When a franchise spans nearly three decades, carries a legacy of genre-defining titles, and sits at the heart of the action RPG community, expectations naturally run high. Few series embody this more than Diablo, Blizzard’s dark and twisted dungeon-crawling saga. Since its release in mid-2023, Diablo 4 Items has walked a precarious line: it is simultaneously celebrated for its atmosphere and scale, while criticized for inconsistent updates, divisive seasonal design, and pacing issues. And now, with the game’s Season 10 live and its first major expansion, Vessel of Hatred, already shaping the future of Sanctuary, one of the series’ original architects has stepped forward to weigh in.

David Brevik, co-creator of the Diablo franchise, recently shared his perspective on Blizzard’s latest effort. Though no longer with the company—he left in 2003—Brevik’s fingerprints remain embedded in the DNA of the franchise. His pitch for the original Diablo, his programming and design leadership on the first game, and his role as Project Lead on Diablo 2 cemented his reputation as one of the most influential figures in ARPG history. Today, as the founder of indie studio Graybeard Games, Brevik continues to comment on the industry, and when it comes to Diablo, his words carry particular weight.

His sentiment was simple but sharp: Blizzard must overcome the “super high expectations” surrounding Diablo 4. And in many ways, that challenge defines the present and future of the game.

Diablo 4’s Mixed Reception: A Story of Hype and Reality

From the moment Blizzard revealed Diablo 4, expectations soared. The promise of a return to darker aesthetics after the polarizing reception of Diablo 3’s more colorful palette reignited hope among longtime fans. The trailers leaned heavily into gothic imagery, visceral combat, and the haunting presence of Lilith—an antagonist designed to embody the corruption and despair that define Sanctuary.

At launch, Diablo 4 delivered on several fronts. The game’s art direction was widely praised, the open-world design felt ambitious, and the tone struck a chord with players longing for the oppressive atmosphere of the first two games. Yet, as the honeymoon period faded, frustrations began to mount.

Players voiced concerns over:

Endgame pacing – Many felt the grind was too shallow, with limited activities repeating endlessly.

Itemization issues – Loot variety, a cornerstone of ARPGs, was criticized for being uninspired or overly restrictive.

Balance fluctuations – Each seasonal update seemed to shake up builds, sometimes in ways that felt less like evolution and more like whiplash.

Live-service struggles – Frequent patches aimed at fixing problems sometimes introduced new ones, leaving some players weary.

Despite these criticisms, the game has maintained a dedicated core audience, bolstered by seasonal updates. Each season introduces mechanics, enemies, and progression systems, giving players new ways to engage with the grind. However, the feeling persists that Diablo 4 is chasing the impossible: to be both the nostalgic continuation of a beloved legacy and a modern live-service giant competing against titles like Path of Exile and Lost Ark.

Season 10 and the First Expansion

The launch of Season 10 brought renewed energy to the game, though once again with divided opinion. For some, the new mechanics reinvigorated the gameplay loop, offering new strategies and ways to tackle Sanctuary’s challenges. For others, it highlighted lingering issues with balance and progression.

Beyond the seasonal grind, Blizzard has pinned much of Diablo 4’s long-term hope on expansions, the first of which—Vessel of Hatred—marks a major step forward. Expansions give Blizzard the opportunity to add not just systems and loot, but also narrative depth, new regions, and potentially even classes. The announcement of Vessel of Hatred generated excitement, but also underscored the reality Brevik alluded to: the bar for Diablo isn’t just high—it’s practically skybound.

David Brevik’s Perspective: A Voice From the Past

Brevik’s involvement in the Diablo franchise may have ended more than twenty years ago, but his role in shaping its identity cannot be overstated. His original pitch for the first Diablo was nothing short of radical at the time: a game centered around randomized dungeons, endless loot, and the addictive loop of kill-loot-upgrade-repeat. Combined with its foreboding atmosphere, the formula defined an entire subgenre of action RPGs.

When asked about Diablo 4, Brevik highlighted the immense pressure Blizzard faces. With such a storied history, every new entry in the series bears the weight of nostalgia, community expectations, and the standard set by games that came decades earlier. In his words, the challenge for Blizzard is not simply making a “good” game—Diablo 4 must live up to an almost mythic status, a near-impossible standard shaped by both Diablo 2’s legendary reputation and the modern ARPG landscape.

Why Expectations Are So High

Brevik’s point resonates because the Diablo community is unlike most others. Fans of the series have spent decades fine-tuning builds, debating drop rates, and diving into theorycrafting that rivals competitive esports in complexity. Diablo 2 is often held up as the “gold standard” of ARPGs, still played to this day through remasters and mods.

This history creates a paradox:

Innovation is demanded – Players want fresh mechanics, evolving endgames, and bold new ideas.

But nostalgia reigns – Any deviation from the feel of Diablo 2 is often met with resistance.

Blizzard must navigate this tightrope while also adapting to a gaming industry where live-service models, seasonal updates, and cross-platform accessibility are expected. In other words, Diablo 4 isn’t just competing against its predecessors—it’s competing against every modern ARPG and the rose-tinted memory of its own past.

Brevik’s Advice in Context

Though Brevik’s comments were brief, the implication is clear: Blizzard cannot allow the burden of expectation to dictate every move. Instead, the studio must find its own rhythm—balancing reverence for the franchise’s roots with the courage to carve a path forward.

Some of his advice can be distilled into key takeaways:

Set realistic goals for content – Seasons should feel substantial but achievable. Overpromising and underdelivering will only fuel discontent.

Prioritize player trust – The community is willing to forgive missteps if Blizzard communicates clearly and honestly about design decisions.

Focus on identity – Rather than endlessly comparing itself to Diablo 2 or Path of Exile, Diablo 4 must refine what makes it unique: its cinematic storytelling, its open-world design, and its visceral atmosphere.

Blizzard’s Path Forward

With Vessel of Hatred on the horizon and more seasons planned, the future of Diablo 4 will depend on Blizzard’s ability to adapt. The studio has already shown a willingness to overhaul systems based on feedback, but the key will be consistency. Delivering steady improvements to loot, progression, and endgame diversity will go a long way toward stabilizing the game’s long-term health.

There’s also an opportunity for Blizzard to lean into what Diablo 4 does best: tone and immersion. Few ARPGs can match the game’s haunting cinematics, environmental storytelling, and commitment to a world steeped in despair. Doubling down on those strengths while refining gameplay systems could cement Diablo 4 as a worthy successor to the franchise’s legacy.

A Legacy That Cuts Both Ways

At its heart, Brevik’s advice underscores the double-edged sword of legacy. The Diablo franchise is one of gaming’s crown jewels, but that status also makes it harder for new entries to satisfy fans. Where other ARPGs can innovate freely, Diablo must constantly measure itself against the towering shadow of Diablo 2.

Diablo 4 is not a failure—its steady player base, thriving seasonal updates, and expansion plans prove its staying power. But it is also not the flawless masterpiece some hoped for. It exists in the messy middle ground, a game with immense potential and lingering flaws, forever scrutinized under the weight of expectation.

Conclusion

David Brevik’s words ring true because they capture the essence of Diablo 4’s struggle. This is a game caught between nostalgia and innovation, between the demands of live-service gaming and the desire for a timeless ARPG experience. For Blizzard, the path forward lies not in chasing impossible standards, but in carving out a distinct identity—one that honors the franchise’s past without being shackled by it.

As Season 10 unfolds and Vessel of Hatred looms on the horizon, one truth remains: the fires of expectation will never fade for Diablo. But if Blizzard can channel those flames into refinement and bold creativity, Diablo 4 Gold for sale may yet claim its place as more than just a worthy entry—it could become a defining chapter in the saga of Sanctuary.