Diablo V will be vastly different from Diablo IV. Set 100 years after the events of Diablo IV, this sequel takes place in the aftermath of the catastrophic devastation Diablo has wrought upon Sanctuary. The game will feature fundamental overhauls to combat, classes, and the loot system.
Today, several Diablo V developers took the stage at BlizzCon 2026 to share their vision for the game. However, the development team emphasized that Everythinggj is still in production, and the game may change between now and its release window in spring 2029.
Many of Diablo V's major changes appear to be responses to player feedback on Diablo IV—particularly its shortcomings compared to previous entries and competitors like Path of Exile—as well as a commitment to a darker setting. Blizzard is "doubling down" on this direction, further intensifying the game's dark atmosphere.
The story takes place several years into Sanctuary's Golden Age, shortly after it has fallen under the control of the primary antagonist, Diablo. Like Mephisto in Diablo IV, Diablo will be a fully realized character rather than just a final boss. Much of the narrative will focus on rebuilding the western continent and restoring some of the series' most iconic locations, such as Westmarch, from their ravaged state.
According to PC GamerHere's what we learned from this 30-minute presentation:
Diablo V will bring back procedurally generated dungeons and open-world areas. The environment will change each time players re-enter these locations.
Towns will no longer exist in the game, replaced by a caravan of NPCs. Players will encounter them progressively throughout the story, and one of these companions will even be a Treasure Goblin.
All side quests will be provided by members of the caravan.
The Demon Hunter and Monk classes will return.
The game will also introduce new classes, including the Plague Knight. This is a heavily armored class capable of spreading disease across the battlefield.
The number of classes available at launch will exceed the total number of launch classes from all previous Diablo games combined.
Gear will have different tiers, with the equipment system evolving from simple to complex as players progress.
Belts and set items will make a return.
Equipment will occupy multiple inventory slots based on its type, similar to Diablo II.
The development team is experimenting with items that require specific attribute thresholds to equip, another nod to Diablo II.
Blizzard stated that starting next year, players will receive regular updates on Diablo V's development progress, reiterating that the game will continue to be adjusted based on player feedback.