In one of the most unexpected crossovers of the year so far, Diablo 4 has reached the Milan Fashion Week. Marketing for Diablo 4 is starting to ramp up with its release just a few months away.
Many franchise fans are skeptical of Diablo 4, as Diablo Immortal’s release last year was a critical disaster for Blizzard, with many fans criticizing the game for its aggressive focus on microtransactions.
Despite this, Immortal Diablo was a huge financial success for the company, and fans hope Blizzard won’t take this as an endorsement of microtransactions for future Diablo games. Perhaps most worrying for fans was Blizzard’s dogged defense of its post-launch stance, so only time will tell if Diablo 4 will meet the same fate.
The collaboration came out of nowhere, and Danish clothing brand Han Kjøbenhavn unveiled the Diablo 4-inspired looks at Milan Fashion Week. The company’s creative director, Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen, revealed in an interview that he was inspired by the game’s “Renaissance Evil, Big and Beautiful” art style.
The move is part of Blizzard’s ramping up of marketing the game, and it’s rumored that Diablo 4 open beta dates will also be announced soon.
The collection as a whole is interesting, with intense color blocks of red, black and white defining the collection, called “Chthonic Penumbra” by Han Kjøbenhavn. It’s easy to pair playwear with staples like hoodies and t-shirts, so it’s interesting to see how couture dares, using innovative ideas to create interesting pieces that dive into the essence of the game.
With these pieces, the inspiration for Diablo is clear and the designers have done a great job capturing the essence of the games. There weren’t many cases of video games at Milan Fashion Week, but that’s a big part of what makes these pieces so special.