Blizzard's action RPG dungeon crawler series Diablo has been going strong since its initial launch in 1997. Since then, there have been three mainline installments in addition to plenty of other content around them as well, but now fans are excited for the next entry. Players have been waiting for Diablo 4 for a long time, and they haven't had a mainline entry in the series since 2012. There was disappointment among gamers when a much-anticipated announcement at BlizzCon in 2018 turned out to be for the free-to-play MMO Diablo Immortal and not Diablo 4, but now that the next installment is on the way, it seems like gamers have a lot to look forward to.
Ever since Diablo 4 was announced in 2019, Blizzard has been dropping details about what players can expect from the upcoming game. From its intentions to return to the darker, more macabre aesthetics and themes of the earlier games to the new additions that Blizzard will be bringing to the table, Diablo 4 appears to have a good mix of classic elements from the series and new ones. While some aspects of the game still remain under wraps ahead of its release, Diablo 4's story has started to take shape thanks to information released by the developer in the last few months.
Continuing The Story
The Diablo series is an epic saga that covers the long-lasting struggle between the forces of the High Heavens and the Burning Hells known as the Eternal Conflict, as well as the humans that usually get caught in the middle. Although most of the games mainly take place in the mortal realm of Sanctuary, they often focus on the concerns of the other realms and their conflict-eager inhabitants. Throughout the games, players come up against demonic foes and corrupted or possessed humans, and even seek help from angels like Tyrael to stop the Lords of Hell and other villains from seizing control or unleashing havoc upon Sanctuary.
While each game has its own story, set of characters, and selection of antagonists, there are threads that run through each of the entries in the Diablo series. These can be returning character classes, themes, shared locations, recurring NPCs, and other such elements that helped to tie the installments together and weave a vast and compelling overarching narrative. Most of the expansions of previous mainline entries offer substantive additional story elements, such as Diablo 3's expansion pack Reaper of Souls, that shows the devastating plans of Malthael, a former Archangel of Wisdom who tries to wipe out all humans.
The story has been effectively set up for the fourth installment, with the Seven Evils freed at the end of Reaper of Souls and more loose ends to pick up in the next game. These will of course exist alongside new characters, narrative directions, and unique quests throughout Diablo 4 to make sure that while it's still very much a part of the series, it's also treading its own path as well with innovations and fresh aspects.
A New Villain
From the first reveal with the cinematic trailer for Diablo 4, Blizzard came storming out of the gate with its ambitious, dramatic, and chilling vision for the next game. The extensive trailer revealed not only the vibe of the upcoming Diablo 4, but also the primary antagonist – Lilith. Known as the Daughter of Hatred, Lilith is a significant figure in Diablo lore and was the creator of Sanctuary, but she hasn't featured too prominently in the games up to this point. Diablo 4's decision to bring her to the fore, with a refreshed and terrifying look, is an interesting move and should yield some compelling narrative aspects.
Lilith is known by many names, including the Queen of the Succubi, Mother of Deceit, and Mistress of Betrayal, which is undoubtedly an impressive list of titles. Despite not being a regular part of previous Diablo titles, Lilith is instrumental in the world of the series that players know and love. Due to the ongoing Eternal Conflict, the fallout of previous games, and the power vacuum currently in place in the High Heavens and Burning Hells, the time is ripe for Lilith's return and for her to wreak havoc as she tries to achieve her own ends and possibly punish those that have wronged her.
The Direction Of Diablo 4
Blizzard has revealed a lot more about Diablo 4's gameplay and features than it has about the story, and it seems like the developer is keeping some things a mystery until players are actually able to get their hands on the game. At the moment, fans have plenty of details about the classes they can play as, Diablo 4's online shared world, PvP elements, and the minimal microtransactions, but there are only the bare details of the game's story. In terms of the overall timeline, Diablo 4 will be taking place after Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls, as cultists who worship her have brought Mephisto's daughter Lilith back to the mortal realm.
According to some reports, Diablo 4 will feature many returning characters from across the series in addition to Lilith, even if they've been extensively redesigned. This offers up some interesting possibilities for the potential return of fan-favorite villains as well as more benevolent NPCs, or even figures from Lilith's colorful past that could present some problems to the creator of Sanctuary and Mother of the Nephalem. In lots of ways, it seems like Blizzard is upping the ante when it comes to Diablo 4, with a wider scope, more ambitious elements, and more opportunities for players to put their own stamp on the game like with the extensive character creator. This also bodes well for the story. Diablo 4 has the potential to be the most engrossing and high-stakes installment yet.
Diablo 4 will launch in 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.