Chris Wilson, who previously co-founded Path of Exile developer Grinding Gear Games, has expressed cautious optimism regarding the direction of Blizzard's upcoming action RPG, Diablo 5. Announced at Blizzcon 2026, the game is slated for a Spring 2029 release, though Wilson speculates it may face delays, a common occurrence in the industry.
In a recent video analysis, Wilson broke down Diablo 5's announced features, including its story, itemization, and monster leveling. He highlighted a particular appreciation for the character and inventory screen, which features variable item sizes reminiscent of Diablo 2. However, he also noted modern design choices, such as a flat DPS number on weapons, that he found less appealing. Wilson acknowledged that Diablo 5 cannot fully replicate Diablo 2's sometimes cumbersome design to avoid alienating its modern player base.
Wilson anticipates that Diablo 5 will aim for a balance, offering a modern ARPG experience that draws heavily from Diablo 2's foundations rather than being a direct recreation. He also commented on the recent Diablo franchise anniversary event in Diablo 4, finding it "distasteful" for introducing all prime evils at once outside the game's narrative progression. Despite this, he expects Diablo 4 will continue to receive new seasons and story content over the next year and a half, with the Amazon class from Diablo 2 planned for a DLC release early next year.
Blizzard has revealed some of the classes planned for Diablo 5, stating the game will launch with more classes than any previous entry in the series. Wilson expressed hope for the return of the Demon Hunter class from Diablo 3.