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Over 40 minutes of Diablo 4 gameplay has leaked online, making Activision-Blizzard the second development studio to experience a major breach in the past week.
As reported by GamesRadar, two clips of Diablo 4 gameplay began circulating on gaming forums on Sep. 19. Both videos feature the Barbarian class and have the words "private test build" overlaid on top, indicating the version was not intended to be seen by the public. The first five-minute clip shows off the in-game cosmetics shop, user interface and the wares of various merchants. Some combat is also shown, with the hero battling through swathes of zombies and undead mages. The second clip is a staggering 38 minutes and showcases an unfinished dungeon full of missing textures and polygons. It features more combat, along with various gearing and itemization menus.
Both clips received hundreds of downloads and continue circulating online despite numerous copyright claims by Activision-Blizzard. The leak coincided with a new developer update video shared by the company in which it announced a Diablo 4 End Game Beta. The playtest will allow select long-time franchise fans to experience the game's closing chapters to prevent the spoiling of Diablo 4's narrative before its release. Various other closed trials took place earlier this year, including a Diablo 4 friends-and-family alpha test which was reportedly well-received.
As one of the most anticipated games coming down the Activision-Blizzard pipeline, fans are desperate to see how Diablo 4 is shaping up as its 2023 launch date draws nearer. The game will be the biggest Diablo game yet, featuring over 100 dungeons and new mechanics like dynamic weather. The game is also planned to be "a darker and more grounded interpretation" than previous Diablo games. Activision-Blizzard even offered the most die-hard fans a chance to play the game early if they got a Diablo-themed tattoo during a recent promotion.
Earlier this week, Rockstar Games also experienced a considerable leak in which numerous videos of Grand Theft Auto 6 gameplay appeared online. The clips showed a pre-build version of GTA6 and confirmed previously rumored details such as a Vice City setting and male and female protagonists. Rockstar addressed the leak, saying it was "extremely disappointed" that Grand Theft Auto 6 had been shared this way, though the company confirmed that the leak would not delay production.
Diablo 4 will launch on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC sometime in 2023. An open beta of the game is scheduled for early 2023.
Source: GamesRadar