Abstract:
Diablo 5 will be completely different from Diablo 4. The story of this sequel is set 100 years after "Diablo 4", when Diavolo has caused devastating disaster to Sanctuary. The game will receive fundamental changes to its combat, career, and loot systems.
Today, a number of "Diablo 5" developers took the stage at BlizzCon 2026 to share their ideas for the game. However, the development team also emphasized that all content is still in production and the game may change between now and the spring 2029 release window.
Many of Diablo 5's major changes appear to be in response to player feedback about Diablo 4 - specifically its shortcomings compared to previous games and competitors such as Path of Exile - as well as a darker setting that Blizzard is "doubling down" on to further enhance the game's dark atmosphere.
The story takes place several years after Sanctuary's golden age, when it has just fallen into the hands of the villain Diavolo. Like Mephisto in Diablo 4, Diavolo will be a full character, not just a final boss. Much of the story will revolve around rebuilding the western continent, and the series' most iconic location, Westmarch, from its ravaged state.
The following is from foreign media PC Gamer
What we learned from this 30-minute press conference:
Diablo 5 will return to procedurally generated dungeons and open world areas. Each time the player re-enters these locations, the environment will change.
There will no longer be a town in the game, replaced by a caravan composed of NPCs. Players will encounter them one after another as the plot progresses, and one of their partners may even be a treasure goblin.
All side quests will be provided by caravan members.
The Demon Hunter and Monk professions will return.
The game will also add new professions, including Plague Knight. This is a profession that wears heavy armor and spreads disease on the battlefield.
The number of professions at the launch of the game will exceed the number of professions at the launch of all previous "Diablo" series games combined.
Equipment will have different levels. As players continue to advance, the equipment system will gradually become more complex from simple.
Belts and set items will return.
Equipment will occupy multiple backpack slots according to type, similar to "Diablo 2".
The development team is trying to include items that require certain attribute thresholds to be equipped, again reminiscent of Diablo 2.
Blizzard stated that starting next year, players will regularly hear about the development progress of "Diablo 5" and emphasized again that the game will be continuously adjusted based on player feedback.
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