Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

‘Diablo IV’ was reportedly rebooted in 2016, could have been like Dark Souls

By
Diablo Immortal Gameplay Trailer

Blizzard disappointed its most vocal players during BlizzCon 2018 earlier this month, failing to announce a fourth main Diablo game while also revealing the mobile-exclusive Diablo Immortal. It appears, however, that development on Diablo IV hasn’t exactly been smooth thus far, in and the current version of the game has only been in the works for two years.

Recommended Videos

According to a report from Kotaku on the Diablo franchise and leadership shakeups at Blizzard, the fourth Diablo game began as something much different than the previous three in the franchise. After troubles launching Diablo III and the cancellation of an unannounced second expansion, development shifted to a project that resembled Dark Souls more than the other Diablo games.

Related

The game was being led by Josh Mosqueira, who directed the Reaper of Souls expansion, but he eventually parted with Blizzard and the project, code-named “Hades,” was canceled. In its place is the current iteration of Diablo IV, which reportedly resembles the other titles but with a focus on darker, creepier imagery to contrast it with Diablo III. The camera angle hasn’t been finalized but it is currently using the isometric style fans know. Development on the new version of the game began in 2016, and it appears to be going much more smoothly.

Diablo Immortal Cinematic Trailer

Over the years, Diablo III has almost turned into Blizzard’s Skyrim in terms of the sheer number of platforms it’s on. Originally launched for PC and Mac in 2012, it then came to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, then to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and then to Nintendo Switch just a few weeks ago. The newest version, bundled as The Eternal Collection, include all previously released DLC, including Reaper of Souls, and the game continues to be updated with new content. After more than six years, however, players are definitely ready for the next chapter, hopefully free of the launch woes that plagued its predecessor.

In the meantime, perhaps Diablo Immortal will turn out better than the naysayers predict. The game’s development shouldn’t affect other Diablo games, and could perhaps spur even more interest in a franchise that has placed quality over quantity for over a decade.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Gabe Gurwin
Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
Dark Souls III beginner’s guide: Tips and tricks for intimidated first-timers
Jumping back into 'Dark Souls 3' to play 'The Ringed City'? Keep these tips in mind
dark souls iii guide 20200925131848

The Dark Souls series is notoriously challenging, and while it has become popular among gamers in the last few years exactly for that difficulty, it remains a bit inscrutable and overwhelming for many players. Dark Souls III is arguably a more easygoing Souls game than its predecessors, however, in that it gives players a little more leeway as they learn and provides something of an easier time getting into the game. It’s still no walk in the park, but it might not be as ruthless as previous titles.

Two expansions have been released since Dark Souls III launched in 2016, offering even more terrifying environments and bosses for brave travelers. You might be afraid of getting into the series due to its notorious difficulty, but it is possible to get into Dark Souls III -- and even fall in love with it. With a little insider information and a lot of patience, anybody can become a hollowed medieval warrior and a skilled smasher of hideous monstrosities.

Read more
A Dark Souls II starter guide — trust us, you’ll need the help
dark souls ii starter guide trust us youll need help scholar of the first sin 20200923131245

The world of Dark Souls II is a dangerous place. Whether you're a hardened vet who's been honing your skills since the original Demon's Souls for PlayStation 3 or if the hardest RPG you’ve played until now is Skyrim, you are probably going to want to throw your controller down in frustration at some point during Dark Souls II. So, there's nothing wrong with accepting a little bit of help getting started.

If you're new to the series, its many intricate systems can seem like an insurmountable obstacle at first. Even if you're familiar with the basics, there are plenty of changes to the recipe this time around that will have you wondering about the identity of all the game's new, subtle flavors. Without giving much away -- discovery is half the fun in Dark Souls II, after all -- these tips will help you get started on the right foot. Before it gets hacked off by demons, at least.

Read more
Diablo Immortal will be a massive success, whether you like it or not
diablo immortal mobile will be huge for blizzard featured

On an ill-fated evening in November 2018, Blizzard decided that a gathering of hardcore gamers was the best place to unveil a new mobile-only game in a franchise that was begging for a proper numbered sequel. Conditioned over the years to believe that its adoring fans would lap up anything with its brand IP attached, Blizzard endured a vocal backlash that tore deep into its cushy reputation.

Diablo Immortal was revealed to a sea of boos: The audience Blizzard had fostered over the decades felt betrayed by the notion that the slow-turning cogs of an Activision merger were finally transforming a company that cared about its community into one that simply cared for its bottom line.

Read more