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Diablo IV Season of Witchcraft Developer InterviewDiablo IV’s Season of Witchcraft invites the Wanderer to aid the mysterious Witches of Hawezar in their efforts to recover the stolen heads from the Tree of Whispers. With new uncanny powers, Legendary rewards, and grotesque enemies, try not to lose your head while madness spreads across Sanctuary. Season of Witchcraft promises to cast a captivating spell over Diablo IV, blending dark magic, immersive lore, and thrilling gameplay. Timothy Ismay (Lead Game Producer) and Sydney Adams (Senior Quest Designer) discuss the inspiration, art direction, and exciting new features that players can expect in this season steeped in magic and mystery. Q: What inspired creating a season focused on witchcraft? Ismay: “The inspiration for Season of Witchcraft stemmed from a desire to set a new foundation for future seasons. Witchcraft gave the team the perfect opportunity to explore and try something new and fresh with darker and more mystical themes rooted in the Diablo IV atmosphere.” “This season allowed us to craft an experience that delves into magic and rituals in a way that feels frightening and compelling and will definitely keep the players hooked.” Q: How was the art direction chosen? Adams: “We wanted the visuals to be as evocative as the gameplay, which is beautiful yet unsettling. Every design choice was made to immerse players in a world that feels deeply connected to witchcraft; the art aimed to evoke a sense of both beauty and dread while also keeping a balance between the haunting and the majestic. The team also made sure to pay homage to existing witch lore, particularly from Diablo III. We brought back fan favourite elements like Pirahnado, Firebats, and the Poison Frog servant, ensuring that the visuals felt familiar yet fresh.” Q: What can you tell us about the new questline? Adams: “In this season, players will embark on a journey that unravels the mysteries of the Witches of Hawezar. The questline is packed with lore-rich moments and choices that reveal the true extent of their power.” “The Season of Witchcraft centres around the mystery of stolen heads from the Tree of Whispers, which is an important part of the questline. Someone has scattered these heads across Sanctuary, and they’re spreading a strange rot that infects the living, creating the fearsome Headrotten foes. The questline focuses on Gelena, Caidin, and Ouna, the Witches of Hawezar, enlisting the Wanderer’s help to recover the stolen heads. In return, they grant access to their powers, which include eldritch abilities, magic tied to growth and decay, and psyche. As players assist the witches, they’ll gain deeper insights into the coven, their motives, and their unique way of getting the power.” “The questline ties closely to seasonal activities, like hunting fugitive heads, teaming up with other players, completing improved Whispers, and taking on challenging dungeons with customisable rewards. All these activities lead to the main goal of finding the thief and restoring the Tree of Whispers to its gruesome glory.” Q: Are there any real-world art and media that inspired the season? It looks like you were inspired by the European historical and folklore take on witches. Can you explain further? Adams: “Yes, a variety of real-world art and media-inspired Season of Witchcraft. Inspiration came from a variety of sources for the witchcraft theme. Like Elphaba in Wicked, which was timely for this, as she’s seen as an outcast (not to say anyone in this season is green!). Diablo III, especially the witch powers and the Witch Doctor class. “The Season of Witchcraft incorporates three central witches as a significant narrative element, paying homage to wiccan influences, particularly the archetypes of the Maiden, Mother, and Crone, representing the different stages of life and wisdom. The trio of witches in Season of Witchcraft also connects to Greek mythology, specifically the Three Fates: Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. Each witch carries distinct influences, blending the cultural and mythological elements to deepen their characters. Ouna, from Nahantu, is inspired by the latest expansion and draws from Mesoamerican culture. This influence is evident in her attire, tribal markings, and connection to nature and animals. Gelena, the leader of the witches, wears attire that prominently features the evil eye, a symbol of protection found across many cultures. Caidin, in contrast, embodies a shamanic medicine man archetype, wielding a knife and poultices and showcasing bushcraft and apothecary influences, which reflect a multicultural approach to his design. Their altars and rituals further enrich the narrative, incorporating symbols and practices from various cultures, making their magic and stories feel diverse and universally resonant.” “The incorporation of these witches not only deepens the season’s narrative but also allows the theme to resonate with players who are familiar with these archetypes from mythology, folklore, and pop culture. We drew inspiration from European history and tales, particularly its interpretation of witches as powerful, often misunderstood figures. These inspirations helped us shape a season that feels authentic yet filled with the dark fantasy edge players expect from Diablo IV.” Q: What is the lore behind the Witches of Hawezar? Adams: “Without giving away any spoilers, the Witches of Hawezar are deeply rooted in the Diablo IV world; they are both feared and revered, and their power is tied to the region’s hostile swamps. Unlike many forces in Sanctuary, the witches are neither aligned with good nor evil. Instead, they are self-motivated, driven by their own interests and survival rather than larger cosmic battles. The coven is central to their survival and strength. Witches, when isolated, can be easily defeated, but together, they form a united front, and this unity allows them to protect one another. Hawezar is a safe place for witches because it’s dangerous, unpleasant swamps keep most outsiders away. The tough landscape makes it a private and secure spot for witches to gather without being disturbed. “The Season of Witchcraft revolves around the stolen heads from the Tree of Whispers, a central element in the storyline. The Tree of Whispers plays a pivotal role in the season. The location has been transformed into a hub of activity where players will engage with new seasonal events. These activities include hunting fugitive heads, collaborating with other players, completing new and improved Whispers, and taking on challenging dungeons with modular rewards.” “The Hawezar Witches’ story is one of survival and mysticism, where dark magic is a tool to navigate the harsh and dark land. We made sure players will enjoy uncovering secrets of these Witches as more than just villains; they’re an integral part of the world’s fabric.” Q: Where are the Witches of Hawezar placed in the eternal battle between Heaven and Hell? Adams: “The Witches of Hawezar stand apart in the eternal battle between Heaven and Hell. This makes them a neutral but complex force in the Diablo world. The witches seek knowledge above all else, choosing their actions whether to heal or harm based on their own judgement. Their refusal to follow traditional sides adds depth to their role in the story.” Q: What enemies will people be able to face in Season of Witchcraft? Adams: “Players will face terrifying foes like the Headrotten, who comprise of heads from the Tree of Whispers, and the designs draw inspiration from a mix of iconic horror and folklore. Influences include John Carpenter’s The Thing, Swamp Thing, and the eerie bear from Annihilation. Elements of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Green Knight also shaped their creation, further inspiring our art team. This blend of horror and mythology brings a unique and chilling enemy to the game that we haven’t seen before.” Q: What Legendaries, Uniques and Gear will people be able to acquire? Ismay: “We have crafted new items tailored to witchcraft-inspired builds, including unique gear pieces that amplify dark magic and ritualistic gameplay styles. Players can look forward to eight new Legendary Aspects and eight new Unique items, providing fresh gameplay opportunities and build options for all classes. Even if players return to a previously mastered class, the new items and aspects will allow for new strategies and playstyles.” “For example, the Mantle of Mountain’s Fury, a unique chest armour for Barbarians, empowers Hammer of the Ancients to create seismic lines triggering explosive earthquakes and opening powerful new damage combos. The Assassin’s Stride, a unique Rogue boot, permanently imbues all mobility skills with shadow damage, enhancing high-mobility builds. Sorcerers gain access to the Strike of Stormhorn, a unique focus that increases the size of Ball Lightning and causes it to explode on impact, offering a transformative way to use this skill. These new items and Aspects promise exciting options for all players, making this season engaging and rewarding.” Q: Are there new quality-of-life features coming in Season of Witchcraft? Ismay: “Yes! In Season of Witchcraft, we’re introducing a major quality-of-life feature: the Armory. This new system lets players save loadouts of their character, including snapshots of selected gear, skill trees, paragon boards, and any class-specific mechanics. Players can load these snapshots at any time, allowing them to switch between builds easily. This allows players to experiment with multiple playstyles on a single character without resetting or rebuilding everything.” Q: What are you most excited for players to experience? Adams: “We can’t wait for players to explore the unique witch powers we have designed. They bring a fresh, dynamic element to gameplay that we think players will love experimenting with.” Ismay: “For me, it’s seeing how players utilise the new builds. The combinations and strategies this season enables will lead to incredibly creative gameplay moments for players!” Diablo IV: Season of Witchcraft is available from 21st January. If you want to learn more about Diablo IV, check out the Diablo website, or for real-time updates, follow the official X.”
Jan 28
“I hope other developers follow suit”: Path of Exile 2 Could Learn Something From Diablo 4’s Accessibility Features
It’s been more than a month since the release of Path of Exile 2, and the game has managed to maintain a large player base, all thanks to a number of updates and constant communication from the development team at Grinding Gear Games. Right from Path of Exile 2′s release, it’s been projected as a […]
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Jan 26
“That is a dark tale”: Diablo 4 Devs Wanted to Ensure That the Story Wasn’t “a repressive, never-ending set of bleak circumstances for the player to engage with”
Since its launch in 2005, the Diablo franchise has always been known for its dark, brutal storytelling. With each installment, players find themselves plunged deeper into a world where evil reigns and hope feels like a distant concept. The latest installment, Diablo 4 took the experience even deeper, exploring darker themes. In an interview, the […]
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Jan 26
Having a Feature Similar to the Tree of Whispers from Diablo 4 Could Help Path of Exile 2 With its Loot Woes
Ever since its launch as an early access on December 7th, Path of Exile 2 has been everything fans of the series could have hoped for. The massive skill tree, diverse classes, challenging bosses, and the deep, intricate world all come together to create an immersive action RPG experience. Crafting and gear progression are central […]
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Jan 25
Diablo IV Is the Most Casual-Friendly It’s Ever Been
Jan 25
Microsoft Will Finally Allow You to Check Out Guides for Games Including Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2 With a Revolutionary Feature
If you’ve ever played classic RPGs, you’ll know that one of the most fun aspects of it is being the most powerful person on the map. Games like Diablo 4, Path of Exile 2, Elden Ring, and others thrive on ultra-powerful builds. However, creating builds in Diablo 4 or Path of Exile 2 requires some […]
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Jan 23
Blizzard Is Forced to Temporarily Banish Hex of Whisper After It Causes Stability Issues in Diablo 4 Season 7
Season 7 of Diablo 4 is underway and things have been looking pretty good. The Season of Witchcraft finally came out on January 21st and it brought a ton of new features including new enemies, bosses, Legendary Aspects, and Uniques. Despite this though, there are already some game-breaking bugs that have needed to be hotfixed […]
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Jan 23
Path of Exile 2 Keeps Loot Tight, Diablo 4 Delivers an Avalanche of Rewards in Season 7
The eternal debate between quality and quantity has always been at the heart of action RPG design. While some games shower players with rewards, others take a more measured approach, making each meaningful drop feel like a genuine achievement. Right now, we’re seeing this philosophical divide play out in real time between two of the […]
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Jan 23
A Pet Crow Has Become the Reason Players Are Getting Ready to Grind Diablo 4 Season 7
Diablo 4‘s journey continues as players head into Season 7 titled the Season of Witchcraft. The new season comes with a lot of new features, from new enemies and bosses to the game’s first-ever flying pet, Dorian the Raven. Players have already started to prepare for the grind required to get it. So strap on! […]
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Jan 23
Diablo 4 Dev Eases the Grind With a Cheat Sheet to the Best Path for Farming Coveted Season 7 Uniques
Getting Mythic and Unique items in Diablo 4 is one of the best ways to power up in the game. These are both incredibly potent drops but equally difficult to acquire. However, once you get them, you can add these to your endgame build and use them to greatly improve your class builds. The best […]
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Jan 22
The Truth About Elon Musk’s Path Of Exile 2 And Diablo 4 Comes OutNot surprising at all.
The post The Truth About Elon Musk’s Path Of Exile 2 And Diablo 4 Comes Out first appeared on Kakuchopurei .
Jan 21
Elon Musk Admits to Cheating in Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2Tech billionaire Elon Musk has once again stirred controversy—this time for bending the rules in popular online games Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2.
Jan 20
Diablo 4 port reportedly being developed for Nintendo Switch 2Now that Nintendo has announced the Switch 2, we should finally start hearing more about the games for the new console in the coming weeks. …
The post Diablo 4 port reportedly being developed for Nintendo Switch 2 appeared first on BGR .
Jan 20
Diablo 4 Potential Nintendo Switch 2 Release Can Make It Path of Exile 2’s Worst Nightmare
After years of speculation and debate, Nintendo finally gave us a look at Switch 2 on January 16. As we all already know, thanks to leaks, the Switch 2 is packed with a bigger screen, revamped Joy-Con controllers, and various other features. However, just because Nintendo Switch 2 is finally confirmed, that doesn’t mean the […]
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Jan 20
Starfield, Diablo 4 and Halo: The Master Chief Collection Are Being Ported to Switch 2 – RumourAlong with Microsoft, ABK and Bethesda, the rumour also indicates Bandai Namco titles coming to the Switch 2, including Elden Ring and Tekken 8.
Jan 20
“Taking credit for things he never did”: Fresh Controversy Erupts Over Elon Musk’s Admission of Boosting in Path of Exile 2 and Diablo 4
Elon Musk has always been a big-time gamer and a huge fan of online RPG games like Path of Exile 2 and Diablo 4; however, a recent controversy seems to have erupted concerning Musk boosting his account in these games to stay among the top most players in the world. Now it is also fair […]
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Jan 20
Diablo IV’s Season of Witchcraft Kicks Off January 21, Bringing Occult Gems and Dark MagicBlizzard Entertainment has announced the upcoming season for Diablo IV, Seasons of Witchcraft, which will launch on January 21st, 2025.
Jan 19
Path of Exile 2 Inherits Another Diablo 4 Issue, and There’s No Fix in Sight
Even though Path of Exile 2 had a complicated launch due to server issues, the game has proven to be a smash hit, bringing in millions of gamers. Since the title’s release, Grinding Gear Games has committed to listening to the community and bringing everything they desire. Even though the developers have heard players and […]
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Jan 19
Hexes, Headrotten, and Havoc – The Lore of Diablo IV: Season of WitchcraftThe post Hexes, Headrotten, and Havoc – The Lore of Diablo IV: Season of Witchcraft appeared first on Xbox Wire .
Jan 17
Diablo 4’s Campaign Is Crippled by a Fatal Flaw That’s Haunted the Game Since Day One
As Diablo 4 prepares for its seventh season, the Season of Witchcraft, launching next Tuesday, there’s a fundamental issue with the game’s storytelling that needs to be addressed. While the game has made strides in certain areas, there’s one particular narrative choice that has been undermining the player experience since launch. It’s not about the mixed reception […]
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Jan 16
Diablo 4Join the fight for Sanctuary in Diablo IV, the ultimate action RPG adventure. Experience the critically acclaimed campaign and new seasonal content.