The push extends to the game's marketing campaign: the studio commissioned a massive Diablo 4-themed mural for a deconsecrated Jesuit cathedral in France in March, teamed up with companies like KFC for merchandise and game tie-ins, and has offered players exclusive windows to play the game in the months leading up to its release. Stewed in a pressure cooker of past franchise failures and expectations, it's an expansive homage to the gothic, heavy-metal sensibility of the first two Diablo games with a colossal open world and shiny new graphics.

It's clear that Activision Blizzard believes Diablo IV could answer their prayers.

The company needs a win, a redemptive title that proves to core fans that they can listen to criticism, and to the world at large that they're a responsible company. Antitrust officials in several countries may block the deal. It's a lot of baggage for Microsoft, which wants to buy the company for nearly $69 billion - potentially the largest video game acquisition in history.

Diablo 4 lilith is back