„The expectations are super high.” Blizzard legend talks about why it’s so hard to work on games like Diablo 4

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Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot of talk about whether we’re seeing the end of those huge, blockbuster AAA games. It seems like a lot of people *in* the industry – even big names like Hideo Kojima and Thomas Mahler – believe that indie developers with smaller budgets are actually creating the most interesting and innovative games right now, and they’re the ones who will really define where gaming is headed. Even someone involved with the Diablo series has hinted that the AAA gaming world is facing some really tough challenges.

“Extremely Risky” Environment

David Brevik, who co-founded Blizzard North and helped create the original two Diablo games, recently talked with PCGamesN. He acknowledged the issues facing big-budget AAA game development, including problems with games like Diablo IV.

He thinks the current situation is very dangerous for the game, and the developers are facing a huge challenge trying to satisfy players. He also suggested this explains why well-known content creators frequently leave large companies to establish their own, smaller game studios.

Honestly, we’ve witnessed a lot of high-profile (triple-A and double-A) projects being canceled over the past couple of years. It’s been really tough, especially for large-scale games. Developing them is very risky because there’s a lot of competition. The landscape is significantly different than it was two decades ago.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=-59764

Originally, Blizzard intended to launch new expansions for Diablo IV each year. However, that plan changed, and the release of the second downloadable content pack has been pushed back to 2026. According to Brevik, the main issue is the game’s large scale and how many people are playing it.

I believe that whenever you have an important game and make even small adjustments, you’ll inevitably face some criticism and hear from unhappy people. It’s especially challenging when you’re very popular and have a large following, because the expectations are incredibly high. It’s a really tough situation to navigate when so much is on the line and people are vocal about their opinions.

Meanwhile, he offered straightforward guidance to developers facing the same challenge. He suggested that the best approach is to simply remain true to your own convictions.

It’s incredibly stressful to get things done. But you need to set that stress aside and remind yourself, ‘I’m confident in the path we’re taking. I believe in the work we’re doing.’

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2025-10-02 15:02