Diablo IV - The never-ending battle for Sanctuary

Diablo IV: The evolution of a legendary franchise

The Diablo series is known for offering a compelling and unique take on classic dungeon-crawling-style games. Diablo IV continued this style of gameplay, while modernising the series and revamping it for the modern era by introducing some welcome twists and innovations to the familiar Diablo formula.

Over the years, Diablo has become full of rich lore and storytelling, unsurprising perhaps given the franchise has existed for over two decades. The basic premise of Diablo is that there has been a war between the High Heavens and the Burning Hells, and due to their actions in the conflict, demons have been banished to the mortal realm. The series is set in the fantasy world of Sanctuary, and its characters are largely humans, angels, demons and monsters. Diablo is the eponymous antagonist of the series, a mighty demon who has the power to use a person’s most horrible fears against them. The Diablo universe is definitely not a peaceful place!!

Enhanced Gameplay Experience

The basic gameplay in the Diablo series involves defeating enemies of increasing difficulty. They are fought by different classes that can be levelled up using the skill trees, and distinguished by equipping them with various weapons. As the game goes on, enemies increase in difficulty and the player will have to develop better strategies to beat them, leading to a satisfying and rewarding gameplay experience. Diablo IV took that core Diablo formula and enhanced it for modern times, adding a host of features and an all-new story. The last Diablo game came out in 2012, and since then player expectations for games like this have increased significantly, especially from big developers like Blizzard.

What’s New in Diablo IV?

The most intriguing addition to the Diablo series is the introduction of an open world, a feature completely new to the Diablo series that was previously fairly linear. Diablo IV has a branching campaign as well, which allows players to explore the game’s giant world in their own unique way. Open-world games have become extremely popular among players in recent years, who are tired of games holding the player’s hand, such as Breath of the Wild in the Zelda series and more recently Elden Ring.

However, one of the biggest challenges when designing open-world games is ensuring it feels balanced. Unlike linear games, when the developer can ensure a steady progression of difficulty, in open-world games the player has much more freedom and they can end up in excessively challenging areas that lead to them getting frustrated. Blizzard managed to strike the perfect balance, making sure players can roam and explore to their heart’s content while never being overly challenged or finding the progress too easy.

More power, more chaos: Diablo IV expansions

If you think the fun was over when you reached the end credits, think again! Expansions are being released to expand the story, tie up loose threads and add many hours of fun with new character classes and powers.

Vessel of Hatred - The first major expansion for Diablo IV continues the dark story following the events of the base game. Players will venture into the dense jungles of Nahantu, a brand-new region filled with dangerous enemies, hidden secrets and ancient evils. The expansion introduces the new Spiritborn playable class, fresh abilities and additional story content, offering new ways to experience Sanctuary and deepen your character’s journey.

Lord of Hatred - The second Diablo IV expansion further expands the world of Sanctuary with new locations, storylines and gameplay features, adding two new character classes: Paladin and Warlock. Building on the live-service model, this expansion introduces new mechanics, gear and challenges, ensuring that Diablo IV continues to evolve and offer fresh experiences for players.

Get more from Diablo IV with Platinum

Diablo IV features a Season system that changes some game mechanics on a regular basis, and provides challenges that reward players with new skins, mounts and assorted cosmetics. The Season Pass, as other cosmetic and gameplay enhancements, can be purchased in-game by using Platinum, the premium currency of Diablo IV. You can buy your Platinum for Xbox here at Gamecardsdirect, the one-stop gift card shop. If you don’t play on Xbox, or don’t want to buy Platinum directly for any reason, you can fund your game profile with Blizzard gift cards, PlayStation gift cards or Xbox gift cards, depending which system you play on.

Where can I buy Diablo IV online?

Diablo IV, its expansions and Platinum for Xbox can all be purchased at Gamecardsdirect, the one-stop gift card shop. We are official suppliers for Xbox digital products, so you can expect top-notch safety and quick delivery.