'Diablo 4' release date rumors: after 'Diablo 3' game director exits Blizzard, is game shelved to 2017?
The fate of "Diablo 4" just got more uncertain following "Diablo" game director Jay Wilson's exit from Blizzard Entertainment and the entire gaming industry.
On Twitter, Wilson revealed in a series of tweets that he will be off to do what he always wanted to do ever since he entered the world of gaming, which is writing.
I'm leaving to pursue my original passion, writing. It's what I was doing when I fell into this job, and I've always wanted to return to it.
— Jay Wilson (@Angryrobotics) June 6, 2016
According to Ubergizmo, although it is only this time that Wilson is formally speaking about parting ways with what had been his home for a decade, he was not involved with "Diablo 4," despite directing its predecessor. "Sad to say after 10 of the best years of my life this will be my last week at Blizzard, and in the games industry," he said in one tweet.
Sad to say after 10 of the best years of my life this will be my last week at Blizzard, and in the games industry.
— Jay Wilson (@Angryrobotics) June 6, 2016
I will dearly miss my friends at Blizzard. They've been the best, most dedicated, most passionate group of people I've ever met.
— Jay Wilson (@Angryrobotics) June 6, 2016
With one of the key players of the franchise now out, it may impact the development of "Diablo 4." However, since Wilson has not been involved with the franchise since 2013, it might not affect the release timing and development after all.
Blizzard reportedly had plans to make a follow-up DLC for "Diablo 3," but BlizzPro claims that the company decided against it. The only major expansion pack released for "Diablo 3" is the popular "Reaper of Souls," which was released in 2014.
They opted to focus their energy on making "Diablo 4" instead, but there haven't been solid updates about how the development is going or if it will ever see the light of day.
When news broke out about the cancellation of "Diablo 3" DLCs for "Diablo 4," it was reported that the latter will be announced next year. It remains to be seen if this still stands following Wilson's departure.
However, Blizzard has been recruiting artists and developers to bulk up the team that will work on "Diablo 4," as indicated in a job listing that emerged back in March.
Seeing that they were putting together a "Diablo 4" team around that time, it will take a while before the game arrives.
Pinpointing the exact date based on Blizzard's release patterns is a bit difficult since "Diablo 2" came four years after the original, and the third iteration was released 12 years after.
Since it appears that Blizzard spent some time crafting "Diablo 3" DLCs before going for "Diablo 4," a 2016 release is unlikely.
