'Diablo 4' release date: Reports say the game will launch in April 2023, pre-orders will open next month

It has been a few months since Blizzard Entertainment announced “Diablo 4” will be released sometime in 2023. The studio has yet to announce a specific launch date, but the information may have leaked already.

Blizzard is expected to release new information and teasers for “Diablo 4” at The Game Awards next month, which was corroborated in the latest episode of the XboxEra podcast. The studio is reportedly preparing a “fancy new trailer” for the game, which will also contain the release date announcement and the opening of pre-orders.

It was mentioned in the same podcast that Blizzard is aiming to release “Diablo 4” sometime in April 2023 and that no exact date has been set at this point. The rumored launch window has since been “tentatively” corroborated by Windows Central through its “own proven sources.”

This means avid fans of the franchise may be able to start pre-ordering “Diablo 4” on Dec. 8, when The Game Awards will take place. Both reports mentioned that Blizzard is likely to offer various digital editions of the game, along with an “ultimate” edition of physical copies with collectible items for long-time fans. Reports also said Blizzard is planning to offer an early access set for February 2023 as part of the pre-order perks.

XboxEra also reported that Blizzard would use the Games-as-a-Service business model for “Diablo 4,” which means microtransactions will be a major element of the game. This also usually means the developer will roll out new content and updates per season that could be purchased through in-game currency.

The first season add-ons and unlockable items for Games-as-a-Service titles typically go live shortly after launch. In the case of “Diablo 4,” Windows Central said Season 1 content is currently planned to go live in the third quarter of 2023. This means there might be at least a two-month gap between the launch and the Season 1 updates.

Blizzard has announced five character classes so far, including Barbarian, Sorceress, Druid, Rogue, and Necromancer. The game will be set in the Sanctuary with five regions players can explore, namely Scosglen, Fractured Peaks, Dry Steppes, Hawezar, and Kehjistan. XboxEra also noted that fans should expect “Diablo 4” to feature “absolute gore” and for the game to depict “extremely mature” themes, which are quite evident in previously released trailers.