Since its release just a few days ago, Diablo 4 has shattered previous sales and concurrent player records for Blizzard. Players from all over the world are currently immersed in the latest adventure in Sanctuary, and the new live-service model guarantees a long-lasting experience for fans. With clearly defined plans for seasonal content and expansions post-launch, Blizzard is set to drop the first new content and Battle Pass at the end of July. Thanks to its smart evolution of genre staples like buildcrafting and co-op play, Diablo 4 sets a high bar for future ARPGs. The game's successful launch is a stark contrast to the stumbling start of Diablo 3, which required the Reaper of Souls expansion to course-correct. In the years between Diablo 3's launch and the announcement of Diablo 4, free-to-play ARPG Path of Exile had dominated the top spot in the genre. However, by incorporating some of Path of Exile's best elements and adapting them to the Diablo formula and production values, Blizzard has created a new gold standard for ARPGs.
How Diablo 4 Elevates the ARPG Genre
Path of Exile gained immense popularity as a viable alternative to Diablo, owing to its release timing and unique features, despite being a free-to-play game. Its success was largely due to its ability to remind players of what they loved about the ARPG genre, especially those who were left disappointed by Diablo 3's lackluster launch. With 7 playable classes and numerous options for character customization, Path of Exile catered to the fans of Diablo 2 who felt let down by the new direction that Diablo 3 had taken. However, Diablo 4 has managed to bring these players back into the fold by returning to the roots of the series and offering players a plethora of options to build and progress their characters. This complexity in character builds is already proving to be a hallmark of Diablo 4, which is further supported by the release of balance patches and continued developer support. With a stunning presentation and potential as a live-service title, Diablo 4 has set a new benchmark for ARPGs that is hard to beat.
Future ARPGs That Could Benefit From Following in Diablo 4's Footsteps
The success of Diablo 4 has proven that the open-world live-service model is a perfect fit for the ARPG genre, despite some players' initial hesitations towards live-service games. If Blizzard can continue to support the game through regular updates, rebalancing, and content expansions, it could pave the way for other similar ARPG franchises to adopt the same approach. One franchise that could greatly benefit from this is Marvel Ultimate Alliance, which has consistently been one of the most commercially successful licensed properties. By taking inspiration from Diablo 4's post-launch content, a potential Marvel Ultimate Alliance 4 or a reboot of X-Men Legends could feature meticulously crafted skill trees for fewer heroes, procedurally-generated dungeons, and an immersive open-world set in the Marvel universe. Diablo 4 has set a new standard for must-have elements in the ARPG genre, and beyond.
Diablo 4 is available now on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
