After nearly two years on the market, the hit action RPGDiablo 4is already set to receive its 8th seasonal update. During the latest Campfire Chat livestream, developer Blizzard Entertainment gave players an idea of what to expect from the upcoming patch. Although the current season of the game has primarily focused on adding witch-related gameplay mechanics, Season 8 is going to place an emphasis on boss battles instead. According to Blizzard, all endgame bosses inDiablo 4will be overhauled to become more accessible and rewarding. New items called Lair Keys are going to replaceDiablo 4’s current summon system, and they’re going to make it easier to locate and battle bosses in the game.
Like some of the previous seasonal updates, Season 8 will also adda new boss toDiablo 4called Belial, the Lord of Lies. Originally featured as one of the main antagonists inDiablo 3, Belial is one of the Lesser Evils of the Burning Hells inDiablolore, and his return in this season marks the end of a years-long absence from the series. The Belial boss fight inDiablo 4has been described by Blizzard as both the “highest challenge” and the “highest reward,” so, judging by this description, defeating him likely won’t be an easy task. Difficulty aside, though, Belial’s inclusion in Season 8 suggests that fans may be one step closer to experiencing a Diablo boss fight inDiablo 4, as well.
After Belial, Blizzard May Soon Add the Lord of Terror to Diablo 4
Diablo, the Lord of Terror, is One of the Most Dangerous Antagonists in the Diablo Games
Diablo, for those who are unaware, is the titular antagonist of theDiabloseries. Also referred to as Al’Diabolos, the Lord of Terror, he isthe youngest of the Prime Evils, a trio of powerful demonic entities that rule over the realms of the Burning Hells. Diablo, along with his two brothers, Mephisto and Baal, are in a war with the angels from Heaven and, in order to triumph, they seek to corrupt humanity and conquer Sanctuary, the world where humans live. Although they often work together, the Prime Evils don’t get along that well and have typically betrayed each other throughout the series. Out of the three of them, though, Diablo is often considered the most dangerous.
As one would probably expect, Diablo made his debut in the first game in theDiabloseries,Diablo 1. He served as the final boss of the 1996 RPG (this particular boss fight would later make an appearance inDiablo 3’s Anniversary Dungeon). Afterward, the Lord of Terror showed up in bothDiablo 2and3’s main campaigns, this time as the final boss in the fourth acts of the two games. Although Diablo was initially the last boss players would encounter inDiablo 2and3, the expansions for both games added extra bosses which were even more challenging.
Diablo has also reared his demonic head inDiablo Immortal, Blizzard Entertainment’s controversial free-to-play mobile game. Despite not being in the game at launch,the Lord of Terror was recently added toDiablo Immortalin a post-launch update entitled Shattered Sanctuary, which came out in December of last year. This incarnation of Diablo has more attacks and abilities than any prior version, so players have to be careful when confronting him.
Like With Diablo Immortal, Blizzard Could Add Diablo to Diablo 4 in a Future Season
To date,Diablo 4is the only game in the entireDiabloseries that doesn’t feature Diablo himself. The Lord of Terror is only mentioned in passing throughout the game, but he never shows up as an actual boss. That could change in the near future, however, like it did withDiablo Immortal. If the announcement of the Belial boss battle is anything to go by, it’s clear Blizzard Entertainment is not at all hesitant toadd bosses from previous games toDiablo 4, even if it has major implications on the series' overarching lore. The addition of a Diablo boss fight toDiablo 4may bring some lapsed players back, so hopefully, the company will include it in a future season.
Diablo 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Diablo® IV is the ultimate action RPG experience with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot. Embark on the campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through beautifully dark settings and a gripping story, or explore an expansive end game and shared world where players can meet in towns to trade, team up to battle world bosses, or descend into PVP zones to test their skills against other players – no lobbies necessary – with cross-play, cross-progression, and couch co-op on Xbox.This is only the beginning for Diablo® IV, with new events, stories, seasons, rewards, and more looming on the horizon.
