Diablo 4's plot is based on details well-established in the series' past. Players must stand up to the demon Lilith, the Mother of Sanctuary and one of the progenitors of humanity. However, Diablo 4 does not delve into  Diablo 4 items the creation story of Sanctuary, so new players won’t understand the severity of this conflict the same way as a veteran fan, who has unraveled the mythos of Lilith and Inarius' affair over several entries. Plot essential details like the Nephalem, the Horadrim, and historical events like the destruction of the Worldstone must be inferred by a new player, while a veteran comes in understanding the gravity of the game's setup.

Tied in closely with the world history is that of Diablo 4's characters, which will be lost on new players. Take the early encounter with returning character Lorath Nahr, for example. He first appeared in Diablo 3 as a member of the legendary Horadrim. He was a young, upright champion of justice. New players encountering Nahr for the first time in Diablo 4 may not think twice about the disheveled old hermit. Longtime fans, however, may take one look and wonder what exactly happened to the once-powerful mage. It's important context that changes player perception of the game's situation.

All that said, Diablo 4 is an action RPG first and foremost, where gameplay is king. Background knowledge will certainly enrich time spent in Sanctuary, but a lack of it will not exclude them from enjoying Diablo's bread and butter: slaying and looting. Some of the story confusion will also be mitigated by the Diablo IV items  fact that the games of this series, while certainly connected, each feature their own array of world-altering events that can stand alone as an arc within the greater story. New fans can still play Diablo 4 without the others, they’ll just miss out on the finer details.