Blizzard has decided to develop its next title as Diablo 5, rather than releasing it as an expansion for Diablo 4. The development team stated that the new game requires deeper adjustments to its core structure, which the existing expansion framework would struggle to accommodate.
Recently, Tiffany Wat, Senior Production Director for Diablo, and Matt Zitterman, Executive Producer, announced this decision during BlizzCon. During the early conceptual phase, the team reevaluated their player base, motivations, and needs, while also drawing on insights from previous entries in the series and analyzing both the strengths and areas for improvement in Diablo 4.
As the goals for the new title became clearer, the team quickly realized that achieving their vision would require changes to some of the game's underlying structures. Zitterman explained that implementing such adjustments within an expansion would be extremely difficult, making a numbered sequel the more suitable approach.
The narrative direction was another key reason for developing a standalone sequel. The team aims to bring Diablo back as the primary antagonist and craft a complete story around him, with a scope matching or even surpassing the narratives involving Lilith and Mephisto. Developers believe such an ambitious storyline would not fit well within an expansion, asserting that Diablo deserves his own dedicated game.
Blizzard chose to announce Diablo 5 early to allow ample time for incorporating player feedback. Zitterman noted that if the reveal had been delayed until later stages of development, it would have been much harder for the team to make significant adjustments and refinements based on community input.
Diablo 5 is currently targeted for release in 2029. If plans remain unchanged, the new installment will arrive approximately six years after the 2023 launch of Diablo 4. Meanwhile, Diablo 4 will continue to be supported, but Blizzard has confirmed that no further expansions will be released for it.