Diablo IV: Resurrecting a Fallen Franchise

The Diablo franchise has long been a cornerstone of Blizzard Entertainment's gaming empire, captivating players with its dark fantasy setting and addictive loot-driven gameplay. However, the journey to Diablo IV has been anything but smooth, marked by canceled expansions, internal struggles, and a constant battle to recapture the magic that made the series a beloved classic. This exclusive excerpt from the book "Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment" delves into the tumultuous development of Diablo IV and the lessons Blizzard learned along the way.

Resurrecting a Fallen Franchise: The Untold Story of Diablo IV's Turbulent Development

The Diablo III Debacle and the Search for Redemption

Diablo III's launch in 2012 was a polarizing event, with the game receiving a mixed reception from both critics and fans. Despite its commercial success, earning over $666 million in its first week, the game was perceived within Blizzard as a disappointment, a blemish on the franchise's legacy. The team behind Diablo III was tasked with redeeming the game through the release of the Reaper of Souls expansion in 2014, which was widely praised for its improvements and the return to the series' core gameplay loop.However, the Diablo team's troubles were far from over. Blizzard's executives, led by CEO Mike Morhaime, saw Diablo III as a failure that had damaged the brand, and they were hesitant to greenlight a second expansion. Pressure from Activision's leadership, concerns about the game's long-term revenue potential, and a general sense of dissatisfaction within the company all contributed to the decision to cancel the planned second expansion.

The Rise and Fall of Diablo IV's Predecessor, "Hades"

With the Diablo III era coming to a close, Blizzard turned its attention to the development of a brand-new Diablo game, codenamed "Hades." Under the direction of Reaper of Souls' lead, Josh Mosqueira, the team set out to create a Diablo experience that would drastically depart from the series' traditional formula.Hades was envisioned as a more action-oriented, over-the-shoulder take on the Diablo formula, drawing inspiration from the Batman: Arkham series. The game would also feature permadeath, where players' characters would permanently die, adding a new layer of challenge and risk to the experience.However, the Hades project quickly ran into a series of challenges. The team struggled to reconcile the cooperative multiplayer aspects of Diablo with the more focused, single-player combat of the Arkham games. Designers began to question whether Hades was truly a Diablo game anymore, as the core mechanics and gameplay loop diverged significantly from the series' established identity.As the Hades team grappled with these issues, the rest of the Diablo developers found themselves with little to do, leading to a period of stagnation and low morale. Mosqueira's frequent absences from the office further exacerbated the problems, and when he ultimately left Blizzard in 2016, the company decided to cancel Hades altogether, opting to start from scratch with a new Diablo IV project.

Diablo III's Unexpected Resurgence and the Rise of the Necromancer

While the Diablo team was struggling to find the right direction for the franchise, the original Diablo III received an unexpected boost in the form of the Rise of the Necromancer content pack. Developed during the Hades game jam, the Necromancer class was a beloved callback to Diablo II, and its release helped to reinvigorate the Diablo III player base.However, the $15 price tag for the Necromancer pack was met with some criticism, as players felt that the content did not justify the cost. This episode highlighted the challenges Blizzard faced in keeping the Diablo franchise relevant and engaging in the absence of a true sequel or major expansion.The Necromancer's success was a bittersweet victory for the Diablo team, as it demonstrated the enduring appeal of the franchise and the hunger for new content, but also underscored the lack of a clear long-term vision for the series. The cancellation of the Diablo III expansion and the failed Hades project had left the team and the community in a state of uncertainty, wondering when the next true Diablo game would finally arrive.

Lessons Learned and the Path Forward for Diablo IV

The tumultuous development of Diablo IV's predecessor, Hades, and the challenges faced by the Diablo III team served as valuable lessons for Blizzard. The company recognized the importance of staying true to the core identity of the Diablo franchise, while also being willing to experiment and innovate within that framework.The cancellation of the Diablo III expansion and the subsequent lack of new content for the game highlighted the need for Blizzard to maintain a steady stream of updates and content to keep players engaged. The success of the Necromancer pack, despite its perceived shortcomings, demonstrated the community's appetite for new Diablo experiences, even if they were not full-fledged sequels.As Blizzard embarked on the development of Diablo IV, the lessons learned from the past would shape the team's approach. They would need to strike a delicate balance between honoring the series' legacy and pushing the franchise forward, all while ensuring a consistent flow of content and updates to keep players invested in the Diablo universe.The road to Diablo IV has been a long and winding one, filled with missteps and hard-won victories. But as Blizzard prepares to unleash the next chapter of the Diablo saga, the company is armed with a deeper understanding of its audience, a renewed commitment to quality, and a determination to reclaim the franchise's rightful place as a cornerstone of the gaming industry.