The Australia and New Zealand branch of Blizzard is going all out for the long-awaited release of Diablo 4, and the denizens of Sydney may come across a curious promo over the course of the day. It’s not often that a new mainline entry in the Diablo franchise comes out, and it was all but certain that some of Blizzard’s employees would plan a way to mark the occasion in a unique way.
With Diablo 4‘s official release times already known, all that’s left for fans to do is wait a little while longer. Those who are going to be waiting around in Sydney, specifically, may get a chance to have some unexpectedly creepy fun, as Blizzard ANZ has come up with an interesting promotional plan to celebrate the game’s launch.
Specifically, Diablo 4 fans in Sydney may want to strap in, because the city is going to play host to the opening of a veritable portal to hell. Set up in Circular Quay, over Mary’s Underground, the showcase promises the appearance of Lilith herself and a gaggle of her cultists, who are going to use a special red beacon, demonic chanting, and an assortment of other hellish features to simulate the opening of a portal to Diablo‘s version of Hell at 5 PM local time. According to Press Start, citizens of Sydney will have a chance to spot Lilith’s cultists at popular tourist hotspots, such as the Town Hall and Newtown.
Though the fact that Diablo 4 is a live-service game doesn’t appeal to some of the franchise’s hardcore fans, the slew of positive reviews and almost universal praise coming from the game’s early adopters are a clear signifier that Activision Blizzard’s done things right. At least, that is the case for the time being, as Diablo 4‘s live service nature means that it’s a malleable and flexible experience, especially regarding its monetization systems.
Diablo Immortal‘s aggressive monetization scheme has proven to be remarkably profitable for the publisher, and it’s difficult to imagine that Activision Blizzard would forego the new title’s potential earnings by wholly ignoring what Immortal has accomplished over a relatively short period of time.
Still, the reviews for Diablo 4 are clear: it’s a great game as it currently stands and a true-to-form franchise follow-up that is all the more impressive when considering the initial fumbles of its immediate predecessor, Diablo 3. Nobody can tell how things will turn out in the long run, but fans have much to look forward to in the short term.
Diablo 4 will be available on June 6 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: Press Start