It’s June 2023, and a surge of over 2.5 million people are feverishly engaging with contemporary implementations of pre-20th century European art styles and techniques. The work isn’t in a gallery, sadly (or perhaps thankfully, given the hypothetical crowds), but it’s contained within Diablo 4, a gothic action role-playing game developed by Blizzard Entertainment.
It’s a game where bodies are flayed, and people are possessed. Where hordes of demons and beasts are constantly at the gates, and heroes adorned in plate armour and animal furs fend them off with swords, magic and otherworldly creatures of their own. It sounds like something that would be depicted in a William Blake painting (perhaps Satan Calling Up his Legions) and that was the whole intention, says Diablo 4 Art Director, John Mueller.
