Far from being ready to release, the developers continue to share the progress of the project with quarterly reports. This month, it’s the environments of Diablo IV which are in the spotlight, and in particular the horror that reigns there. Seeking to reconnect with its roots, the game is actively developing its horrifying side, whether in sound or image. Various videos reveal a little more about these places and their oppressive atmosphere.
Diablo is back in horror
The key word for this development is “coherence”. The objective of the artists working on Diablo IV is to make this world coherent and believable, whatever one observes. By choosing to turn again to horror to create this universe, it was therefore necessary to leave aside the cartoonish style of the previous title. In particular, the weather has a visible and palpable effect on the environment since it directly influences the scenery. Mud will mark your tracks, rain will wet surfaces, and mist will lift depending on conditions.
But this report relies on the desire to reinforce the horror of the environments in Diablo IV. For this, the Gothic aspect of the game is reworked and deepened, as well as the decorative elements. With its rather special camera, the objective is to offer detailed, dark and dangerous environments, but without losing readability. The dungeons are therefore redesigned to offer a more oppressive experience, but still procedurally generated.
But this horrifying aspect is not limited to the atmosphere or the environments. Accessories and interactive objects must also represent a risk for the player. It is therefore necessary that this be felt, so that the most courageous feel rewarded when they perform an act of bravery. It is no longer a question of slaughtering monsters, but of surviving in a hostile region.