In Diablo 2, there are Hirelings (Mercenaries), and in Diablo 3, we have Followers. For the uninitiated, these are NPCs that accompany the player through their journey, and they can be loaded with equipment. In fact, Followers/Mercenaries are a big part of top-tier builds in both D2 and D3. This leaves many fans to wonder if there will be Followers in Diablo 4.
In this article, we discuss the availability of Follower NPCs in Diablo 4 at launch, when these Followers might release, and a note about NPCs accompanying the player during the game's campaign.
Update on 17 March 2023: We've updated this article where we discuss Diablo 4 followers at launch, and when they could release in the future.
Diablo 4 Followers at Launch?
Diablo 4 will not have Followers/Mercenaries at launch on 6 June 2023. This has been confirmed by Diablo 4's Lead Class Designer, Adam Z. Jackson, as reported by PCGamesN. While NPCs will sometimes help you in a dungeon or a story quest, that's what they are confined to for now. Adam Z. Jackson states:
For the launch version of the game we do have some places in the story in particular where you will have certain named NPCs following you and helping you out as you figure out what Lilith is doing in the world. We don’t have anything to announce about the Diablo 2-type follower that you hire – we’re sticking it to the campaign for now.
The emphasis here is "for now," which brings us to the next section of this article.
When Will Followers Get Added to Diablo 4?
In the chat with PCGamesN, the developer clearly said that followers are confined to the campaign "for now" leading us to believe they might get added to general play in the future. The developers, according to the report, further noted that: "stay tuned, we may have something in the future to announce but no promises."
We suspect, and this is just a pure guestimate, that the Followers system in Diablo 4 might release towards the end of 2023 or 2024 as part of new, seasonal content. Diablo 4 will be release on 6 June, and we know it will be "a few weeks" before Season 1 kicks off. Set items will more than likely not be released with the first Ladder Season. We also know that Diablo 4 Seasons will run for roughly three (3) months.
Let's say Diablo 4 Season 1 begins at the start of July 2023. Then, Season 2 should kick off at the start of October 2023. Diablo 4 Followers could release in Season 2, or maybe Season 3, depending on how the developer believes the gearing metasystem is working. Therefore, our best guess is a Diablo 4 Followers could release either early October 2023 or early December 2023.
We will endeavor to update this article if/when more information about Followers in Diablo 4 becomes available. For now, know that some NPCs will accompany you on quests throughout the campaign.
For more Diablo 4, be sure to check out our dedicated section or some of our Guides & Tutorials just below:
Diablo 4 Class Builds - Best Barbarian Build | | Best Necromancer Build | Best Sorcerer Build | Best Druid Build | Best Rogue Build | All Classes Tier List | Best Class For Beginners | Build Calculator |
Class Mechanics: Sorcerer Enchantment System | Barbarian Arsenal | Rogue Specialization | Necromancer Book of the Dead | Druid
Items - Healing Vial | Item Slot Types | Transmogs/Wardrobe | Salvage Items | Durability & Repair | Trading Items | All Unique Items & Stats | Set Items | Item Quality/Rarity Levels | Elixirs |
Diablo 4 Tech Guides - Ray Tracing Support | Couch Co-Op | Server Regions | PC Requirements & File Size | Diablo 4 Servers Down? | Connection Issues Fix | Crashing Issues Fix | Unable To Install or Patch | Low FPS Fix | Error Code 34202 Fix |
Crafting/Vendors - Jeweler | Gambling & Obols | Occultist | Alchemist | Blacksmith | | Monster Parts | Skins | Ore | Plants |
Legendary Aspects - Codex of Power | Sorcerer Legendary Powers | Barbarian Legendary Powers | Rogue Legendary Powers | Necromancer Legendary Powers | Druid Legendary Powers
Activities - Strongholds | Nightmare Dungeons | Silent Chests | Altars of Lilith |
Story & Lore - Campaign Length | Who is Lilith? | Who is Inarius | Deckard Cain | Secret Cow Level |
Zone Guides - Fractured Peaks Overview | Scosglen | Kehjistan | Dry Steppes | Hawezar
Mounts - Temptation Mount | Diablo 4 Class Dismount Mechanics | Unlock & Customize |
Seasons - Battle Pass Price | Diablo 4 Season Duration |
Gameplay Systems - Armor System | Clans | Primary Stats & Effects | Shrines & Buffs | Renown & Reputation | Max Level & Paragon Cap | World Tier Difficulty Levels | Followers/Mercenaries |
World Bosses - Ashava | Avarice | Wandering Death
Diablo 4 Misc - Statue of Inarius Price & Specs | Wolf Pack Cosmetic | Codes | Diablo 4 Free-to-Play? | Mother's Inked Title | Collector's Edition | How To Respec |
Diablo 4 PvP - Coming soon!
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