Using the ambiguity of the release window to their advantage, Blizzard can more effectively steer the ship in their favor. While it would be easy to write this off as damage control, there's more to the plan than just that.

RELATED: Diablo 4 Could Be the Elden Ring of Blizzard's Fan-Favorite Franchise How Will Diablo 4 Move Forward After the Leak?įollowing the unplanned leak, Blizzard revealed that open and closed betas for Diablo 4 will be arriving soon. The source of the footage has not been confirmed, but it was likely related to the August 'Friends and Family' testing that Blizzard held for the game. Extensive testing is a normal part of development, and this footage was not meant for the public eye. While the footage is heavily watermarked and not the highest quality, those aren't issues inherent to the game itself and should not be considered a red flag. The verticality of the design and vastness of the world make a potent combination that has players even more excited than before. The user interface looks solid, the combat seems visceral, and Blizzard has introduced new ways to explore the world through climbing, while the top-down camera perspective remains in place. While the leaked Diablo 4 footage does not come from a final build, it does show a high degree of polish. Unfortunately, having approximately 45 minutes of gameplay footage leaked over the weekend was not a part of Blizzard's plan. Details such as the game's open world design and return of the necromancer class have been received favorably. As time inches closer to the game's 2023 release window, Diablo 4 developer Blizzard has been sharing additional tidbits to help build the hype. While Blizzard announced the project in 2019, much remains under wraps about the upcoming sequel to the beloved top-down action RPG franchise.

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