Blizzard has officially announced that Diablo V is targeting a Spring 2029 release, but Path of Exile co-creator Chris Wilson believes the highly anticipated action RPG may need more time. Blizzard revealed the sequel at BlizzCon 2026, confirming that it is still in development and that the new game will take players into a Sanctuary where Diablo has already won.
Wilson discussed the announcement in a recent YouTube video, questioning whether roughly three years is enough time to build a game of Diablo 5’s expected scale. He pointed out that Blizzard did not show gameplay during its initial reveal, instead focusing on concept art, design ideas, and an announcement cinematic.
“Their three-year timeframe feels like a very tight deadline to me,”
Wilson said.
His concerns are particularly notable because Wilson has extensive experience developing large-scale action RPGs through Grinding Gear Games and Path of Exile. He argues that Diablo 5 will need substantial content at launch if it is going to compete with the established expectations surrounding the franchise.
Diablo 5 Needs More Than Blizzard’s Resources
According to Wilson, simply increasing the size of Blizzard’s development team may not solve the problem. While Blizzard has significant financial resources, Wilson believes development time cannot necessarily be compressed without creating problems elsewhere.
He specifically highlighted content production and testing as major factors. A game as systems-heavy as Diablo 5 needs extensive playtesting to refine character builds, itemization, combat balance, progression, and loot rates before launch.
Wilson also noted that Path of Exile has been in development for many years despite Grinding Gear Games having mature pipelines and technology specifically designed for the genre. Diablo 5 is also expected to launch with more character classes than previous entries in the series, further increasing the amount of content Blizzard needs to produce.
“My best guess here is the game won’t be ready for spring 2029,”
Wilson said, while stressing that a delay would not necessarily be a bad thing.
Why Blizzard Announced Diablo 5 So Early
The timing of the announcement is another part of Wilson’s argument. Blizzard has confirmed that Diablo 5 is still several years away, with its official website maintaining the Spring 2029 target.
Wilson speculated that the early announcement could be connected to Microsoft’s desire for more frequent releases from major franchises. Blizzard president Johanna Faries has also emphasized the company’s intention to deliver major games on schedule.
That creates an interesting situation for Diablo 5. Blizzard has now publicly established Spring 2029 as its target, but the project still appears to be far enough from launch that development could change considerably before then.
The sequel is also being built around a major shift for the franchise. Blizzard says Sanctuary has fallen and Diablo has won, with players taking on the role of the Heir to Westmarch while traveling alongside a growing caravan of survivors. The studio has also revealed the Demon Hunter, Monk, and new Plague Knight classes, alongside a renewed focus on item depth and identity.
For now, Spring 2029 remains Blizzard’s official target. However, Wilson’s comments highlight why meeting that window could prove difficult if Blizzard wants Diablo 5 to launch with the amount of content and polish expected from a major new entry.
