The looter genre is live and well. Destiny 2 will be ported to Xbox One and PS5, and the new hacker-slasher title Godfall aims to explore what newer, stronger consoles can do for the genre. There's another veteran looter with a new entry on the way, and even though it's not clear if it's on next-gen consoles, it's a big deal. Blizzard is taking its time with Diablo 4. Unlike some of these other games, it doesn't look likely that Diablo 4 will be a launch title for next gen consoles. Even so, Diablo fans should definitely be excited to see how Blizzard can improve the experience of its dark fantasy world.
Performance improvements are important for any kind of game, but for a looter, it's particularly important. The genre has something of an earned reputation when it comes to grinding -- it's very rewarding to get a powerful weapon or finish a set or armor, but there's often a lot of work involved and it's pretty time-consuming. That's why Blizzard's plan to remove Diablo's loading screens is so important. Diablo 4 is going to be a much faster, smoother experience without load times. Whether players are working through the plot or seeking coveted equipment in the postgame, they'll notice a big difference in the pace of play without load times.
Adventure Without Delay
Anyone who's tried farming a rare drop before knows that it can involve a lot of revisiting an area over and over again. That means a lot of loading screens. Especially if the boss or enemy being targeted isn't particularly difficult to beat, the real time consumer is backing out of the game or the area and waiting for the fight to load in again. Even outside of farming, loading screens can be a hassle. Games like Fallout 4 got some criticism for having remarkably long load times.
With that in mind, it's really exciting to image a Diablo game without any loading screens to speak of. Diablo generally involves moving through areas very quickly, and the player is frequently encouraged to fast travel. The less the player has to wait before entering a new area, the better. That's why doing away with loading screens will probably be one of Diablo 4's greatest strengths. No longer will the player be asked to sit and wait in the middle of a dungeon or while transitioning to the next part of the world. It'll be a seamless experience.
Enhancing The Experience
Loading screens aren't just good for players; they make a difference for developers too. For one thing, it means the team at Blizzard doesn't have to worry so much about trying to make load screens hold the player's attention. More importantly, loading times outside of loading screens are probably going to be better too. Developers are going to have a lot more freedom to create large, interconnected, highly detailed environments that'll be loading constantly. Things like enemy counts or sharp graphics are much less likely to get in the way of the player's progress. By getting rid of loading screens, Blizzard has the chance to make Diablo 4 feel much more like a unified world.
If these consoles can deliver what they promise about ending load times, Diablo 4 is going to be a striking and immersive experience that players can truly experience at their own pace, more so than ever before. It'll be a big deal for the efficiency players too, making farming more about the rewards and less about the time spend earning them. With all those factors together, Diablo 4 might have a secret weapon for success in its escape from load times. The battle against Lilith will mean a lot more if players don't have to wait in line to fight her minions.
Diablo 4 is in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. PS5 and Xbox Series X versions are not confirmed.