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Joe Shely

Reporting and statements that mention Joe Shely.

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Retro Gamer

Diablo 5 is Blizzard's darkest ARPG yet, and that's the best way to honor the game that changed my life 30…

Blizzard announced Diablo 5 at BlizzCon 2026, slated for a 2029 release. The game aims to be the darkest entry in the series, returning to the horror roots of the original Diablo to honor its 30th anniversary. Senior game director Joe Shely stated that the game's premise involves Sanctuary being destroyed and Diablo winning, with few survivors enslaved or turned into demonic followers.

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Tech Radar

Diablo 5 senior game director says the game will tell 'three stories,' including the past, the present desolation of Diablo's takeover, and the future 'terror forming' of the Sanctuary

Diablo 5 will feature a narrative spanning the past, present, and future, with explorable biomes that dynamically change based on the influence of Diablo's Dread Commanders. Senior game director Joe Shely and narrative director Jennifer Hepler detailed how these environments will offer a unique experience each time players revisit them, reflecting the ongoing 'terror forming' of Sanctuary.

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Tech Radar

Diablo 5 senior game director says 'the continued passion' is the reason Diablo 2: Resurrected exists and has allowed Blizzard to look at it for modern inspiration — 'Because it exists today alongside Diablo 4, we can look at it through today's lens'

Diablo 5's senior game director, Joe Shely, stated that the success and continued passion for Diablo 2: Resurrected has allowed Blizzard to draw modern inspiration from it for the upcoming sequel. The team can now look at Diablo 2's elements through a contemporary lens, utilizing its itemization and recent features as a guide for Diablo 5's development.

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Massively Overpovered

Diablo V will have multiplayer, but it sounds like the devs haven’t tied down how it works yet

Diablo V will feature multiplayer, allowing players to experience all content with friends, similar to Diablo IV. However, specific details about how multiplayer will function are still being finalized by the development team and are expected to be revealed closer to the game's 2029 release. The game is set in an apocalyptic Sanctuary with procedurally generated maps.

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Gamespot

Diablo 5 Will Have The Most Classes Of Any Game In The Series

Diablo 5 will launch with more classes than any previous game in the franchise, according to game director Joe Shely. Blizzard aims for nine or ten classes at launch, including familiar ones like the Demon Hunter and new additions like the Plague Knight. This announcement was made during a BlizzCon 2026 panel, which also revealed a Spring 2029 release window for Diablo 5.

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Retro Gamer

Diablo 5: Everything you need to know about the next era of Diablo

Blizzard Entertainment has officially announced Diablo 5, slated for a Spring 2029 release, aiming to usher in a new era for the franchise. The game will feature a post-apocalyptic Sanctuary where Diablo has already won, with procedural landscapes and a new class called the Plague Knight. Development is in its early stages, with Blizzard planning to involve the community throughout the process.

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Eurogamer

Diablo 4 was basically an MMO, will Diablo 5 follow suit? Blizzard is being coy for now

Blizzard Entertainment has revealed details about Diablo 5, which is slated for a 2029 release. While senior game director Joe Shely confirmed it will support both solo and multiplayer modes, the specifics of its multiplayer structure, which may differ from Diablo 4's MMO-like approach, are yet to be detailed. The game will feature procedural generation for dungeons and the overworld, similar to Diablo 3.

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PC Gamer

Diablo 5 will fully support multiplayer, but Blizzard won't say how similar to Diablo 4 it'll be

Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that Diablo 5 will feature full multiplayer support, allowing players to team up with friends for all content, similar to Diablo 4. While specific details on how multiplayer will be integrated, especially in the procedurally generated overworld and dungeons, remain undisclosed and will be revealed closer to its estimated 2029 release, the company plans to share regular development updates starting next year.

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Gaming Bolt

Diablo 5 Will Support Multiplayer, Return of Diablo 4’s MMO Features is Unknown

Diablo 5 will feature multiplayer options, allowing players to tackle content solo or with friends, similar to Diablo 4. However, the extent of MMO-like features, such as meeting other players in the world or world events, remains unconfirmed and will be revealed closer to its 2029 release. The game will feature a procedurally generated overworld and will not include towns as hubs, differing from Diablo 4.

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IGN

Diablo 5 Director Confirms Game is Already in Full Production

Diablo 5 is officially in full production and is slated for a 2029 release. Game Director Joe Shely confirmed the sequel will introduce more character classes, procedural worlds, and advance the story 100 years into the future.

Tech Radar

A Diablo 5 new class has already been revealed with the Plague Knight being 'a walking death' across the battlefield — while two returning classes have also been confirmed

Blizzard Entertainment revealed new details about Diablo 5 at BlizzCon 2026, including the introduction of the Plague Knight class, described as a 'walking death' that spreads and consumes disease. The Demon Hunter and Monk classes will also return, and the game will launch with more classes than any previous Diablo title. Developers emphasized that classes will be approachable yet offer deep mastery and build variety.

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Shack News

Diablo 5 panel reveals first details: Plague Knight class, revamped loot, and more

Blizzard Entertainment revealed early details for Diablo 5 at BlizzCon 2026, including a new Plague Knight class, a revamped loot system inspired by Diablo 2, and a story where Diablo has conquered Sanctuary. The game is slated for a 2029 release, with regular updates planned starting in 2027. Diablo 4 will also receive updates and a Nintendo Switch version.

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Tech Radar

Diablo 5's Sanctuary has become 'an outpost of hell' where 'humanity has fallen into ruin' which paints an incredibly bleak picture that I can't wait for

Diablo 5's world of Sanctuary has been described by developers as an 'outpost of hell' where humanity has fallen into ruin, with some humans corrupted into dread commanders. This bleak, dark fantasy setting, a continuation of Diablo 4's tone, is intended to be a compelling backdrop for the action RPG, which is slated for a Spring 2029 release.

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Retro Gamer

Diablo 5's first confirmed classes are the Demon Hunter, Monk, and the all-new Plague Knight: Blizzard says the…

Blizzard Entertainment has revealed the first confirmed classes for Diablo 5, including the returning Demon Hunter and Monk, and a new class called the Plague Knight. The game director described the Plague Knight as a heavily armored, death-spreading character. Diablo 5 is slated for a 2029 release and will feature more classes at launch than any previous entry in the series.

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PC GamesN

Blizzard announces Diablo 5 - and this time, Diablo has already won

Blizzard Entertainment has announced that Diablo 5 is in development and is slated for a spring 2029 release. The sequel will shift the narrative focus to a world where Diablo has already conquered Sanctuary, with players taking on a new role in this fallen world. Details were shared during a Blizzcon 2026 developer panel, with more information expected.

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PC Gamer

Diablo 5 is coming in 2029

Blizzard Entertainment announced Diablo 5, slated for a spring 2029 release, six years after Diablo 4. The sequel will be set a century after Diablo 4, with Diablo himself having already conquered Sanctuary. Director Joe Shely described a world where heroes are gone and Diablo has won, with no safe havens.

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PC Gamer

Diablo 4 game director believes it's 'normal' for most action RPGs to undergo major reworks: 'Friction points that we could never imagine suddenly rear their heads over the course of 10,000 hours'

Diablo 4's game director believes that major reworks and system changes are normal for action RPGs due to the extensive playtime players invest. He explained that friction points players encounter over thousands of hours often necessitate these transitions. The paragon system was cited as an example of a feature that may need future adjustments.

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