Diablo 4 Developer Discusses Decision to Replace Traditional Classes with Spiritborn in New Game

Brent Gibson, the Game Director, has clarified the reasoning behind the addition of the Spiritborn to Diablo 4 instead of older classes such as the Paladin or Monk.

The Paladin class has not made an appearance in a Diablo game since its second installment. Therefore, fans of the series were hopeful that it would be included in the post-launch additions to the Diablo 4 roster.

The launch of the Vessel of Hatred expansion in October will also introduce the new class, Spiritborn. This class combines the abilities of a Witch Doctor and Druid, utilizing Spirit Guardians to assist in battle. The exact possibilities of the future are uncertain, but the release of Spiritborn is highly anticipated.

Despite some fans eagerly anticipating trying it out, there are also those who are unhappy with the similarities to other character classes. Additionally, there is a portion of the community that had hoped Blizzard would have stayed true to its origins.

Diablo 4 Paladin — Blizzard Entertainment

Spiritborn joins the Diablo 4 experience on October 8

According to Game Director Brent Gibson, the decision to create a new class instead of recycling an old one was driven by two main factors, as he explained to Forbes.

The team’s main goal was to ensure that Diablo 4’s sixth class had a distinct and innovative feel, rather than simply rehashing previous ideas. This presented an exciting opportunity to delve into uncharted territory within the game’s combat system and fulfill untapped desires for power and gameplay experiences.

Furthermore, the second objective revolved around creating a course based on the jungle-filled Nahantu setting of Vessel of Hatred. Gibson clarified, “We also wanted it to originate from the destination we were visiting, which was the jungle… this inspired us to embark on the path of developing something completely fresh and unique.”

Despite Gibson making no guarantees, Forbes assured that the team is open to the idea of bringing back past classes like Paladin for Diablo 4. However, Blizzard has not yet disclosed any plans beyond the upcoming Vessel of Hatred expansion.