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JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Hey, all people!
Welcome to the official XBOX Podcast, the one podcast coming to you from inside XBOX or immediately contained in the Anaheim Conference Middle.
We’re at BlizzCon 2026.
It’s my first one, and I’m simply so hyped.
It’s unbelievable.
LINA MADRID: We’ve already been operating round, taking photos with the whole lot.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Taking part in video games.
LINA MADRID: Taking part in video games, all proper.
However proper now we’re right here to speak all issues Diablo.
And becoming a member of us are Tiffany and Matt, welcome.
MATT ZIMMERMAN: Good day.
TIFFANY WAT: Hey.
MATT ZIMMERMAN: Thanks for having us.
LINA MADRID: So let’s dive into this.
TIFFANY WAT: All proper.
LINA MADRID: Diablo, clearly having an enormous yr.
TIFFANY WAT: Thirty years.
LINA MADRID: Yeah, thirtieth anniversary.
After which, over 130 million gamers have walked the Path to Hell.
Fairly unimaginable, proper?
MATT ZIMMERMAN: Yeah, we’re very excited to see tons of followers come out and luxuriate in Diablo right here at BlizzCon.
LINA MADRID: Yeah, and like displaying no indicators of stopping both, simply maintain going.
Huge announcement, Diablo V.
You heard the crowds cheering, screaming for it.
TIFFANY WAT: It was very energizing and such — like regardless of the optimistic model of like weight off my chest, to lastly have the ability to inform the world what we’ve been engaged on.
LINA MADRID: Yeah, I can’t think about like the sensation whenever you’re there on stage revealing that second.
Are you able to like stroll us by what was in your head?
Positive.
I imply, the room was so alive.
I imply, we had been speaking about so many nice issues which have come to Diablo.
Such as you had been saying this yr, we introduced the Amazon, we’ve the Season of Hell’s Legacy for Diablo IV.
We’ve simply had an unimaginable yr with the Paladin and the Warlock.
And so I felt prefer it was simply rising vitality the an increasing number of we had been speaking.
And I used to be like, we’re going to land this.
They’re going to be blown away.
And when that emblem landed and Diablo was in smoke and ashes, I imply, the room simply erupted.
And I knew that was going to occur simply because I might really feel it coming.
And that’s how I really feel each time I take into consideration Diablo V.
However it’s simply so gratifying to lastly have the ability to share with the world, simply the world we’ve been creating.
And we’ve simply been so excited to speak about it for fairly a bit now.
MATT ZIMMERMAN: Yeah, seeing the brand reveal come collectively on the lead as much as BlizzCon, I had an analogous response to Tiffany of simply seeing it come collectively and being like, yeah, we’re doing this.
That is going to occur.
It’s going to be actual.
Gamers are going to find it irresistible.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: One of many issues Blizzard has all the time carried out a very good job of is conserving video games going, like new character for Heroes of the Storm immediately.
Warcraft III will get a complete new marketing campaign.
And naturally, there have been tons of bulletins round Diablo IV, which we’ll be speaking about right here in a pair minutes.
Diablo II Resurrected received the Warlock this yr.
Diablo Immortal’s getting tons of stuff too.
As all these concepts are floating round, how do you go, what, like the thought we’ve is simply too large for something that at present exists and it’s time for a brand new period of Diablo?
MATT ZIMMERMAN: Yeah.
I feel it begins actually by ensuring we perceive our gamers tremendous nicely.
You mentioned it your self, there’s like many alternative variations of Diablo now.
We’ve received 30 years of Diablo, 130 million gamers.
Over time, we’ve collected fairly a group of several types of gamers.
There’s gamers who love the story and the characters, gamers who love the darkish fantasy vibes, gamers who wish to construct craft and principle craft and min-max their character and grind for loot and all people in between, individuals who wish to leap on Discord or simply play with their mates, proper?
So we’ve numerous several types of Diablo gamers.
And in order that’s actually inspiring for us.
We’re in a position to have a look at every of these forms of gamers and say, what’s going to make one of the best, most genuine Diablo sport for them?
And I feel that’s the place we begin.
We begin there and we begin, get within the room and we begin desirous about what options want to return collectively to make the very best Diablo sport.
LINA MADRID: Yeah.
Within the Diablo V reveal trailer, there was one second that gave me chills, and it was when the textual content “Sanctuary Falls” exhibits up.
How do you even start to craft a world the place the heroes have misplaced?
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: So darkish.
LINA MADRID: Yeah.
TIFFANY WAT: It’s been actually thrilling to truly lean right into a story that we’ve by no means actually had the chance to inform earlier than.
Which is, what’s the world like after Diablo has already received?
We’re all the time making an attempt to cease him from taking up Sanctuary, and I feel having the ability to land just like the battle has received and Diablo has received it, simply permits us to have the ability to discover like a darker aspect of Sanctuary than ever earlier than.
As a result of now there are so few survivors.
There are only a few alternatives to seek out hope.
They nonetheless exist.
There are glimmers of hope.
They dwell within the Caravan and the tales we’re going to have the ability to inform there.
That post-apocalyptic world, the concept that it’s very desolate, that survival is difficult, the world of Diablo lends itself to one of these story so nicely that it’s virtually like, wow, why haven’t we informed this story earlier than?
And also you’d ask the query of entering into the subsequent period of Diablo.
Matt was kind of speaking about it on stage earlier.
It’s like we knew that we actually wished to inform the story of Diablo.
I really feel like he’s the lead Prime Evil, and he actually wants his personal sport and a option to like clean up that story.
MATT ZIMMERMAN: Yeah.
And it’s additionally actually influenced how we take into consideration what the sport appears like.
John, our artwork director, I feel will say, all the time says, “We’re going to double down on darkness, doubling down on darkness, sin.” That’s been actually superb to see come collectively as we’ve began to develop the visuals for the sport and actually perceive like how can we take what’s already a reasonably darkish state of affairs of the world of Sanctuary, caught within the inside battle, and actually double down on it.
And I feel the way in which that we’re desirous about architecting the world and what it appears like when hell is damaged by, what does an outpost of hell in Sanctuary truly appear to be, it provides us a possibility to not solely discover what it appears like when Diablo has already received, however to see the tales play of what occurred to humanity within the invasion, Diablo’s invasion into Sanctuary, like see these tales play out visually within the palette of the world, I feel is an thrilling alternative as nicely.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: There’s solely a lot you may inform us now in 2026 for a sport that’s popping out in 2029.
I’m simply actually interested by like what are among the guiding ideas?
What are among the issues we needs to be taking away and desirous about as we muse for like the subsequent three years?
I’m certain we’ll see extra in between every now and then.
Such as you talked about among the forms of gamers that at present have interaction in Diablo and that there’s a Diablo for everybody.
Is there like a distinct segment or is there one thing there the place you’re like, oh, individuals who love this are going to like what we’re doing right here in Diablo V?
MATT ZIMMERMAN: Anyone on the staff, I don’t know who, wrote a sticky be aware and put it in our director’s workplace and it says, “Greatest marketing campaign ever.” And he appears at that on a regular basis, on a regular basis.
And it’s actually grow to be sort of a pillar of how we take into consideration the sport.
And that’s an instance of us taking what was nice in Diablo IV and taking it additional.
Diablo IV I really feel like set a brand new customary for storytelling in a Diablo sport.
The cinematics are off the charts.
Lilith is that this superb villain with depth and complexity.
And the solid actually involves life because the participant sort of makes its method from being sort of exterior the story to being the central focus.
And so we checked out all these issues, all these elements that made Diablo IV’s marketing campaign actually sing, and noticed that as a possibility to take it to the subsequent stage.
And so I feel one of many issues that gamers can stay up for with Diablo V is taking the whole lot we’ve realized and constructed on for Diablo IV by way of how we inform an incredible cinematic story and actually doing it higher.
LINA MADRID: We all know, it’s as soon as once more, method too early for lots of particulars, however we’ve to say it.
Netflix Diablo Animated Sequence.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: What a pop that received on stage.
LINA MADRID: Yeah, that was so superb to see.
I imply, is there something which you could inform us?
TIFFANY WAT: Not immediately [laughter].
I want that we might.
We’re simply as enthusiastic about that announcement as I feel everybody that listened to it’s.
The chance to have the ability to companion with them and actually develop the tales of Sanctuary is, I don’t know, I’m like tingling truly desirous about it.
I can’t wait to see it come to life.
And actually, like I mentioned, carry the story of Diablo and Sanctuary to so many different individuals.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Tiffany, Matt, it’s clear we’ve loads to speak about between now and the launch of that collection and between 2029, so we’ll stay up for that.
However within the meantime, let’s speak about Diablo IV.
LINA MADRID: Okay, we’re right here in several outfits, too.
I raided the merch retailer.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Yeah, I sweated by my earlier shirt.
LINA MADRID: All proper, Jeff.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Sorry.
LINA MADRID: We’re right here to now discuss all issues Diablo IV, and becoming a member of us are Dan and Owen.
Welcome.
OWEN LEACH: Thanks a lot.
Yeah, nice to be right here.
DAN TANGUAY: Thanks for having us.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: We had been simply speaking with Tiffany and Matt and like kind of like reveling in like 30 years of Diablo.
And I’d need to think about, their yr was loads completely different than your yr has been.
They had been kind of toiling secretly.
Whereas I feel again to the Recreation Awards final yr, you dropped the Paladin, then you definitely had the Highlight, after which the Warlock dropped, and Lord of Hatred, and it’s been like hit after hit after hit for Diablo IV gamers this yr.
Now you’re right here at BlizzCon, you get to have a look at the gamers within the eye, you get to see.
What are you seeing?
What are you listening to from them?
OWEN LEACH: Actually, it’s been nothing however optimistic.
They’re so excited simply seeing the gamers play the demo that we created and killed all of the Prime Evils in particular person right here at BlizzCon.
And it’s superior.
And the vitality within the room.
We had been on a panel lately, and simply the vitality in that house was superior.
And it’s so thrilling.
We don’t get to work together with followers that always, and to see all of them come collectively within the house with a typical curiosity, it’s superior.
LINA MADRID: Yeah.
So, okay, now trying ahead, you all simply introduced Season 15 for Diablo IV, and that’s referred to as the Season of Hell’s Legacy.
What are you able to inform us about Season 15?
And what can gamers count on leaping in immediately?
DAN TANGUAY: Yeah, so Season of Hell’s Legacy, after we got here up with the idea, actually simply began merely as a celebration of 30 years of Diablo.
We realized that it was the thirtieth anniversary as of the thirty first of December.
And we knew there was going to be a BlizzCon.
And so we mentioned, all proper, it is a prime alternative for us to do one thing that may actually seize the historical past of Diablo.
And so with that in thoughts, we then principally received to engaged on what it means to have fun Diablo.
And so, briefly, Season 13 is a journey into the previous.
You get a information within the type of Deckard Cain.
He comes again from the lifeless.
And he comes again, although, with three Darkish Wanderers.
And they’re somebody you should defeat and redeem.
And upon doing that, you’re capable of take the facility of the Prime Evils as your personal and begin wielding the powers of Darkish Wanderers your self.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: What a flashback it was.
We’ve the demo right here.
We received to play kind of like perhaps a sped up or a truncated model.
However listening to Deckard Cain’s voice at the start, you actually hit the keep some time half.
I used to be transported again to my dorm room again within the ’90s once I first began taking part in.
DAN TANGUAY: That’s precisely what we’re going for.
I imply, it was actually essential for us to get individuals to recollect these moments.
And hopefully we’ve captured numerous these moments that they do keep in mind within the season.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: I additionally keep in mind the half the place I received my ass kicked by Diablo [laughter].
Baal, no drawback.
Mephistos, fairly good.
After which Diablo.
Nobody was standing over my shoulder, thankfully, to see me kind of crumble on that one.
However speak about taking the splinter of the facility.
I’d think about like with the nice comes with the unhealthy.
There’s a satan’s cut price in a literal sense.
DAN TANGUAY: I can speak about that a bit bit.
So whenever you defeat all the Darkish Wanderers, you extract the splinters of evil from them — consider these splinters as like echoes of soul stones.
And naturally, nothing good comes of these issues, proper?
However so as to clear up the mess that’s been created, you should wield that energy.
Let’s take the splinter of destruction for instance.
That’s a Baal splinter.
You are taking that on, you unlock one among its signature powers, after which by leveling up the splinter, you’re in a position then to stage up that energy, add completely different results to it, and sort of get it into its final kind.
Properly, that’s not the one factor you’re capable of do.
We don’t need it simply to be about energy.
So additionally as you might be leveling up the splinter, you’re capable of begin impacting the Battle Plans timber and also you’re capable of begin including modifiers to these.
So now the actions all through the endgame are additionally modified by your progress in Baal’s energy.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: So one of many issues we didn’t get an opportunity to do as a result of we’re right here is get to problem Mephistos.
By the way in which, love a great portmanteau.
So 10 out of 10 on that one.
Did I miss my probability?
Like, is that that?
OWEN LEACH: So no, truly.
We’re tremendous happy with how he’s acquired.
He was within the BlizzCon demo.
He did the World Boss takeover.
And we didn’t wish to say goodbye fairly but.
So he’s in Season of Hell’s Legacy, you simply received to seek out him.
So if I had been you, I’d take a stroll round Skovos, see what you discover, and perhaps comply with that little breadcrumb, and perhaps you’ll see Mephisto.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: All proper.
LINA MADRID: Okay, attention-grabbing.
If we might identical to shift gears, look to the subsequent yr.
You simply introduced a brand new class coming to Diablo IV within the first half of 2027, the Amazons, and with {that a} new weapon kind as nicely, the javelin.
That’s superior.
OWEN LEACH: Yeah.
LINA MADRID: So like what does the Amazon really feel like whenever you play as her?
DAN TANGUAY: So it’s nonetheless fairly early at this level, however what we’re aiming for with the Amazon first off is that the Amazon, she’s a soldier.
She is disciplined.
And that basically units her aside from numerous the opposite lessons.
So that you’re going to get a really feel that’s deadly, however extremely managed, which is fairly cool.
If you throw the javelin into the combination, out of the blue you’ve received this soldier who has numerous versatility that among the different lessons don’t.
You’re capable of assault at extraordinarily lengthy vary with a bow, clearly.
However with the javelin, you’re capable of assault mid-range and also you’re capable of swap between ranged and melee very, very simply.
One of many archetypes that we’re exploring proper now’s the thought of a skirmisher.
You’re virtually capable of go in, deal a bunch of assaults, come out.
And so that you get sort of this stick and transfer sort of really feel to the gameplay.
LINA MADRID: Yeah, we noticed a picture with the completely different archetypes.
That regarded superior.
There was a sword and protect.
There was the bow you talked about.
Might you sort of go in a bit extra on?
DAN TANGUAY: Yeah.
So we received the ranger and the skirmisher, we simply talked about these.
And so the opposite two are literally completely new to the Amazon.
The subsequent new one is definitely referred to as the Champion.
And that is the concept that we’ve given this Amazon a sword and protect.
She’s going to stand up shut, and she or he’s going to be fairly imply about it.
And so it’s not going to be just like the Barbarian.
The Barbarian could be very a lot about that unbridled rage, proper?
Once more, she’s very disciplined.
She calls her pictures and takes her pictures.
However she’s received some methods up her sleeves within the type of banners and issues like that that present extra assist for her.
The opposite archetype is the commander archetype.
And this was one which we felt fairly strongly with.
After taking part in by Lord of Hatred, as I’m certain you might have, you bought to see all of the Amazons combating collectively as squads and as battalions.
And we actually wished to seize that really feel within the character as nicely, dwell as much as the promise that Lord of Hatred began.
And so with the Commander archetype, you might be actually fulfilling this promise of commanding Valkyries and commanding Vallochs and having the ability to combat collectively together with your sisters so as to have the ability to fight the enemy.
LINA MADRID: So is there any sort of explicit talent or capacity that you simply personally are like, sure, I like this?
DAN TANGUAY: Yeah.
So Amazon was one among my primary lessons in DII.
And so I’m significantly thrilled to have the javelin come again.
As a result of, , simply the emotional feeling of throwing a javelin into the air and having it remodel right into a bolt of lightning after which splitting aside and simply zapping everybody else, I feel, is one thing I’d actually love to do.
JEFF RUBENSTEIN: Properly, Dan, Owen, thanks a lot for taking trip to talk with us immediately.
Let’s get you again out onto the present ground and you may stand behind individuals as they’re taking part in and watch them fumble going through Diablo like I did.
And for the remainder of you all, who I’m certain are taking part in a lot better than I do, thanks once more for watching the Official XBOX Podcast.
We are going to see you on the subsequent one.
