Blizzard reveals a ton of details about Diablo V, including the main character's storyline and background, and that the protagonist shares a direct link with the Lord of Terror himself.
The Diablo franchise is coming back in 2029 with a fully-fledged numbered sequel. Diablo V promises to be darker and more grisly than ever, showing a doomed universe where Diablo has already won. Now Blizzard has highlighted a few new story details and teased some innovative mechanics--it's even possible we will transform into a demon this time around, all thanks to our supernatural link with Diablo.
"You're going to have a unique bond with Diablo," said Diablo V narrative director Jennifer Hepler at the event. "As you play, you find out how and why it came to be. That's why you're in a unique position and able to face him; you have unique insight into him, but also vulnerability in what he can do to you."
"The story really begins when you find out that you can enter the Terror Realm and survive. While you're there, you learn about a few other powers that we're not ready to tell you about yet."
Hepler continues, further underlining what could end up being some sort of morality system that has a tangible, in-game effect on builds.
"That basically then allows you to define yourself in the game by opposition to the Lord of Terror. Can you resist his influence? Can you turn his powers against him? That's what the story and the gameplay are going to let you answer."
"Diablo needs to be the force that's shaping this game from its opening moments.
"That's why we decided this time you're not scrambling to protect Sanctuary before Diablo can rise and take it over.
"This time, other heroes stepped up to try to stop Diablo. They failed, and you're living in the aftermath of what they failed to prevent.
"You're living the world that all of the other Diablo games were trying to prevent from happening."
"We're really doubling down on darkness," said senior art director John Mueller. "That desolation that we're going to see in the world is really the setting for our survivors of this story."
Blizzard introduces a new concept called Terror-forming; it's kind of like Diablo 2's corrupted zones, but the world state changes too.
"Every time you return to the same point, the same region you've been before, it's going to look a little different," said senior production director Tiffany Wat.
"Those dread commanders have really twisted and corrupted that land, so the landmarks that you'll see, the monsters that you're running into, all of that terrain is going to be a little bit different."
The caravan mechanic effectively replaces towns, creating a roving band of travelers made up of both story NPCs and merchants. This time around, players will take the safety of the town with them, creating their own moving village of sorts, centered around the hopeful vibes from campfires in the night.
All towns are destroyed, and there are "no normal humans left." So that means all of Diablo V's side content will come from the caravan itself, with companions and members of your band offering you quests and the like.
"Throughout Diablo V, you're going to be able to bring your caravan, your traveling band of wagons and followers, with you throughout the world," said executive producer Matt Zitterman.
"Wherever you stop, there's going to be more to explore, and as you move through the world and meet new survivors, that caravan's going to grow. They're going to become your merchants, your craftspeople, your companions."
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Diablo V is set to launch sometime in 2029, and Blizzard will share regular updates starting in 2027. Check below for more details on what was revealed, as well as a look at the 3 confirmed classes:
Diablo V Key Details
- Major themes of sacrifice, transformation, resisting evil and using evil against itself
- Players share 'unique bond' with Diablo
- Takes place in Westmarch
- Protagonist is the heir to Westmarch
- Diablo 2 is a major influence, itemization like set items and even runes & runewords are confirmed
- Hardly any humans are still good
- Diablo has his own version of Hell called the Terror Realm
- Players can survive the Terror Realm & get unique new powers
- The world is unpredictable and more randomized than ever
- Terrorforming - Diablo's corruption and influence 'actively reshapes the land"
- Bringing back procedural world both in dungeons and the overworld
- All towns are destroyed in Diablo V
- New moving town philosophy where players will build a caravan as they travel
- Caravan includes merchants and companions
- New cast of characters including Zarg, a treasure goblin
- Quests are more intimate and involved
- Protagonist is the heir of Westmarch
- 3 classes confirmed: Demon Hunter, Monk, and new Plague Knight
- Diablo 2-style itemization, with item sets and multi-slot items
- Runes & runewords confirmed
