I only skimmed a couple reviews but the impression I got it that it is a fun, mechanically solid game, with a pretty good antagonist but a lackluster overall world/plot.
This is 2023 Activision/Blizzard, nobody expects them to revolutionize anything. They’ve got fans already and they/we (I like their games but am not a fan of their corporate culture, so, not sure if I count as a fan anymore—was really hoping they’d managed to root out the shitty behavior) know what the idea of a Diablo game is. A well mechanically decent Diablo is the bar, and it sounds like they’ve probably passed it.
While your theory does add an interesting dimension to this conversation, it may not hold up when considering the current state of Diablo IV. As someone who's participated in the beta and server slash events, I can confirm that the game, by all indications, is shaping up to be a solid entry in the franchise.
Given this, it's unfortunate - even tragic - to witness this external drama potentially overshadowing what should be a momentous release. Instead of being able to focus purely on the merits of the game, we find ourselves intertwined in this larger narrative of corporate mismanagement and serious ethical failings.
This is 2023 Activision/Blizzard, nobody expects them to revolutionize anything. They’ve got fans already and they/we (I like their games but am not a fan of their corporate culture, so, not sure if I count as a fan anymore—was really hoping they’d managed to root out the shitty behavior) know what the idea of a Diablo game is. A well mechanically decent Diablo is the bar, and it sounds like they’ve probably passed it.