The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the gaming industry, as it has delayed the release dates for several games. But the pandemic isn’t holding Blizzard back from pushing forward with development forDiablo 4, according Game Producer Rod Fergusson.
Fergusson said in a recent GDC live stream Q&A that, despite the challenges of working from home, development onDiablo 4is progressing smoothly. “And we onDiablocontinue to – it’s been challenging, but the team is just moving forward," Fergusson said. But while Fergusson confirmed that development is advancing onDiablo 4, he still did not give a release date.
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The next installment of the isometric action-roleplaying game wasfirst announced at BlizzCon 2019 with a cinematic trailerthat made fans even more hyped for the long-awaited game. Each newDiabloinstallment is a momentous occasion for fans, as releases in the franchise are almost decades apart. Only threeDiablogames have released in the past 23 years. Several details onDiablo 4have already been revealed, including the game’s four playable classes and where Blizzard might take the story.
Fergusson is an industry veteran who in the past has worked for Epic Games and Irrational Games. In his latest move, he left his role at The Coalition, where he led development on the fourth and fifth entries in theGears of Warfranchise, forBlizzard to oversee development onDiablo4. The transition was made right before the COVID-19 Pandemic hit, giving Fergusson only eight days in the office before he and the rest of Blizzard’s staff were forced to work from home.
“I started Tuesday and then the following Thursday, everyone was work from home,” he said during the live stream.
But despite the drawbacks of working from home, Fergusson said he and his fellow game developers are making solid progress and that working from home his actually “going very well.” He added that Blizzard is keeping up productivity by taking steps to assist its employees, which include paying for their internet expenses, making sure they have regular breaks and even sending them snack boxes. Blizzard has already pushed out content since staff began working from home, including twoHearthstoneexpansions. The developer is also working onWorld of Warcraft’sShadowlands expansion that is slated to release this fall.
WhileDiablo 4still does not have a release date, Blizzard recently announced that itwill have a virtual BlizzCon in early 2021. Fans will probably have to wait until to find out whenDiablo 4will finally drop.
Diablo 4is in development for PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
