new), whether it’s his face, his haircut or his skin color. You will be able to create the hero you like. An RPG dimension that was somewhat behind the license so far.
Will Diablo 4 be an open world?
Diablo 4 will feature an open world. A first in the series which was content until then with a linear progression where we explored more or less large closed areas. Players will therefore have plenty of time to wander around a vast region of Sanctuary (in red on the map).
This will include five areas with their own aesthetics and enemies. Here they are :
Scosglen : a maritime area composed of large rainy plains and dark forests. Brittany, but more dangerous.
The Arid Steppes : a desolate area where different tribes fight destructive wars to appropriate the few resources that remain.
Fractured Peaks : these are high snow-capped mountains. We can expect areas that rely on verticality with a very steep relief.
hawezar : In every dark fantasy game, there must be a dark swamp strewn with deadly dangers. Hawezar will perform this function.
Kehjistan : This is a hot desert infested with cultists and wild creatures. An area that Diablo 3 players already know, since its Act 2 takes place there.
All of these locations will be dotted with procedurally generated dungeons (over 150!). There will be plenty to do. Note that Blizzard promises a real open world, so there will be no loading time between these different areas which will only be parts of a huge map.
Blizzard talked a bit about how their game progress is handled in a video. Diablo 4 will be built as an MMORPG. The player will follow a story by completing quests. Once the scenario is over and the maximum level reached then begins the real game, what is called the “endgame”.
Blizzard promised that this part would be very neat. Dungeons with other players, bosses in the open world, quests to complete to improve your character, PVP… there will be plenty to do. Moreover, the studio promised that content would be added regularly. Diablo 4 indeed seeks to approach the “game-service” modelwhich consists of giving players a reason to come back as often as possible.
Will there be microtransactions in Diablo 4?
Yes, Diablo 4 will include micro-transactions. A decision that worries the players a lot, rightly.
Diablo Immortal, the mobile game released in June 2022, has been singled out on this point. It is certainly free, but you must put the same in your pocket to advance your character. A more than vicious “pay-to-win” system, since it works with lootboxes, gift boxes. We don’t even know what we’re buying!
Rod Fergusson, the boss of the Diablo license, wanted to reassure the fans. Diablo 4 will be very different and for good reason: it can be bought at a high price. It will include an integrated store, but the latter will only sell cosmetic items for your character or scripted expansions. A bit what World of Warcraft already does. Beautiful promises, but we are waiting to see.
Diablo 4, what is it about?
In Diablo 1, 2 and 3, the player must stop Diablo, the Lord of Terror. For this fourth episode, the writers decided it was time to let our favorite antagonist breathe a little. This time the world of Sanctuary must face a new threat: the demoness Lilith. This is the queen of the succubus and niece of Diablo. After a horrible ritual, she is back in Sanctuary. The details of the scenario are not yet well defined, but it will undoubtedly have to be faced at some point.
And who knows, maybe Diablo will come by to say hi?
