Diablo III’s Patch 2.4 Introduces Greyhollow Island
Blizzard have detailed the new area that will become available in patch 2.4 via a blog post on their website, known as Greyhollow Island.
The post paints a picture of Greyhollow Island as an isolated and minimally populated area, with horror themes being apparent in its design. “Miles off the coast of Westmarch lies an island that many believe to be little more than legend,” it reads. “Cut off from the rest of Sanctuary’s developed civilizations, Greyhollow was once the center of a grand empire.
Following the rather mysterious description of the island Blizzard discussed the creation process, saying: “The enigma behind the events of Greyhollow Island took careful crafting, and several themes were at play. There’s an overall creepy ambiance to this thoroughly supernatural slice of nature, and we wanted to make sure that vibe was prevalent in each aspect of the zone, extending from art and visuals to gameplay and creature design.”
“Inspiration for the zone came from a variety of places, but Technical Artist Neal Wojahn’s personal experience of the Pacific Northwest played a key role in bringing the deadly marine elements to bear. Born and raised in the region, Neal recalls a section of coastline called “The Graveyard of the Pacific,” an area known for a higher number of shipwrecks than anywhere else in the ocean.”
Blizzard describe the island as having a man-versus-nature feel, only populated with minimal humanoid life which Game Designer Joe Shely subtly says that this was a conscious decision: “Greyhollow Island is about being alone in the woods at night. It’s an untamed island filled with natural and supernatural dangers.”
The post ends: “Grasping the story of Greyhollow is a more complex endeavor than a jaunt through the zone. As you explore the island, you’ll begin to unravel the mystery that’s threaded through each journal entry and event you stumble upon. Not every player will experience the story in quite the same way and may not even draw the same conclusions as a result; it’s truly the choice of each adventurer how much they want to focus on what’s unfolding or just blitz through and check a bounty off their list.”
Patch 2.4 does not yet have a release date, and is only available through the public test realm. See some concept art and in-game screenshots below, and a new trailer above.
