Blizzard’s action RPG franchise has been going strong for decades, withDiablo 4set to release next year after much fan anticipation. The very firstDiablogame launched in 1997, and each entry since then has brought its own set of characters, storylines, and some unique classes to the table while still largely following the series' set formula.Diablo Immortalrepresented a fresh approach for the franchise, but this has been met with mixed responses from the fan base thanks to its aggressive monetization. However, many players are still hopingDiabloconsiders other ways in which it could branch out and create some spin-off titles.
The upcomingDiablo 4may be adding some new elementsand providing some much-needed updates to the series, but many think it’s not going far enough. While the gameplay is hopefully bringing some big improvements and the story is going in a new direction, players will still ultimately be batting it out across Sanctuary as they face off against demons and attempt to stop evil forces from taking over. For a future spin-off, Blizzard could consider turning this on its head and featuring evil protagonists instead.
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The Setup Of Previous Diablo Games
EachDiablogame may have explored a different aspect of the world’s lore, but ultimately they play out across similar lines. Within the dark fantasy world of Sanctuary, humans are caught up in the never-ending battles between the High Heavens and the Burning Hells. Humans usually work to stop the machinations ofhellish lords like Diablo and his minions, along with other evil antagonists, and they are sometimes aided in these endeavors by angels and other denizens of the High Heavens.
This inevitably turns into the standard fight of good versus evil, humans versus demons – with a couple of exceptions. There are some examples of the so-called good characters becoming corrupted or misguided and presenting players with additional challenges to overcome, but ultimately the demons are the antagonists, and the human protagonists are expected to defeat them. There’s nothing wrong with this premise, andthe previous games in theDiabloserieshave proved popular and have worked to explore the fascinating lore and world-building of the franchise.
However, some fans would like to see this setup turned on its head, not only to offer new avenues for the overarching story to go down, but also to present them with refreshed gameplay andnever-before-seen elements in aDiablogame. A title with evil protagonists combined with all the trappings of an entry in theDiabloseries could have all the makings of a huge success.
The Potential Of A Spin-off
On the whole, most games have gamers inhabiting the role of the hero in a fight of good against evil, andDiablois no different. Even if there are morally ambiguous elements, the majority of releases pit players against nefarious foes as they represent the righteous. Some games will give players the choice of who and how they play, but rarely do they give them the option to only play as objectively evil characters.ADiablospin-offthat centered around this concept wouldn’t just be a refresh for the franchise formula, as it would be an interesting game among the wider industry as well.
The opportunity to play as cultists like the ones that have summoned the main antagonist of the upcomingDiablo 4and thedaughter of Mephisto, Lilith, would allow gamers to indulge their dark side. It would provide a whole range of new classes inspired by demonic powers and the worship of demons and would offer a stark contrast to what gamers are used to seeing in aDiablogame. It would also be a narratively rich vein of storytelling to explore, especially givenDiablo’s already expansive lore and complicated history of good versus evil.
With the promise of diverse and interesting character builds, an intriguing storytelling premise, and a renewed look at morality and what constitutes evil within the thorny world of theDiablogames, a spin-off title featuring sinful protagonists sounds like a lot of fun.Diablo 4’s new open-world PvP featurecould also transition nicely into this spin-off setup, as players could battle against each other to see who has the most evil inside of them and just how far they’re willing to go to serve their demonic overlords.
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Future Of The Franchise
While a spin-off doesn’t look like it’s in the cards just yet,Diablofans still have lots to look forward to.Diablo 4, set to release sometime in 2023, may be following a lot of the same rules and narrative guidelines as its predecessors, but Blizzard is still determined to shake things up a bit as well. The game will still revolve around looting procedurally generated dungeons and leveling up characters, butDiablo 4will also include new features like a vast open worldto explore, PvP encounters, and a new main antagonist who has barely been featured in previous entries despite her prominent place inDiablolore.
Blizzard has also promised plenty of post-launch support, hopefully indicating a long andexciting life forDiablo 4for years to come. While this is good news for fans who can’t wait to get stuck into the next mainline entry, it might mean that other potential spin-offs similar to the ill-fatedDiablo Immortalmight be a long way off, but that doesn’t mean they won’t ever appear. TheDiabloseries is about to enter a new phase, and with lots of promising elements coming to the franchise, there’s no telling what the future might hold.
Diablo 4will launch in 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
