Fans are anxiously awaiting the Diablo 4 release date, and they may be surprised by what Blizzard will announce.
Multiple sources report that the Diablo franchise’s next installment will be released in Spring 2023. The latest entry, Diablo 4, is currently wrapping up its closed beta. Blizzard Entertainment is developing the next entry in the action RPG series.
The recently released Diablo Immortal, which did not have a warm reception from critics and fans alike, was made through a partnership with NetEase. Immortal had excellent gameplay, and the Diablo franchise is a natural fit for mobile devices. We couldn’t ignore its shady and predatory microtransactions, however.
Where Immortal was a free-to-play release, Diablo 4 is a fully priced and more traditional entry.
Diablo 4 Goes Back to Basics
In addition, Blizzard promises that Diablo 4 is a return to the franchise’s roots. Diablo 3, released in 2012, moved away from the dark atmosphere and aesthetic the original Diablo games featured. This is something Blizzard has made clear from the get-go. The debut trailer for Diablo 4, revealed at BlizzCon 2019, ramps the mature vibes up to eleven.
Sebastian Stepien, the game’s creative director, also talked about how the team desires to make the story more grounded than its predecessor. The narrative and plot have shifted away from high fantasy. Instead, the story focuses on showcasing the everyday people in Sanctuary.
A total of five classes are available to play: the Necromancer, Rogue, Sorcerer, Barbarian, and Druid.
WindowsCentral is collaborating and confirming various rumors and leaks. They all indicate we’re about to see a full push toward an April 2023 Diablo 4 release date. It is expected that the game will see a new trailer and announcement during the 2022 Game Awards.
It has been a busy year for Blizzard. Wrath of the Lich King Classic launched for World of Warcraft in September. The next expansion for the retail version of WoW, Dragonflight, is set to release later this month.
Blizzard also recently released Overwatch 2 as a free-to-play title. While the game’s multiplayer modes are available, the anticipated PVE mode is still in development.
Despite the news that Microsoft is attempting to acquire Activision Blizzard, Diablo 4 is expected to release on all major platforms. When we learn of the Diablo 4 release date, expect the supported consoles to include Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. Sadly, a Nintendo Switch version is not expected at this time.
Approval of the Microsoft-activision Blizzard Deal Is Expected in Q3 2023
Once the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal is approved, Diablo 4 is expected to appear on Xbox Game Pass. The same goes for other major Activision Blizzard games, including Call of Duty and Overwatch.
Speaking of Call of Duty, that could be one thing that holds up the Microsoft deal. Jim Ryan, CEO of PlayStation, sees a problem with Microsoft owning the rights to the franchise.
“Microsoft has only offered for Call of Duty to remain on PlayStation for three years after the current agreement between Activision and Sony ends,” Ryan said recently. “After almost 20 years of Call of Duty on PlayStation, their proposal was inadequate on many levels and failed to take account of the impact on our gamers. We want to guarantee PlayStation gamers continue to have the highest quality Call of Duty experience, and Microsoft’s proposal undermines this principle.”
Despite this hiccup, Phil Spencer is confident the deal will be approved.
“We’re in the regulatory process right now, “Spencer said recently on the Same Brain podcast, “which means we don’t have any decision-making or any authority over what Activision is doing…We expect this will close in this fiscal year for Microsoft in June. I’m pretty confident in the deal closing, I’m spending time with regulators, I think they’re doing a good job asking questions.”
