Diablo 5 is definitely on the table as Blizzard “don’t know” if Diablo 4  is “eternal”

Blizzard’s support for Diablo 4 is far from done, but fans are already wondering if a Diablo 5 will release sometime in the future. According to series lead Rod Fergusson, there aren’t any concrete plans for a full numbered sequel, but it’s definitely on the table. 

Right now, Diablo 4 is going through a major overhaul with a new boss ladder and revised loot as well as a shift in difficulty. Additionally, Blizzard is looking to overhaul the game’s battle pass mechanic, but will this be enough to keep the game around forever? Well, the developer simply doesn’t know. 

Diablo 4 doesn’t rule out Diablo 5 

Speaking to IGN after a recent DICE panel, Blizzard head of Diablo Rod Fergusson explained that the studio wants the current game to “be around for years”. However, with the issues plaguing games like Destiny and Halo Infinite—titles that are designed as “ten-year” games—Diablo 5 might be a necessity in the future. 

“We want it to be around for years,” Fergusson explained. “I don’t know if it’s eternal. I think Destiny tried and did that like, ‘This is a ten-year game,’ and then they quickly were not.”

If a Diablo 5 does eventually release, that doesn’t mean Diablo 4 will be suddenly dropped. Fergusson explained that Blizzard wants to continue to respect players’ investments into their game. 

With the third game in the series still receiving new seasons and support, Diablo 4 will likely follow the same trend. After all, the original version of Diablo 2 was still receiving minor bug fixes all the way back in 2016, four years after its sequel released. 

“We want people to see the road ahead,” Fergusson continued. “Because we know that, to play a Diablo game, you’re probably putting hundreds of hours in and we want people to know that we’re respecting their time and that we’re not just here and gone.”

As for now, the focus is purely on the future of Diablo 4,  not Diablo 5. While annual expansions are not happening any more, Blizzard is still working on the next expansion for the game. Hopefully, we’ll see the return of the Paladin, but who knows?

For more coverage of Blizzard’s popular ARPG series, listen to our interview with series creator David Brevik. Additionally, check out what the original plan for Diablo 3 was before the team left Blizzard.