Diablo 4 could launch in April 2023, open pre-orders next month

[midian182]

Highly anticipated: If you're tired of pouring money into Diablo Immortal and ache for the next main installment in the series, here's some good news: several reports have narrowed the release date for the highly anticipated Diablo 4 down to April 2023.

Blizzard hasn't been more specific than "sometime in 2023" when it comes to Diablo 4's release date. According to Windows Central and the XboxEra podcast, the game will officially land in April. Those who can't wait for the action RPG might be able to pre-order it in December, which will also grant access to the open beta in February 2023.

Rumors claim that a segment of the Game Awards, taking place on December 8, will be dedicated to Diablo 4. Pre-orders are expected to open as soon as the details are announced during the event. The Game Awards is also said to be where Blizzard begins its massive marketing campaign for Diablo 4.

Blizzard previously said it would offer more extensive live-service Seasons in Diablo 4 compared to Diablo 3 and Diablo 2: Resurrected. The company says Diablo 4 is a full-price game with a Cosmetics Shop and Season Pass (with free and premium tiers), though it emphasizes that none of these provide any pay-for-power options.

There was, and still is, plenty of anger toward Blizzard for its aggressive monetization in the mobile/PC free-to-play title Diablo Immortal, which has made it one of the lowest user-scored games on Metacritic—users can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars maxing out characters. But the outcry isn't impacting sales; Diablo Immortal made $97 million on iOS and Android in August, up 42% month-over-month.

Blizzard has long claimed that monetization is only a big part of Diablo Immortal's end game and that most players don't spend any money. Given the backlash against that title and Diablo 4 being a paid-for game, one would imagine Blizzard won't be as pushy with its monetization efforts in the next entry. But making $100 million per month probably softens the blow of all that anger.

If you're a big Diablo fan and a hardcore player, Blizzard said last month that it is looking for Diablo "experts" for the first closed Diablo IV beta test.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/96572-diablo-4-could-launch-april-2023-pre-orders.html

 

[amghwk]

This is a done-to-death genre. Looks very similar to most of the recent ARPG games.

And I have lost all respect for Blizzard.

My favourite is still Diablo II + LoD.

Gone are the days of true Blizzard.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Nobody pre order. Wait for reviews, wait for the game to come out. Then wait another 5 years to see all the game ruining updates Blizzard puts into it.

Or, better, just play Diablo 1+2 and ignore the new garbage.

 

[Hexic]

Worth a look at least to see if Team 3 can still make a decent Diablo game.

Given Immortal was outsourced for development with a completely different business model than your typical Diablo as well. The game looks good so far in the trailers... hopefully that transposes into a finished product.

 

[bviktor]

I just wanna say that Resurrected turned out great, so kudos to Vicarious Visions. Living up to the heritage of such a legendary game is no small feat for sure.

 

[Morphine Child]

Nobody pre order. Wait for reviews, wait for the game to come out. Then wait another 5 years to see all the game ruining updates Blizzard puts into it.

Or, better, just play Diablo 1+2 and ignore the new garbage.

I waited 10 years to play D3, and in the end I quite enjoyed it, shame really I waited so long. Not as good as 2, but good enough.

That being said, no preordering and waiting to be patched is a must for D4.

 

[Nobina]

You have to be immensely stupid to preorder something now that's gonna come out in April, meaning, it's not even close to being finished AND it's from Blizzard which means it's not even going to be finished in April.

 

[CsTyr]

I'm part of the closed Beta. While I can't discuss anything about it as Blizzard takes their NDA very seriously. I will say I've been very happy. I don't think of it an a new game but simply an evolution and expansion on what they have already done with D3. Graphics look great, classes are well formed and a little more varied, runs very smooth. Haven't encountered any game breaking issues in the 30 plus hours I've put in.