Blizzard has plans for Diablo 4

Author: Joe Martin
Published: 13th August 2008
Comments (16) Stumble
Blizzard has plans for Diablo 4

Diablo 3 won't be the last in the series, promises Blizzard.

Blizzard may just be finishing off the current Diablo story arc with the anticipated third game in the series, but it doesn't mean it will end it there, oh no. In fact, the developer behind the likes of Starcraft and World of Warcraft is keen to continue the series.

Speaking to MTV Multiplayer in America, Diablo 3's lead designer Jay Wilson confirmed that there are plans for future Diablo games at a later date.

"We’re not saying this is the end of the ‘Diablo’ universe, but we are trying to bring this story line to a close. It’s not just Diablo III -— we’ve got plans beyond," said Jay.

Naturally, that news shouldn't come as any real surprise to anyone with their head screwed on right - Diablo games are so phenomenally popular that they are basically a license to print money, but it's nice to hear the confirmation regardless.

Diablo 3 has proven to be a controversial game with fans of the series so far however and many Blizzard followers have objected to what they think is a wimpy and too-bright approach to the art design of the latest game and the recent resignation of Blizzard's art director certainly hasn't helped out much - though Blizzard is adamant that the game will continue unchanged and with the current art style.

Regardless, Diablo 3 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated games of the year and should ensure an even more profitable future for Blizzard.

What do you think about the art style of Diablo 3? Is the series worth all the attention, or is it just massively over hyped? Let us know what you think in the forums.
Quote Jordan Wise 13th August 2008, 11:04
I'm getting quite annoyed that a lot of franchises are running into their fourth and fifth installments now, theres hardly any big releases this year that are actually new games. I know that lots of games iron out problems in sequels, but it shouldn't take 4 or 5 games to get the mechanics right, and stories that getting dragged on that long just get boring.

The only exception to endless sequels seem to be the Final Fantasy games, which change all the characters, story and mechanics with every version, and just retain the feel of the other games in the franchise. Why can't other games do this?
Quote Veles 13th August 2008, 11:08
The art direction is perfectly fine, much better than the dull brown fields of Act I in D2.

Since I love Diablo, the thought of a 4th game gets me excited, but part of me wishes they'd try and take it in a different direction, or create an entirely new setting and game.
Quote sotu1 13th August 2008, 11:14
actually Jordie, they pretty much nailed the game mechanics nigh on perfectly in the first game...they perfected it in the second game....if anything diablo 3 has a helluvalot to live up to. I'm sure blizz will have it spot on though.
Quote sotu1 13th August 2008, 11:15
Quote:
Originally Posted by Veles
Since I love Diablo, the thought of a 4th game gets me excited, but part of me wishes they'd try and take it in a different direction, or create an entirely new setting and game.

agree with you totally here. I'd like a moder day setting of Diablo with vampires :D
Quote Arkanrais 13th August 2008, 11:18
diablo 5: just like WoW, but more colourful. evil has survived and its now in super deformed form and has pixie dust and rainbows shooting out its bung hole.
Quote Cobalt 13th August 2008, 11:18
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jordan Wise
I'm getting quite annoyed that a lot of franchises are running into their fourth and fifth installments now, theres hardly any big releases this year that are actually new games. I know that lots of games iron out problems in sequels, but it shouldn't take 4 or 5 games to get the mechanics right, and stories that getting dragged on that long just get boring.

The only exception to endless sequels seem to be the Final Fantasy games, which change all the characters, story and mechanics with every version, and just retain the feel of the other games in the franchise. Why can't other games do this?
FF games wore out or me a long time ago. Releasing the same game over and over with gameplay tweaks and yet another rehash of the same basic story isn't innovation. We do seem to have some more original franchises coming up though. Mirror's Edge, Borderlands, Spore, Dead Space and I'm sure there are a few others (Lots of EA in that list for some reason)
Quote Jordan Wise 13th August 2008, 11:34
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cobalt
Releasing the same game over and over with gameplay tweaks and yet another rehash of the same basic story isn't innovation. We do seem to have some more original franchises coming up though. Mirror's Edge, Borderlands, Spore, Dead Space and I'm sure there are a few others (Lots of EA in that list for some reason)

FF don't just tweak mechanics, they chuck them out of the window. From 7 to 8, materia to junction, the two systems were polar opposites. They weren't afraid to make a big change, which could have cost them and that defines innovation: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
And while we do have new franchises coming up, the sequels vastly outnumber them. Lets look, the big games of this year, MGS4, GTA4, GoW2, Far Cry 2, Red Alert 3, Fallout 3, Crysis Warhead, Clear Sky, RE5, DMC4, and i could go on
Quote Paradigm Shifter 13th August 2008, 11:35
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arkanrais
diablo 5: just like WoW, but more colourful. evil has survived and its now in super deformed form and has pixie dust and rainbows shooting out its bung hole.

This made me crack up. :)
Quote Denis_iii 13th August 2008, 11:52
its going to fun, its going to be killing stuff, getting kewl armour, and co-op play threw the game
stop all your complaining, its going to be fun and awesome
i'd much rather have a direct copy of quake with updated graphics then doom3 or quake4
what works works so why mess with it
graphics looks awesome, gameplay awesome, if you don't like then go play outside and kick a ball rather then complaining
Quote SARTH 13th August 2008, 14:47
Yeah...
What about Ghost?
Remember it?
VAPORWARE
D4 ... lets get D3 before 2012 and MAYBE I will believe...it has been nearly 8 - 10 years since D2...
I love D2, D1, and all things Blizzy, but lets get real...it is amazing for a company to make SO few games to be so popular...is RockStar the next Blizzy?
MMO...wont be D. Don't make sense...SC does...hate to say...
Borrow a page from Crytek and make D4 some uber graphic intensive game, and don't whine like those AHoles who made Witcher complaining that everyone stole your game...
Yeah, I know, flame city...
Sarth
Quote UrbanMarine 13th August 2008, 15:30
As long as the game play is top notch, they can keep making them. I do love good graphics, but gameplay wins me over. Hell...I still play CnC Red Alert 2 and Duke3D.
Quote Firehed 13th August 2008, 15:50
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jordan Wise
I'm getting quite annoyed that a lot of franchises are running into their fourth and fifth installments now, theres hardly any big releases this year that are actually new games. I know that lots of games iron out problems in sequels, but it shouldn't take 4 or 5 games to get the mechanics right, and stories that getting dragged on that long just get boring.

The only exception to endless sequels seem to be the Final Fantasy games, which change all the characters, story and mechanics with every version, and just retain the feel of the other games in the franchise. Why can't other games do this?

Well FF isn't a series so much as a series of disconnected games sharing a name (exception: X/X-2). The artistic style tends to be the only thing vaguely consistent. And a character named Cid, of course.

Diablo 2 had quite excellent game mechanics and D3 will not likely change that tremendously - but it certainly looks to be a sequel in a much more traditional sense. It's certainly not a third try at getting things right; in fact, given Blizzard's history, it'll probably be the third implementation of a very successful product.
Quote Bungle 13th August 2008, 17:30
In a bit of a role reversal, I wouldn't mind playing Diablo from the other side of the fence. Being on the side of evil would bring a fresh look and feel to the game I think. Would be kind of cool for Diablo to give you quests. :D
Quote Denis_iii 13th August 2008, 17:39
blizzard should buy rights to dungeon keeper and make 3rd installment, i loved that game
Quote pendragon 13th August 2008, 17:45
i'm excited about this game. i'm sure i'll be buying it.
Quote Veles 14th August 2008, 00:14
Quote:
Originally Posted by Denis_iii
i'd much rather have a direct copy of quake with updated graphics then doom3 or quake4

That's because they were just generally **** as far as any shooter goes.
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