The scale of Diablo 4 is immense, marking it as one of the best AAA games in recent years. Constructing such a colossal game from the ground up is a difficult task. Blizzard is acutely aware of the challenge they’ve taken on, having assembled a record number of teams to handle the project. Here are a few fascinating and fun facts about how many people developed Diablo 4.
Related: Diablo 4 Guide: Everything You Need to Know
How Many People Developed Diablo 4?
Upon completing Diablo 4, players will be met with one of gaming history’s most extended Credits lists. MobyGames tweeted that 9,166 people were involved in developing Diablo 4, a figure containing individuals from all teams and beyond.
The journey of Lilith through Sanctuary extends beyond the confines of a typical single-player game. Millions of players continue to level up online simultaneously. The game presents more content than ever before in the series, unfolding in an open-world format. The massive 9,166-person team might seem excessive, but it becomes more understandable when considering the game’s scale.
Upon delving deeper into how many people developed Diablo 4, some amusing statistics come to light. For instance, throughout the development process of Diablo 4, 67 babies were born to team members. The “Audio”, department was the largest, boasting 2,464 people. Furthermore, a record 475 special thanks were given out, a unique feat in its own right.
As Blizzard is a large studio, the team behind Diablo 4 simultaneously contributed to other game projects. Overwatch 2 had the most crossover (3.949), with 808 individuals who had previously worked on Diablo 3 lending their expertise to the fourth instalment.
Related: Diablo 4 Class Tier List: Ranked From Best to Worst
Credits Have All Blizzard Employees
However, renowned games journalist Jason Schreier soon amended MobyGames’ news. According to Schreier, the number of individuals who actively developed Diablo 4 is slightly overestimated. In reality, the Credits include all Blizzard employees and the security personnel ensuring studio safety, a gesture of inclusivity and appreciation.
The exact number of individuals who directly developed Diablo 4 remains unknown, though it is estimated to exceed 8,000. This figure is astonishingly high compared to the teams behind other major AAA games in past years.
Here are a few AAA games for comparison, along with the size of their development teams:
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey — fewer than 6000
- Grand Theft Auto V — fewer than 4000
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim — fewer than 900
These numbers provide a clearer understanding of the magnitude of Blizzard’s undertaking with Diablo 4. Despite some notable shortcomings, the game’s potential to be one of the best titles of 2023 is already deserving of applause.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Years Has Diablo 4 Been In Development?
6 Years — Diablo 4 was in development for six years before its release. After Diablo 3 debuted in 2012, players had to wait 11 years. Among the reasons for this extension is Blizzard’s development of other series. But that’s okay because so many people developed Diablo 4 that we have a good game.
Is There Going to Be a Diablo 4 Expansion?
Yes — at least two expansions and DLCs will be released for Diablo 4. The series’ general manager, Rod Fergusson, gave this endorsement directly. In addition, Diablo 4 was designed as a live service for the first time in the series. In other words, regardless of DLCs, new content will continue to be released with the Battle Pass and regular updates.
Is Diablo 4 Better Than Diablo 3?
Yes and no — Diablo 4 is better than the third game in many ways, including technique and storytelling. It was a very successful choice, especially in returning the dark atmosphere to the series’ roots. But you can see Diablo 3 a few steps ahead of the fun gameplay. The Metacritic scores of the two games are Diablo 4 (86) and Diablo 3 (88).
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