This Monday (28), AnimeNew was present at an international press conference promoted by Blizzard Entertainment to present the unprecedented collaboration between two references of the dark fantasy universe: Diablo and Berserk. The interview revealed details never before disclosed about the creative process, the inspirations and the challenges behind this historic union.
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Represented by artists Emil Salim (Diablo Immortal) and Viviane Kosty (Diablo IV), Blizzard studios opened up behind the scenes of the partnership that promises to profoundly mark the trajectory of both games. We heard passionate accounts, technical analyses, and emotional statements about the impact of Kentaro Miura's work on the creation of this highly anticipated crossover.
A partnership that arose naturally between two dark universes
From the start of the conversation, it was clear that Diablo and Berserk share more than just a similar aesthetic: both delve into the depths of the struggle for survival in worlds torn apart by war, darkness, and suffering. Emil Salim was direct when he commented that, when the art team received the collaboration proposal, the reaction was immediate. “It was like finding a missing piece of a puzzle. Berserk's narrative, laden with pain, violence, and resistance, fits perfectly with the essence of Diablo.”
Viviane Kosty reinforced this view by saying that, visually, the connection between the universes has always existed. According to her, the transposition of elements from Berserk to Diablo IV occurred almost intuitively, respecting the dark medieval base that characterizes both. "It's a meeting of worlds that were already in dialogue without them realizing it ," she stated.
How did the art team balance the homage to Kentaro Miura with the Diablo aesthetic?
On behalf of AnimeNew, we asked Blizzard artists directly about the process of balancing homage to Kentaro Miura's work with the need to maintain Diablo's solid visual identity. Emil Salim and Viviane Kosty's response revealed not only technical concerns but also a deep emotional respect for the work of the author of Berserk.
Salim explained that both he and Viviane are great admirers of Miura's work, especially the way the author portrayed violence in an almost poetic way. "Miura had a unique way of conveying brutality with lyricism ," he said. Inspired by this approach, the team sought to incorporate what they called "manga energy" into the new cinematics of Diablo Immortal.
Salim explained that the team inserted quick cuts between 3D scenes and 2D visual moments, stylized like hand-drawn manga pages, to convey this influence. "Throughout the new film, you'll see these quick cuts, almost like stereotypical anime compositions, and this was done intentionally to capture the spirit of Miura's work ," he detailed.
Viviane Kosty added a specific perspective on the development of Diablo IV . She explained that, being a PC and console game, there was room to highlight complex textures in the 3D models, something they used to create a more subtle and profound homage to Miura's original work.
“If you look closely at Guts’ Berserker armor in the game, you’ll see small notches, marks, and grooves that simulate the shadow lines Miura drew in his manga ,” commented Viviane. She highlighted that the team sought to transpose the feeling of Miura’s illustrations into the 3D environment, thus allowing the most attentive fans to immediately recognize the reference.
“It’s our way of maintaining the feel of the original, even while adapting it to a new medium ,” he said. “It was a very conscious decision by the art team, made not just as creators, but as fans who wanted to pay a proper tribute.”
Adaptation of Eclipse: recreating trauma in gameplay form
One of the highlights of the collaboration is the adaptation of the Eclipse arc, one of the most iconic and brutal moments in Berserk. Emil Salim revealed that the Struggler's Bane event from Diablo Immortal was designed to capture exactly the feeling of despair, isolation, and resistance that Guts faces in the manga.
During the event, the game environment changes drastically. The sky turns red, and enemies attack with greater speed and ferocity. The player character receives a damage boost. “We wanted the player to experience the Eclipse, not just watch it. To feel the same terror and adrenaline that we feel reading the manga ,” stated Emil.
Viviane concluded by saying that, although Diablo IV focused more on visual representation and less on the direct adaptation of narrative events, the spirit of resistance and loss that permeates Berserk was also carefully incorporated into the cosmetics and settings.
Character selection: Golden Age as a basis for immersion
The team carefully selected which elements of Berserk would be incorporated. Emil Salim compared the vastness of Berserk's content to a "gigantic buffet" of iconic characters, weapons, and locations. Thus, for Diablo Immortal, the decision was to focus on the "Golden Age" arc, considered one of the most emblematic in the series.
Among the highlights are the battle against Nosferatu Zodd as a boss, the Eclipse-inspired setting, and the presence of iconic elements such as the Red Cross and the Band of the Hawk. However, in Diablo IV, the focus was on skins that represented the essence of Guts, Griffith, and the Skull Knight, creatively adapted to fit the varied proportions and styles of the game's classes.
Viviane emphasized that the goal was to make fans recognize her immediately
The team preserves the brutality of Berserk without censorship
Emil Salim and Viviane Kosty explained to journalists that they preserved all the brutality of Berserk, without the need for censorship. "There was no content from Berserk that we considered 'too much' for Diablo. On the contrary, we sought to absorb as much as possible of that poetic brutality that characterizes the work ," Viviane stated enthusiastically.
Furthermore, the Blizzard team assured that, since Diablo is already an adult-rated game, there was creative freedom to explore the darker layers of Berserk without compromising authenticity.
A tribute from fans to fans: the emotion of working with Miura's legacy
Another exciting moment from the press conference was the artists' account of the personal impact of working with Kentaro Miura's original references. Emil described the experience as "entering a museum of masterpieces." Both reported the feeling of seeing unprecedented turnarounds of characters like Guts, Griffith, and the Golems.
Viviane highlighted that many members of the art team grew up reading Berserk, and that bringing these characters to life was a dream come true. “Every texture, every detail was made with love and respect. It was like paying homage to a master who shaped our passion for dark fantasy ,” she stated.
New collaborations on the horizon? The future of crossovers in Diablo
Closing the press conference, Emil Salim revealed that the experience of working on Berserk opened a path for future partnerships in Diablo. Thus, with the creation of an internal structure to manage external collaborations, Blizzard now feels more prepared for new projects.
Viviane also signaled enthusiasm for future opportunities. "We want to continue bringing experiences that make sense, that respect Diablo's history, and that authentically excite players ," she stated.
Diablo's new collaboration with Berserk honors Kentaro Miura's legacy
More than just honoring Kentaro Miura's legacy, this collaboration represents a milestone for Blizzard, paving the way for future integrations that respect the spirit of Diablo . Thus, fans of both universes now have the expectation of experiencing this fusion firsthand, facing demons, reliving traumas, and celebrating survival—an essence that both Berserk and Diablo have always shared.