New Diablo 4 gameplay trailer reveals the fifth playable character class, open-world map and a 2023 launch date

Activision Blizzard gave eager fans yet another peek at Diablo 4 at Summer Games Fest today, starting with the identity of the fifth and final class available in-game: the Necromancer. It also showed in-game footage and a sneak peek into some of the locations one can visit. However, Diablo 4 will be the first of its kind to feature an open world.

Previous Diablo games were revered (or chided) for their linear nature. Diablo 4 lets players explore the map at will and unlock more territory by liberating heretofore hostile cities and sanctuaries. "Local Events" are scattered throughout the world, allowing players to engage in a mini-quest for rewards. Blizzard claims that Diablo 4 has over 150 unique explorable dungeons scattered throughout the map.

Diablo 4 will also be the first in the franchise to support local multiplayer, something that has been disappearing from many games of late. For online multiplayer, there are "world bosses" that, according to Blizzard, require "a lot of players" to take down. The game also has dedicated PvP zones and a ranking system that incentivizes players to hunt down the most powerful character present in the area. While the number of character classes in Diablo 4 is remarkably fewer than the games that came before, it opens up a world of customization options for players, complete with tattoos, clothing, etc.

Lastly, Diablo 4 also continues its predecessor's legacy by offering a multitude of endgame content. One can only hope that Blizzard learned from Diablo III's mistakes and that nothing like the disastrous auction house system is implemented ever again. Given the massive pushback Diablo Immortal received due to its predatory pay-to-win mechanics, it is unlikely that Diablo 4 will have anything to do with real-world money outside of the initial purchase.

Unlike other titles announced at the event, Diablo 4 will be available to play on PC, PS4, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S|X sometime in 2023. It isn't a day one Xbox Game Pass title, and players will likely have to go through Blizzard's famously janky Battlenet client. Thankfully, Diablo 4 lets players transfer progress across platforms and even play with people on other hardware. Blizzard is also accepting pre-registrations for the Diablo IV open beta slated to start later this year.

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