Blizzard has made one thing of a shock announcement: the developer is nearly prepared to speak about Diablo 4’s subsequent season. The truth that we’re getting data forward of time isn’t shocking, it’s simply how far off from the season it’s dropping that’s slightly uncommon.
Season 8: Belial’s Return is nowhere close to over, however Blizzard has confirmed that it’s going to quickly be soliciting participant suggestions as a part of the subsequent season’s PTR.
The patch 2.3.0 PTR (Public Check Realm) is shut sufficient, it appears, that Blizzard desires to inform gamers what it’s planning to vary, and the way they will become involved. This subsequent replace is a serious one, and can arrive with Season 9, not earlier than.
Season 8: Belial’s Return arrived alongside patch 2.2.0, which had its own PTR in March, just some weeks earlier than the season kicked off for everybody within the stay recreation. Likewise, the Season 9 PTR will exhibit patch 2.3.0 forward of its launch, and Blizzard revealed that it’ll discuss all about it in an upcoming Campfire Chat.
The developer livestream is scheduled for Thursday, Might 22 at 11am PT, 2pm ET, 7pm UK. As you may anticipate, it’ll function a preview of what to anticipate from the PTR. The check will, but once more, solely be out there on PC by Battlenet.
Exterior of the foremost modifications arriving with 2.3.0, the present may also element the Dungeon Escalation exercise debuting with Season 9. You’ll be capable of watch it stay on Diablo’s official channels on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok.
Diablo 4 seasons sometimes run longer than those in most stay video games, however it does appear like Season 8 will probably be shorter than normal. For one, the recently-published Diablo 4 roadmap reveals Season 9 within the July-September part. Apparently, Diablo 4 doesn’t at the moment say when the present season will finish in recreation, as we’ve come to anticipate.
Nevertheless, the much derided Reliquaries battle pass system, which debuted with Season 8, does listing the variety of days left to amass its contents. As of this writing, it suggests a July 1 begin date for Season 9, which might line up with the roadmap.
This might clarify why we’re getting information of subsequent season’s PTR this early, however we additionally shouldn’t ignore how a lot Season 8 is being dragged by the mud by many within the Diablo 4 group. It’s clear Blizzard desires to shift participant consideration to one thing aside from the present season, which little question contributed to the scheduling choice.
