Studying endless spiky armor designs for non-Diablo games serves as the top approach for Diablo artists, they claim, offering a novel perspective and enabling the creation of unique sets.
Rewritten Article:
Crafting new content for long-running game franchises like Diablo isn't a walk in the park, especially when it comes to brainstorming ominous names for gameplay activities or designing demonic armor pieces. It's a daunting task that poses challenges for developers and artists who've spent decades digging deep into the demonic lexicon and visual library.
So, how do they keep their creative juices flowing? Well, the secret lies in stepping away from the familiar and seeking inspiration in diverse realms.
Recently, PC Gamer got a chance to chat with the lead artists behind the Diablo series, and we couldn't help but ask if they ever faced similar challenges when creating new Diablo gear and ghouls, whether for Berserk collaborations or not.
Emil Salim, lead artist of Diablo Immortal, suggests stepping outside the Diablo bubble once in a while to find inspiration.
"I encourage the art team to disconnect from Diablo sometimes," Salim said. "Take a break from looking at Diablo imagery over the weekend. Check out museums, go to different events, immerse yourself in other art forms. That's where most of the original ideas originate."
This sentiment echoes the experiences of artists and creators across various fields. An artist stuck in a monotonous loop will eventually hit a creative wall. branching out into different media and exposing oneself to new ideas can help enrich the creative process.
Salim also pointed out that even the Berserk collaboration provided a refreshing change for the Diablo Immortal team.
"Working on collaborations like Berserk brought a visual refresh to our team," Salim shared. "Over time, we develop a mental library of visual elements. Working on something different, like a collaboration, helps us reset that visual library, which in turn sparks new ideas."
Viviane Kosty, lead artist for Diablo 4, agreed, comparing the creative process to cooking and fashion, suggesting that artists should always be aware of what others are doing to create something new and unique.
The Diablo team isn't alone in their approach to maintaining creative inspiration. Multiple patch development environments, player-centric storytelling, mindset techniques, cross-disciplinary inspiration, and structured creative cycles are all strategies employed by game developers to stay inspired and engaged across content cycles.
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Lincoln Carpenter has spent over a decade writing about games, from diving deep into the procedural storytelling of Dwarf Fortress to covering all things Crusader Kings, Caves of Qud, Monster Hunter, and more. Following a successful stint as a freelance journalist, Lincoln joined the PC Gamer team as a full-time News Writer in 2024.
- "To keep the creative process flowing for Diablo's new content, artists often take a break from Diablo-related imagery and immerse themselves in diverse realms such as museums, events, and other art forms."
- "Emil Salim, lead artist of Diablo Immortal, encourages the art team to disconnect from Diablo occasionally to seek fresh inspiration and avoid creative stagnation."
- "Collaborations, like the one with Berserk, offer a visual refresh for the Diablo Immortal team, helping to reset their visual library and spark innovative ideas."
- "Viviane Kosty, lead artist for Diablo 4, compares the creative process to cooking and fashion, emphasizing the importance of being aware of what others are doing to create something new and unique."
- "The Diablo team leverages various strategies to maintain creative inspiration, such as employing multiple patch development environments, player-centric storytelling, and cross-disciplinary inspiration."
- "Lincoln Carpenter, a seasoned games journalist, often explores the latest technology-driven gadgets and smartphones while generating content for PC Gamer, demonstrating a keen eye for recognizing valuable resources during the creative process."
