Blizzard’s hordes of demons will officially be unleashed on June 6, 2023 (June 2 for those who pre-order the Ultimate or Digital Deluxe versions) and the developers have promised fans of the franchise their “most brutal vision of Sanctuary yet.” If you haven’t heard, during IGN’s 2023 Fan Fest, Blizzard took the opportunity to ‘bless’ us with the opening cutscene for Diablo IV, which also gave us dates for the upcoming closed and open betas.
For gamers who have and are going to pre-order Diablo IV, not only will you be able to play the game four days earlier but you will also be able to participate in the beta earlier on the weekend of March 17-19. For those who didn’t pre-order, you will have to wait an extra week for the weekend of March 24-26 to play the game. So now that you know the dates, it is up to you how you will keep it free from any real-world distractions.
If you are part of the group that wasn’t fans of Diablo III due to its more simplified gameplay and colourful aesthetic, the upcoming game is likely to unearth that sense of nostalgia and dread as the world looks a lot less inviting. Taking place decades after the events of Diablo III: Reaper of Souls where the demon Lilith and angel Inarius are at war, the lands of Sanctuary are now plagued with ceaseless demons, and as always, you are the hero Sanctuary needs to help it regain peace.
Just by watching the opening cutscene, it instantly gave me that classic Diablo vibe as your hero wanders alone in Sanctuary’s desolate landscape and is plagued by nightmares. So far, so very Diablo. IGN’s description of the trailer also states that in-game cutscenes will feature your custom-designed Barbarian, Necromancer, Druid, Rogue or Sorceress. This is a very nice touch as it won’t disrupt immersion.
If you have been on the fence about whether you should pre-order the Diablo IV, this news might just help change your mind.