Diablo 4 is the upcoming installment of the popular ARPG series and focuses more on MMO elements than previous Diablos. As part of Find Your Next Game LOVE, MeinMMO was able to ask the developers some questions about co-op and other features. We now know more about how you can play together.
On June 6, Diablo 4 will be released on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Although the game is not going to be an MMO, it borrows many features from the genre. You can find information about the game in our specials:
- All information on Diablo 4 – Release, classes, and beta
- Everything about the open beta of Diablo 4
- The 5 classes at the release of Diablo 4 and their gameplay
To better prepare you for what to expect in Diablo 4, MeinMMO spoke with the Assistant Game Director of Diablo 4, Joe Piepiora.
Piepiora has been with Blizzard for over 5 years, initially as the Lead Designer of Heroes of the Storm. Previously, he worked on Lord of the Rings Online and as Lead Systems Designer on Wildstar. We primarily asked him about the multiplayer in Diablo 4.
We already know that Diablo 4 will feature the best features from previous games. In the video, you will learn what we know about Diablo 4:
“Play the campaign together – no matter how far you are”
MeinMMO: Can I play the campaign together, even if the players are at different progress points? How does sharing missions work?
Joe Piepiora: Yes, you can! When you join another player’s group, the world and campaign will seamlessly update to reflect that player’s progress. This way, you can team up with friends and enjoy the campaign together, regardless of where each player is in the campaign. If you have completed a quest that the other player is stuck on, you will not receive the reward for completing it again, but you will still earn experience and loot from everything you do along the way.
MeinMMO: Can I join an online group with my local co-op partner?
Joe Piepiora: Yes, you can, we do not limit multiplayer functionality for local co-op in any way.
MeinMMO: What advantages do clans have? Is there a meta system like in Diablo Immortal?
Joe Piepiora: Clans do not provide power advantages at the launch of Diablo 4. They exist to help build communities of like-minded players that ultimately aim to create groups of players and share tips and strategies.
“Equipment from PvP should not be stronger or easier to obtain”
MeinMMO: What rewards are there in PvP?
Joe Piepiora: Players who enter the Fields of Hatred can exchange their hard-earned Red Dust for special cosmetic rewards and random equipment. The equipment you find in PvP should not be stronger or easier to obtain than from other experiences in Sanctuary, but rather an alternative for our … bloodthirstier players.
MeinMMO: How did you like the first previews?
Joe Piepiora: It reminds me of a quote. “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.”
Diablo 4 has been in development for years and has been largely under wraps. A project like this is one that you invest a lot of yourself into, and the Diablo universe is one that many of us grew up with. That’s why it’s so important that we deliver an experience that we are proud of. At some point, however, perfect or not, it is time to unfurl the sails and set sail.
It has been incredibly rewarding to read the feedback and opinions of those who have had the chance to play the game so far. Finally letting the game speak and providing the experience we’ve built all this time.
You can find the respective reviews here:
MeinMMO: Will there be changes to the release version based on feedback from journalists and players?
Joe Piepiora: We have made some adjustments to the difficulty and polished the tutorial based on feedback from journalists. We have made more extensive changes based on player feedback from the closed beta. One element was reducing the number of World Tiers from 5 to 4 to provide a less fragmented experience for players at higher difficulties. We also made significant changes to the balance across all classes to ensure that there are many viable builds for players.
MeinMMO: Thank you for the answers!
That Diablo 4 will be good is not just a wish of the developers. The upcoming hack’and’slay carries more on its shoulders than just the success of a single game or even its franchise, but is an important milestone for the future of its entire genre:
