With Diablo 4's inaugural expansion on the horizon, key Blizzard developers shed light on their vision for the game's future and the broader Diablo franchise.
Blizzard intends to maintain Diablo 4's momentum for years to come, especially given its record-breaking sales as the company's fastest-selling game. In a recent VGC interview, Diablo series head Rod Fergusson and Diablo 4 executive producer Gavian Whishaw emphasized that sustained player interest across all Diablo titles—from Diablo 4 to the original—is a positive outcome for Blizzard.
"At Blizzard, we rarely shut down games," Fergusson explained to VGC. "You can still play Diablo, Diablo 2, Diablo 2: Resurrected, and Diablo 3. Players engaging with any Blizzard game is a great success for us."
Addressing concerns about Diablo 4's player count relative to other Diablo games, Fergusson stated that player engagement across all titles is a positive. He cited the enduring popularity of the 21-year-old Diablo 2: Resurrected as a testament to this. The focus, he stressed, is on maintaining a thriving player base across the entire Diablo ecosystem.
Fergusson further clarified that Blizzard aims to let players choose their preferred game. While a shift from Diablo 3 to Diablo 4 would be financially beneficial, the company isn't actively trying to force players to migrate.
"Whether they play Diablo 4 today, tomorrow, or later, our goal is to create content so compelling that players will want to play Diablo 4," Fergusson stated. "That's why we continue supporting Diablo 3 and Diablo 2. Our priority is to develop highly appealing content."
The expansion introduces the new region of Nahantu, brimming with fresh towns, dungeons, and ancient civilizations. It also advances the game's narrative, focusing on the search for Neyrelle, a key character, leading players into an ancient jungle to confront Mephisto's sinister scheme.