Video Games
New Quarterly Update For ‘Diablo IV’ Talks Storytelling, Multiplayer and More
Despite this year’s BlizzCon being shelved, Blizzard is still pressing ahead with announcements, including a new update on the development of Diablo IV. This second quarterly update (you can check out the first one here) focuses on how storytelling in Diablo IV will be more immersive “by improving NPC interactions and conversations”, how some multiplayer features will work within the game’s open world, an update on items and progression, and more.
Storytelling in Diablo IV has evolved from the previous games, and their use of UI panes. Now, characters have conversations, where the camera is zoomed in close to the characters (while still maintaining an overall isometric feel) and makes use of “a library of animations to deliver the general gist of the conversations”. For more complex conversations, the character’s movements and animations are “more deliberately hand-crafted”.
Open world will play a big role in Diablo IV with the addition of Camps, which are an extension of towns from the previous games. These locations, which are overrun by enemies, can be conquered by players, after which they become outposts for friendly NPCs and a waypoint location.
Of course, multiplayer is the big focus, with Blizzard’s goal this time to “incorporate elements from shared world games without the game ever feeling like it’s veering into massively multiplayer territory”. Dungeons and key story moments are always private, with just the player and their party. Once story moments are complete and towns are turned into social hubs, players will encounter a few people in town. In contrast, if a world event was happening, you would see a larger congregation of players.
There’s obviously a lot more in the update, which you can check out here.
Diablo IV is currently in development for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Retroware surprised everyone last year with the announcement that they’re working on a throwback beat-’em-up based on the Toxic Crusaders cartoon. Grab your mop and get ready: the side-scrolling beat ’em up game is heading our way later this year.
Toxic Crusaders is now available to preorder on Steam, with the game set for Fall 2024 release. Exact date TBA.
Developer and publisher Retroware has teamed up with Troma Entertainment to bring the characters from the 1991 cartoon “Toxic Crusaders” back, for an all-new, all-action beat ’em up for one to four players.
In the game, “When the evil Dr. Killemoff attacks, only one team of hideously deformed creatures of superhuman size and strength stands between him and his plans for global pollution: the Toxic Crusaders, Earth’s last, greatest and ugliest hope for survival! Battle across seven disgusting levels rendered in vibrant pixel art as you defend Tromaville from hordes of Radiation Rangers, mutated thugs and zombie chickens. The odds might be stacked against you but with awesome powers, a winning personality, and up to four-players on your side, the Smogulan Empire’s days are numbered!
“Choose from seven playable characters, including Toxie, No-Zone, Junkyard, Major Disaster, and Headbanger – plus, for the first time, play as Toxie’s musically “gifted” girlfriend Yvonne, and the mother of all mothers, Mrs. Junko, Toxie’s mom!”
Considering this is set in Tromaville, it’s a safe bet that we’ll see more Troma characters beyond the Crusaders here. Toxic Crusaders will also feature fully voice-acted motion comic cutscenes, featuring voice acting by TeamFourStar, industry veterans, and of course, Troma actors.
Check out the gameplay demo below for a closer look at the Toxic Crusaders in action.
Toxic Crusaders is coming soon to Xbox Series X + S, Playstation 4 + 5, Steam, Nintendo Switch, and the Epic Games Store. But you can wishlist on Steam in the meantime.
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