Diablo V will weave together three storylines spanning the past, present, and future. At the start of the game, the Lord of Terror, Diablo, has already seized control of Sanctuary and begun reshaping the world according to his will.
Game Director Joe Shely stated that the past timeline will explain how Diablo conquered Sanctuary; the present timeline forms the core gameplay, where the familiar world has already fallen into the hands of Hell's minions. The future timeline deals with the world's ongoing changes, with all three storylines unfolding in parallel within the same world.
The highest-ranking minions under Diablo are known as "Prime Evils." They actively reshape Sanctuary, transforming environments and biomes into hellish forms that reflect their respective powers. The development team refers to this transformation system as "Terror Shaping."
Narrative Director Jennifer Hepler explained that the procedural world system offers various adjustment possibilities. If a region falls under the control of a Prime Evil commanding undead forces, it will become infested with zombies and related enemies. As the game progresses, when players revisit the area, it may have been reclaimed by humans or fallen under the sway of another Prime Evil, resulting in a completely different environmental appearance.
Blizzard's stated goal for Diablo V is to create the series' "best campaign." The development team believes that the scale of the story brought about by Diablo's return cannot be contained within a Diablo IV expansion, necessitating a full sequel.
Diablo V is scheduled for release in 2029, with specific gameplay details regarding the three timelines and dynamic regional ecosystems to be revealed gradually as development progresses.