Diablo 5 considers different level scaling than Diablo 4, says Joe Shely
Blizzard is looking at a different level-scaling approach for Diablo 5, aiming to preserve the feeling of progression and power growth.
- Game director Joe Shely reportedly said automatic scaling can weaken the feeling of becoming stronger, especially through levels and better gear.
- The exact implementation is still unknown: Blizzard has not shared a final system for Diablo 5.
What happened
Eurogamer reported on 23 September 2026 that Blizzard is once again reviewing how enemies and areas scale with the player’s level in Diablo 5. In Diablo 3 and Diablo 4, monsters and zones automatically adjust, but according to the report Blizzard feels that does not always fit the series’ sense of progression.
Game director Joe Shely is said to have argued that automatic level scaling can clash with a core Diablo idea: noticeably growing stronger by leveling up and finding better gear. The report therefore frames Diablo 5 as a game that may end up closer to Diablo 2 on this point than to Diablo 4.
According to the same sources, Blizzard has not yet shared a final solution. It is therefore still unclear whether Diablo 5 will use fixed area levels, a modified form of scaling, or a hybrid system. The provided context does note that the discussion is about making progress feel tangible again when players return to earlier zones.
Timeline
23 September 2026: Eurogamer publishes reporting on a possible overhaul of level scaling in Diablo 5.
23 September 2026: Joe Shely is quoted as saying automatic scaling can undermine the feeling of power growth.
23 September 2026: The report places Diablo 5 conceptually closer to Diablo 2 than Diablo 4, without concrete system details.
2026: External context refers to a Diablo V page stating the game is in development and could arrive in Spring 2029.
2026: A Blizzard News reference mentions a Diablo V panel at BlizzCon 2026 where first details about the world, classes, and systems were reportedly shared.
Background
Diablo 3 and Diablo 4 use automatic level scaling, meaning enemies and zones move with the player. Diablo 2 worked differently: areas were less tightly tied to the player’s level, making it clearer when returning to earlier zones that a character had become stronger.
That comparison is central to the current reporting. The sources describe level scaling not just as a difficulty setting, but as a design choice that directly shapes how progression feels in Diablo. According to the provided context, Blizzard is therefore revisiting how that balance should work in Diablo 5.
At the same time, the information remains limited to a design question. None of the provided sources name a final choice for fixed area levels, a hybrid system, or a completely new approach. The references to a possible Spring 2029 release and a BlizzCon 2026 panel also show that more claims are circulating than the Eurogamer report itself confirms.
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Sources
- Eurogamer, 23 September 2026: reporting on Diablo 5 and level scaling.
- Joe Shely, quoted in the same report about automatic level scaling and progression.
- Diablo 2, Diablo 3, and Diablo 4 as reference points for the comparison in the article.