Does Diablo V risk disappointing fans? Path of Exile co-creator explains the main danger

A co-creator of Path of Exile and a Diablo II fan has warned Blizzard about the danger of trying to please all fans of the series when creating Diablo V.

According to developer Chris Wilson, one of the creators of Path of Exile, audience expectations for the next Diablo vary too widely, which means the new installment does not have to appeal to every fan of the franchise. Wilson commented on statements made by Blizzard representatives at this year's BlizzCon. The studio emphasized that it is gathering feedback from players familiar with all Diablo installments. However, that is precisely where the difficulty lies: different generations of fans may have conflicting visions of what the series should be.

The co-creator of Path of Exile pointed out that Diablo has evolved over many years. Because of this, different installments attracted different audiences, and attempting to merge all preferences into a single game could turn out to be a mistake.

At the same time, initial statements about Diablo V make him optimistic. The developer is especially pleased with the clear callbacks to the second installment. Blizzard has already promised to bring back a darker atmosphere to the series: Sanctuary will fall under the rule of Diablo and his minions, and familiar towns and safe havens will disappear.

So far, Blizzard has revealed too few details to judge what the gameplay mechanics will ultimately be like. Therefore, Wilson's concerns remain his personal opinion rather than an evaluation of an already revealed game.