After years of secrecy surrounding the development of the eagerly anticipated title, Blizzard has finally revealed a June 6, 2023 release date for Diablo 4 along with a breakdown of the bonuses available for those who pre-order the game. Anticipation for the latest entry in the beloved franchise reached fever pitch recently when Blizzard released videos showing off Diablo 4’s character creator, giving gamers their first glimpse at the customization options in the new game.
First announced at Blizzcon 2019, Diablo 4 is the latest entry in the long-running franchise that began with 1997’s PC action RPG Diablo. Following the critical and commercial success of the first two Diablo titles, the franchise fell on hard times as the series struggled to maintain its identity. Though generally well-reviewed, 2012’s Diablo 3 faced criticism from some gamers for adopting an aesthetic highly influenced by World of Warcraft, while the mobile game Diablo Immortal was famously booed by the attendees of Blizzcon upon its premier. Following reports of Diablo 4’s troubled development from current and former Blizzard employees, some fans had expressed doubts that the troubled franchise could be salvaged.
In a new cinematic trailer that premiered at The Game Awards, Diablo fans were given a glimpse of an epic battle between two of the key figures in Diablo 4’s lore. The trailer opens with a priestess chanting while walking barefoot over scorching coals, flanked on all sides by soldiers in full battle armor. An otherworldly light begins to wash over the amassed soldiers before the camera cuts back to show Inarius, Archangel of the High Heavens, hovering over the gathered forces. As the priestess delivers a rousing speech to the armored warriors, the forces of Hell rush forward towards the soldiers.
With the battle raging below, Inarius spies his former lover and mother of the nephalem, Lilith, in the distance. Flying towards her in a rage, the trailer closes as Inarius’ spear is hurled towards Lilith and the release date is revealed. Gamers ready to battle the forces of darkness after the stirring trailer will be able to grab a variety of pre-order bonuses, with open beta access being offered to purchasers of the Standard, Digital Deluxe, and Ultimate editions of the game. In addition to extra in-game and cosmetic items, gamers who buy the Digital Deluxe and Ultimate editions will also have up to four days of early access to Diablo 4’s launch.
Featuring an art style that harkens back to the series’ roots, a powerful new character customization system, and deeper exploration of the franchise’s dark, demonic lore, Diablo 4 looks set to breathe new life into the series. And with Diablo 4’s cross-platform play and lack of region locks, players will be able to play wherever and with whomever they want when the game launches in 2023.
Diablo 4 launches on June 6, 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: Blizzard