The real reason for the Diablo 4 delay? It was planned to be a Dark Souls hybrid

The hearts of Diablo and Blizzard enthusiasts were utterly shattered (to put it mildly) upon learning that the forthcoming Diablo installment would not be the highly anticipated sequel to Diablo 3 from 2012. Instead, it would be a mobile game seemingly crafted to embrace the expanding Chinese fan community of the franchise.

Speculations have been rampant for an eternity regarding the existence of Diablo 4, fueling a growing discontent among players who were left seething with frustration over the absence of any updates about a much-anticipated continuation. The prolonged silence has left them pondering over the enigma of why the wait seems interminable.

Unveiling the true cause behind the delay unveils an unexpected connection to the renowned Gothic series, Dark Souls.

Against all expectations, the decision to completely overhaul the triumphant essence of one of the most renowned gaming franchises ever created may appear peculiar, especially following the remarkable success of Diablo 3. Nonetheless, as per the accounts of undisclosed former and current staff members who have recently disclosed information to Kotaku, the intention was to steer Diablo away from its traditional top-down perspective, and embrace the exhilarating third-person combat reminiscent of the Souls series.

The codename assigned to the successor was believed to be ‘Hades’, and it was being developed in parallel with certain downloadable content for Diablo 3. Unfortunately, the project was ultimately scrapped in 2016 when the team swiftly realized that the puzzle pieces simply couldn’t be arranged harmoniously.

One of Kotaku’s insiders alleges that things were not going according to plan, and the termination aligned with the resignation of the project’s chief, Josh Mosqueira. However, the sequence of these occurrences remains uncertain.

The pathway Diablo enthusiasts yearned for was not embodied by Diablo: Immortal.

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It is truly unfortunate that a sequel to the highly acclaimed Reaper of Souls expansion for Diablo 3 was initially in the works, only to be abandoned in order to shift focus towards the development of ‘Hades’. Evidently, Blizzard was determined to swiftly distance themselves from the rocky beginnings of Diablo 3, which were marred by significant technical issues and perceived attempts to extract more money from players.

“The team was presented with a message, stating, ‘Congratulations on completing Reaper of Souls, it’s truly exceptional. However, we believe the future of the IP lies in the realm of Diablo 4, in whatever shape it may take,'” an ex-employee revealed to Kotaku. “The general atmosphere among the team, as far as I could gather, indicated a lack of faith from the higher-ups. They perceived Diablo 3 as a colossal failure.”

Undoubtedly, a multitude of modifications have subsequently transformed Diablo 3 into the game that numerous enthusiasts have perpetually yearned for – a game that continues to embark on novel platforms such as the Nintendo Switch even to this day. Regrettably, the absence of conviction from its developers meant that the ultimate envisioned content for it remains unseen.

The anonymous informant reveals that the incident left numerous individuals in a state of disbelief. The abrupt termination, without giving Reaper a fair chance, inflicted a deep emotional wound.

“Within the depths of their thoughts, [Diablo 3] was deemed beyond salvation.”

In retrospect, it becomes apparent that Blizzard may have acted hastily in their decision to abandon Diablo 3 and veer off course with its sequel. However, as they embark on the development of Diablo IV, it seems they are honing in on the desires of devoted fans who yearn for a game that embodies the essence of ‘Diablo’: an atmosphere shrouded in darkness and foreboding.

Input: “There’s a lot of people who felt like Diablo 3 got away from what [makes a] ‘Diablo’ in terms of art style and spell effects,” another of Kotaku’s Blizzard sources states, foreshadowing a move away from the bright ‘Blizzard’ aesthetic that we see in games like World of Warcraft, Overwatch and Diablo 3, and back to what made fans fall in love with the series to begin with.According to one of Kotaku’s sources at Blizzard, many individuals believe that Diablo 3 deviated from the essence of what truly defines a ‘Diablo’ game when it comes to its artistic style and spell effects. This revelation hints at a potential departure from the vibrant ‘Blizzard’ aesthetic commonly observed in titles such as World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo 3. Instead, the intention seems to be a return to the elements that initially captivated fans and ignited their passion for the series.

“Their intention is to transform this into something repulsive, imbue it with a sense of darkness, and eliminate anything that possessed a cartoonish quality in Diablo 3… Craft an experience reminiscent of what evoked fear in players during Diablo 2, yet infused with a contemporary touch.”

Should Blizzard successfully accomplish it, Diablo 4 may indeed prove to be a worthwhile reward for the arduous anticipation.

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