Everything you need to know about Diablo 4 including a potential release date, beta, confirmed classes, and the new features coming to the RPG sequel

Diablo 4 Release Date (Confirmed)

First, let’s get the most asked question out of the way. While Diablo 4 was initially expected to release in late 2022, we now know that isn’t going to happen. Microsoft-owned developer Blizzard Entertainment has now confirmed that Diablo 4 will release sometime in 2023. Unfortunately, a more specific release date isn’t available at the moment.

Rest assured, we will update this article with any new information as and when it’s available, so bookmark this page and stay tuned.

Diablo 4 gameplay

Instead of the usual chapter-based progression, Diablo 4 is open-world, so players will need to travel between hubs. Surprisingly, Blizzard confirms there are no loading screens between dungeons and the overworld. Since everything will be far away, you can ride on horses and attack foes while mounted. You may also find shortcuts by jumping off ledges.

The open-world structure allows players to join each other at any time in the same world via co-op or PvP. Additionally, Activision Blizzard confirms that Diablo 4 will have cross-play support across all platforms.

With the large open-world comes the need to fill it with quests and hidden treasures. Diablo 4 has Strongholds, which are settlements filled with enemies you must slay to capture the territory. Once you do, if you come back later in the game, you’ll find either a friendly town filled with helpful NPCs, a dungeon waiting for you to plunder its secrets or something else entirely.

Players can also participate in Diablo 4 public events without having to party up. One of these events features a gargantuan monster holding a bulky chest bursting with treasure to unlock when you kill its holder. Speaking of Diablo 4 monsters, they now have families that may be visually different but have common themes, such as being a ranged fighter.

Blizzard has extensive plans for Diablo 4 customisation. You can create your personalised character for the first time in the main series, as opposed to the pre-rendered characters of the past. You can also tinker with skill slots, taking advantage of the three new powers: angelic, demonic, and ancestral. Each of these new stats has its own effect and is a prerequisite for Diablo 2 Resurrected Items affixes.

Diablo 4 has five classes: Druid, Sorceress, Rogue, Barbarian, and Necromancer. In addition, classes now have multiple play styles, which should make for some diverse Diablo 4 builds. For example, the Rogue can excel as an assassin-like class or as a ranged crossbow user.

There are also lots of things to do during Diablo 4 endgame, with normal dungeons being converted for high-level play after you complete the last mission of the Diablo 4 campaign. On top of this, Blizzard confirms that it plans to support Diablo 4 for several years with game updates, expansions and ladders.

Diablo 4 Seasons

In a quarterly update in August 2022, Blizzard confirmed that, like its processors, Diablo 4 will benefit from seasonal play. The company is aiming to create four seasons a year once Diablo 4 launches in 2023.

Blizzard said: “We agree one of the most fun ways to play Diablo is through Seasons, so we’re making the first one available soon after launch and building a dedicated team to bring you up to four Seasons a year, each with major new features, questlines, enemies, legendary items, and more.”

Diablo 4 beta

Blizzard recently confirmed that the first Diablo 4 beta will be a "closed end game" test meant to give hardcore fans a look at what the sequel will look like after the main campaign. And while it's only available for players who have played Diablo 2: Resurrected and Diablo 3's end game recently, there is an open beta for everyone else coming early next year.

Platforms

Currently, we know that we can expect a PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One release for Diablo 4. Diablo 3 did eventually make it onto the Nintendo Switch, but it is unclear if this new entry will be able to run on that hardware.

And that's everything currently known about Diablo 4. While we wait for news on the Diablo 4 release date, there’s still time to dive back into previous games in the series. Diablo 2 Resurrected is now available, and you can check out our Diablo 2 Resurrected beginner’s guide to help you get started or buy D2R Items from us, just click https://www.igv.com/Diablo-2-Resurrected-Ladder-Items