'Diablo 4' Released After 11 Years
PC Bang Market Share Ranks 3rd, Gamers Cheer
"Nepalem 'Sanctuary' is now rising as a sacred place for 'rice sellers'."
This is what Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea Korea, said on his YouTube channel on the 31st of last month. Nepalem is a race appearing in the game series 'Diablo,' meaning a hybrid of angel and demon. The first Nepalem is said to have become the origin of humans. Baek Jong-won's remark may be a joke, but it can be seen as a kind of determination to focus more on the game.
What kind of game is Diablo that it is popular not only among young people but also among middle-aged people? Diablo is regarded as a representative work of action role-playing games (RPG). Released in 1996, Diablo features a real-time combat system. It does not apply the so-called 'auto-hunting' system popular in some games. Therefore, gamers cannot do other things while enjoying this game. 'Diablo 2,' released in 2000, earned the title of a masterpiece, and 'Diablo 3,' launched in 2012, achieved sales of 30 million copies.
'Diablo 4,' released on the 6th, is a new numbered title introduced 11 years after Diablo 3. Diablo 4 is set 50 years after its predecessor. The story begins with the demon 'Lilith' being summoned to Sanctuary. Gamers must choose and develop one of the characters in the game: Barbarian, Necromancer, Druid, Rogue, or Sorcerer, and fight against demons. For the first time in the series, an open world is provided, allowing players to complete over 120 dungeons and various missions. An open world means that gamers can freely move around within the game.
The initial success of Diablo 4 is favorable. According to the gaming industry, Blizzard announced via its official Twitter that Diablo 4 set a new record as the fastest-selling game in Blizzard's history. In particular, it recorded the highest pre-sales ever on both console and PC platforms. However, specific sales figures were not disclosed.
Rod Fergusson, Blizzard's Diablo general manager, said on Twitter, "A big thank you to all players who gave their time, dedication, and feedback," adding, "The launch is just the beginning of Diablo 4, and we are very grateful to have you on this journey."
Since its official release, Diablo 4 has been increasing its market share in PC bangs. According to PC bang information site The Log, as of the 7th, Diablo 4 recorded an 8.73% market share, ranking third. Kim, a 30-year-old office worker who recently played Diablo 4 at a PC bang, said, "I need to play more to be sure, but it seems they have well continued the hit elements of the previous works."
Mike Ybarra, president of Blizzard Entertainment, emphasized, "Diablo 4, which excellently expresses the Diablo universe through exciting storytelling and various options, is a great example showcasing the talent of the development team."
Diablo 4 has also become a hot topic in the entertainment industry. Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea, revealed himself as an ardent fan of the 'Diablo' series even before the release and introduced a collaboration product between his cafe brand 'Paikdabang' and Diablo 4. Along with this, the Diablo 4 theme song 'Lilith,' co-created by BTS's Suga and Halsey, surpassed 2.4 million views within a day of the music video release. Suga also posted a photo on his Instagram story showing the installation of Diablo 4 in progress.
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