Blizzard Leadership Interview: Diablo 4’s Live-Service Future

Diablo 4 is finally here, and fans of the legendary action role-playing game series are eager to dive into the dark and gritty world of Sanctuary once again. But what awaits them after they finish the main campaign and face the ultimate evil? How will Blizzard keep the game fresh and engaging for years to come? And what are the plans for expanding the story and the gameplay in the future?

To answer these questions and more, Rod Fergusson, the general manager of Diablo, and Zaven Haroutunian, associate game director for Diablo, shared their vision for Diablo 4’s endgame and live-service future.

The Endgame Loop

Diablo 4 is designed to be a game that players can enjoy for a long time, with a rich and varied endgame loop that offers different ways to challenge themselves and improve their characters. According to Haroutunian, the endgame loop consists of four main pillars: dungeons, raids, PvP, and seasons.

Dungeons are randomly generated instances that players can explore solo or with up to three other players. They vary in size, layout, difficulty, and rewards, and they can be customized with different modifiers that affect the gameplay. For example, players can choose to increase the enemy density, add environmental hazards, or disable certain skills or items. These modifiers can make the dungeons more challenging, but also more rewarding.

Raids are larger and more complex dungeons that require a group of eight players to complete. They are designed to test the coordination and teamwork of the players, as well as their build diversity and synergy. Raids have multiple bosses, each with their own mechanics and phases, and they offer exclusive loot and cosmetics.

PvP is an optional mode that allows players to engage in combat with other players in designated areas of the open world. PvP is meant to be a fun and casual activity that does not affect the progression or balance of the game. Players can earn honor points by participating in PvP, which can be used to buy cosmetic items and titles.

The Live-Service Future

Diablo 4 is not only a game that players can enjoy for a long time, but also a game that will evolve and grow over time. Blizzard is committed to supporting Diablo 4 as a live-service game, with regular updates, patches, events, and expansions.

Fergusson explained that Blizzard has a long-term roadmap for Diablo 4 that includes multiple seasons and expansions. He said that each season will have a narrative questline that will tell a story within the open world of Sanctuary, without extending the main campaign. He also said that each expansion will add new regions, stories, classes, mechanics, and features to the game.

Fergusson also hinted at some of the possible directions that Diablo 4 could take in the future. He said that Blizzard is open to exploring different genres and styles within the Diablo universe, such as horror or comedy. He also said that Blizzard is not afraid to experiment with new ideas and mechanics that could change or enhance the gameplay experience.

He gave an example of how Diablo 4 could introduce a mechanic that allows players to create their own dungeons using a set of tools and assets. He said that this could be a way for players to express their creativity and share their creations with other players.

“We have a lot of ideas for Diablo 4,” Fergusson said. “We want to make sure that we’re always surprising our fans with something new and exciting.”

The Conclusion

Diablo 4 is a game that promises to deliver an epic and satisfying adventure for fans of the series, as well as newcomers who want to experience the thrill of slaying demons and looting treasure. But it is also a game that aims to keep players hooked for years to come, with a rich and varied endgame loop that offers different ways to challenge themselves and improve their characters, and a live-service future that will bring new content and features to the game every few months.

Blizzard has a clear vision for Diablo 4’s endgame and live-service future, and they are eager to share it with the players. They are also open to feedback and suggestions from the community, as they want to make Diablo 4 the best game it can be.

“We’re really proud of what we’ve created with Diablo 4,” Haroutunian said. “But we’re also really excited about what’s to come. We hope that our players will join us on this journey and enjoy the game as much as we do.”