According to Kotaku, Diablo 4 is indeed in development. Although the finished game is likely still some time away, Blizzard seems to be considering integrating elements from the online shooters Destiny and Destiny 2.
In a major cover story, Kotaku author Jason Schreier spoke with current and former Blizzard employees to learn more about the background of Diablo 4. In addition to the fact that Blizzard is indeed working on a new installment, the Blizzard insiders also discussed potential features that may be inspired by Bungie’s online shooter Destiny.
The Tower in Destiny 2 as a model for a social hub in Diablo 4? In Diablo 3, players can visit larger gathering points in the different acts, which are filled with quest givers and merchants, while other human players are nowhere to be found.
The Tower in Destiny and Destiny 2 serves the same purpose as in Diablo 3, but is also populated by other human players with whom one can interact:
- The gear can be inspected
- The platform-specific profile can be viewed
- Invitations to ongoing games
- Sending messages is also possible
According to Blizzard insiders, some of these social features are set to be adopted in Diablo 4. Now, social meeting points are not an invention of Bungie, but the goal is to integrate light MMO elements into Diablo to promote interaction among players.
For interaction to make sense, appropriate activities are needed. Here, too, Destiny could serve as a model for Diablo 4.
Will “Strikes” from Destiny 2 be in Diablo 4? Strikes are self-contained instances that pick up and tell a thread of the story. In Destiny 2, these are completed with a fireteam of up to three players. In these strikes, players must face various waves of enemies, jumping sections, and tough bosses.
A concept that could definitely work for Diablo 4. Lesser evils like Azmodan or Belial could be integrated as sidekicks to the story in this way. Other narrative strands could also be “transported” through such a medium.
Players already know self-contained instances from Diablo 3. Nephalem Rifts consist of procedurally generated dungeons that are time-limited or progression-bound. Players’ criticism: currently, in the endgame, only the large Nephalem Rifts remain; there is nothing more to do.
Do the “Destiny mechanics” make sense in Diablo 4? Absolutely. The matchmaking or player search in Diablo 3 works only independently of the activity one wants to undertake. Event-based matchmaking should significantly ease the in-game player search.
New forms of gameplay such as the strikes would also provide variety and primarily motivate players to form fireteams.
What do you think of the concept of a social meeting point modeled after Destiny 2? What other activities would you like to see in Diablo 4?
