Diablo V could bring one of the biggest changes in the series. According to latest reports, Blizzard is moving away from its usual storyline, where Diablo always appears as the final enemy. This time, the Lord of Terror will be part of the story from the beginning. The game is set in a world where Diablo has already won. Sanctuary is in ruins, and his power can be felt across the land. This means players will not have to wait until the end to face his threat.
Blizzard has confirmed that Diablo 5 is embracing the post-apocalyptic genre where the story will set 100 years after Diablo IV. Following the death of Mephisto, Sanctuary entered a Golden Era, but the peace didn’t last long. When the game begins, it’s already after seven years that Diablo took control of Westmarch.
Players will take the role of the Heir to Westmarch, a character who has a strange link to Diablo. This connection makes the story more personal. The main character could become a threat to Diablo, but may also be affected by his power. Blizzard wants players to explore this link as the story moves forward.
In an interview, the narrative director Jennifer Hepler has mentioned, “We need there to be something you love about this world. Gathering survivors is one of the mechanisms of the story. We’re going through lands where almost everybody is dead or surrendered to Diablo.”
She further continued, “Now and then we meet a person who has held out, and they become part of the caravan. Your vendors, your craftspeople, everyone who is part of your journey are survivors. These are the people you’re fighting to protect and the source of all your side content.”
In earlier Diablo games, players spent most of their time fighting demons before facing Diablo in the final battle. Diablo V is taking a different route. The Lord of Terror will have a role throughout the story. Since he already controls much of Sanctuary, players will have to deal with his power from the start.
Diablo V could give players more chances to see the villain and understand his plans. Instead of meeting him only at the end, players may learn more about his actions and the reasons behind them.
His link to the main character could also make the story more interesting. Rather than simply fighting a powerful enemy, players may have to deal with his attempts to influence them. This is quite different from the usual final-boss setup.