At this year’s BlizzCon, Blizzard laid out its plans for the future. The studio revealed a first trailer for a new StarCraft game set for 2030. If that wasn’t enough, the team also announced a new Diablo with a cinematic teaser and a 2029 release date. The sneak peek at Diablo 5 reveals a world in utter desolation as legions of demons kill and crucify angels in Sanctuary, where the surviving humans kneel to the Lord of Terror. The game takes place around 100 years after its predecessor
Diablo fans had mixed reactions to the new game’s announcement
While the trailer is quite sharp, some Diablo fans weren’t particularly happy about the announcement, mostly because they are worried the new game means that Diablo 4 won't receive long-term support. Diablo 4 came out in 2023, roughly 11 years after its predecessor. There has been speculation that Blizzard made the early announcement because of the recent layoffs and turnover at Xbox.
In response, game director Brent Gibson told Icy Veins that as long as players keep supporting Diablo 4, Blizzard will keep releasing new seasons even after Diablo 5’s release. For context, Diablo 2 and 3 are still supported in this way.
After the interviewer asked if Diablo 4 would be going on life support due to Diablo 5’s announcement, Gibson said:
I have an analogy. If you’re wearing a sign in the middle of Times Square saying, “The end is nigh,” the end is not nigh. We have a lot coming. We have Amazon coming down the road. The train isn’t stopping. One of the things I love about our world is we are not a series of games. We are a universe. We are even adding to Diablo 2 with the Warlock. It’s one of the few franchises where we have the luxury of continued play, and we know our communities. If you’re worried, don’t sweat it. Because we’re going to be making content for a long time. But we are excited about Diablo 5. We got a show coming. Gone are the years of waiting a decade for more content. It’s a great place to be.
Gibson directly confirmed that Blizzard will continue working on Diablo 4, saying, “We are planning on supporting seasons as long as the community continues to show up for D4. Similar to what we have in D2 and D3. There are still people who play those games, and as long as you’re showing up, we’re going to continue to be making content.”
How has Diablo 4 been received?
Overall, series veterans have had a somewhat contentious relationship with Diablo 4. While critics praised the base game and its DLC, it only has 73% positive user reviews on Steam, with many players criticizing the game’s always-online elements, its core loop, and how certain skills are locked behind the relatively expensive expansions. While it’s hard to know whether this mixed response is part of why Blizzard is moving to release Diablo 5 much faster than it did with the previous game, it seems some fans will take issue with the decision either way.
Source: Polygon