Diablo 4: What We Know So Far

Diablo 4 was officially announced at BlizzCon 2019. While rumors of the title circulated for some time, Blizzard finally revealed it's working on the next Diablo entry and has since given us some details that give us an idea of what to expect. From gameplay to enemies and potential characters, here is what we know about Diablo 4 so far.

Does Diablo 4 Have a Release Date?

Blizzard has not announced a Diablo 4 release date yet. After confirming the sequel at Blizzcon 2019, game director Luis Barriga said Diablo 4 wouldn't be released soon. "A game of this scope takes time," Barriga said. "This is a very, very early first step. We're not coming out soon... not even Blizzard soon." It was revealed Diablo 4 is being developed for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.

Diablo 4 Gameplay

Set in Sanctuary, a dimension separate from heaven and hell, Diablo 4 will focus on the darker roots of the franchise. Barriga described it as gothic, medieval, and "a bleak and shattered hellscape bereft of hope and beset by demons." Diablo 4 will feature a non-linear campaign played in a shared open world where players can group up, trade, or participate in PVP in designated areas. The world will include five regions that run on a day/night cycle and have weather effects. Barriga emphasized the importance of the series' legacy in Diablo 4, saying it's inspired by the combat in Diablo 3, the class line up and loot chase in Diablo 2, and the sense of dread in Diablo 1. IGN's James Duggan went hands-on with a 20 minute Diablo 4 demo at Blizzcon 2019, and you can see his detailed breakdown of the demo in the video below. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/02/diablo-4-hands-on-gameplay-impressions-blizzcon-2019"]

Diablo 4 Classes

Three classes are confirmed for Diablo 4: Barbarian, Sorceress, and Druid. Two additional classes which have not been revealed will also be available once Diablo 4 launches. Here are Blizzard's descriptions of the confirmed Diablo 4 classes so far:

• Barbarian: Known for their unparalleled strength and brutal melee combat." Barbarians will have a unique ability known as Arsenal, which allows them to carry four different weapons at a time.
• Sorceress: Hearkens back to their Diablo II roots and shapes the elements to obliterate their foes by impaling them upon jagged spikes of ice, electrocuting them with bolts of lightning, or raining flaming meteors from the sky.
• Druid: Is a savage shapeshifter whose updated playstyle empowers them to fluidly transform between werewolf, werebear, and human form to unleash the raw power of nature’s fury on the forces of the Burning Hells.

Each class will have its own talent and skill trees and are capable of detailed customization options.

Diablo 4 Characters

In panels and in a Diablo 4 quarterly update, some monster families were revealed. So far, Blizzard confirmed enemy groups The Cannibals, Cultist, Drowned, and Fallen will be present in Diablo 4. Each monster family will have archetypes with various fighting styles that play different roles in combat. For example, the Drowned family includes archetypes such as Ranged, Melee, Bruiser, Swarmer, and Dungeon Boss. While Swarmers strike in groups, Bruisers take on a tank-like role as large monsters with high health, making each encounter slightly different. An excerpt in a Diablo art book leak suggests Lillith will be a returning character in Diablo 4. Originally featured in Diablo 2's Pandemonium event, the passage in the leaked page reads, "Lilith's debut in Diablo IV is a reimagining of her form that is far different from her previous appearance."

Will Diablo 4 Have Microtransactions?

At BlizzCon 2019, Twitch streamer Quin69 asked lead designer Joe Shely how Blizzard will monetize Diablo 4. Shely replied, “Diablo 4 will be available as a base game, and… we’re going to have expansions. You also will be able to acquire cosmetics in the game.” This suggests cosmetic microtransactions could be part of Diablo 4 in addition to expansions and seasonal content Shely mentioned earlier in the interview. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Andrew Smith is a freelance contributor with IGN. Follow him on Twitter @_andrewtsmith.

from IGN News https://ift.tt/3gnAlxL
via IFTTT