The latest update for Diablo Immortal, called Shattered Sanctuary, brings players to the long-awaited showdown with the iconic boss, Diablo. This update marks the culmination of the game’s story threads since its launch in 2022, and it promises to be an epic battle against the Lord of Terror himself. In this update, players will venture to the far north of Sanctuary at World’s Crown, where Diablo has unleashed the power of the Worldstone Shard to start unmaking Sanctuary. Players armed with the angelic blade El’druin will face Diablo’s armies in an increasingly surreal hellscape before confronting Diablo himself for the first time since the end of Diablo 3’s story 12 years ago. The lead content designer, Scott Burges, and senior narrative designer, Ryan Quinn, shared insights into bringing back the iconic villain and the direction of the game’s story. They aimed to bring back the nostalgia and monstrous size of Diablo while also introducing new mechanics to the fight. The Diablo boss battle features three distinct phases, making it the game’s most elaborate fight yet. The game takes place between the events of Diablo 2 and 3, so the team aimed to incorporate classic design and attacks while leaving room for something new. The update introduces a replayable boss challenge that can be tackled with up to four players, offering intricate mechanics and rewards for those who take on the higher difficulty. Defeating Diablo marks the end of the first chapter of the game’s ongoing story, and the developers have already mapped out the game’s story for the next two chapters. Following Diablo’s defeat, a massive power vacuum will form in hell and on Sanctuary, setting the stage for the next phase of the game’s narrative. In addition to the climactic battle against Diablo, the Shattered Sanctuary update introduces Challenge Dungeons, which make enemies stronger and add random modifiers to increase the challenge. Players can also expect new Helliquary bosses, Legendary gems, balance changes, and Familiar Expeditions, where pets can be sent off to complete activities and bring back rewards. The update caps off a busy year for Diablo Immortal, which saw the introduction of a new class, the Tempest, exploration of Deckard Cain’s past, a two-year anniversary celebration, and a crossover with World of Warcraft in the form of a Lich King boss battle. Overall, the Shattered Sanctuary update is a significant milestone for Diablo Immortal, offering players an epic conclusion to the first chapter of the game’s story and laying the groundwork for future adventures in the world of Sanctuary.