Diablo’s Future Just Got Bigger — Blizzard Hints at Faster Releases and New Expansions

The Diablo series could be getting ready for big things. Developers of Diablo IV suggested in a recent interview that fans might see more Diablo games come out more quickly in the future. This is a big change for a series that has been known for having long development cycles in the past.

When asked if a new Diablo game could be shown off at BlizzCon in September, especially since big updates for current games had just been released, the executive producer and vice president of the franchise gave a thoughtful but interesting answer. 

He talked about how hard it is to run a franchise that has been around for more than 20 years and still has loyal fans who are eager for new material.

The five main games in the Diablo series have come out over about 30 years: Diablo, Diablo II, Diablo III, Diablo Immortal, and Diablo IV. That number does not include Diablo II: Resurrected or other add-ons or remasters. What does this mean? Blizzard thinks that more games will be added to the famous action RPG series over the next 30 years.

Just that alone makes it possible to guess. There could be a remake of the first Diablo, a brand-new core sequel, or even something completely different in the works. As BlizzCon gets closer, people are already getting more excited. Even though a brand-new title would definitely get a lot of attention, many people think that additions are more likely to happen soon. The "Lord of Hatred" update for Diablo IV is coming out in April, but players will have had a chance to play it for a while before BlizzCon.

Because Blizzard offers live support and players are very interested in the game, it's unlikely a second update will be announced this fall. Some fans are already thinking about what a third expansion might bring, even though expansion two is still going on. The next question is: where does the game go from here?

The world of Diablo is very big, and many areas have not been fully explored or have only been quickly touched upon in previous games.

People often talk about the Isle of Shanzai as a possible location. It's an Asian-style area that would give the brand a new look in terms of architecture and nature. Diablo hasn't fully embraced that style in its main games yet, but a setting like that could make for a visually unique chapter.

Others suggest returning to famous places rich in history. Even though Ariat Crater is still scarred from when the Worldstone was destroyed at the end of Diablo II, it is still an interesting place to start a story. How well has the world really recovered from that terrible event? On the other hand, Westmarch, a large city destroyed by end-of-the-world forces, could be a great setting for political intrigue and urban warfare.

Speculation isn't just about Diablo IV. More and more people are talking about the idea of adding new content to Diablo II: Resurrected. Recent updates have been well-received, and Blizzard has said they are willing to make more content if players ask for it, so an Act Six doesn't seem too far-fetched.

But coming up with a new act comes with its own set of problems.

The visual and thematic style of each act in Diablo II is unique. The harsh wilderness in Act I, the sands of the desert in Act II, the thick jungles in Act III, the hellish landscapes in Act IV, and the snowy mountains in Act V are all very clear. For a new act to have its own unique biome, it can't overlap with ones that are already there.

One example is going back to Kurast-style forests, which has been done before. It would be hard to explain why Act II would take place in a desert. Places with snow, like the Fractured Peaks, might look like Act V. That makes the choices a lot smaller.

Some fans want to go into the High Heavens, which could mean revisiting early ideas Blizzard North had when making Diablo II.

Some people think of Westmarch as a gothic city biome, which the game hasn't fully explored in an act yet. No matter where Blizzard ends up taking the series, one thing is for sure: Diablo content could be coming out faster. Since the leaders have admitted that the last 30 years have been pretty slow, there may be more trips into Sanctuary and maybe even further in the future.