Last week, Blizzard took the stage at BlizzCon 2019 with official confirmation that Diablo 4 is indeed in development. This announcement was accompanied by a lengthy Diablo 4 cinematic trailer, which gave fans a glimpse at the exceptionally dark tone that is at the center of the title, and Blizzard has been emphasizing the game's focus on the macabre ever since. One of the ways that the developer has attempted to convey the atmosphere of Diablo 4 is by talking about its influences, one of which is now confirmed to be the horror manga master himself, Junji Ito.
Perhaps best known for Uzumaki, a manga series that focuses on a town's unhealthy obsession with spirals, and Gyo, a frightening tale of sentient bacteria and fish, Ito is well established in the realm of horror, and many fans are sure to be excited to hear that his work has had an influence on Diablo 4. Of this influence, Diablo 4's Lead Quest Designer Jason Roberts indicates that it is Ito's proclivity for "taking mundane things and twisting them" that has proved inspirational.
Without question, Ito's shocking tales are prime source material for anyone looking to create a disturbing work of art, and while it is unlikely that Diablo 4 will be lifting directly from his stories, the game is sure to succeed in feeling beautifully grim if it is able to present an atmosphere on the level of Ito's. Fans have already gotten a sense of how this atmosphere will materialize in the game, through the aforementioned cinematic trailer as well as a Diablo 4 gameplay trailer, and more will certainly be revealed as the title's release date approaches.
With respect to when this release date will come, no official word has been given at this time. However, there are quite a number of details about this highly-anticipated game for fans to sift through, including information on some of Diablo 4's playable classes, its loot system, and more, which should keep players busy for at least a little while. Additionally, fans that may not be familiar with Ito's work, but are excited about Diablo 4's focus on darkness, should certainly not hesitate to acquaint themselves with it in the time leading up to the game's release.
Diablo 4 is in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Source: VG247