Diablo IV's evil masterpiece

The release of Blizzard Entertainment's latest instalment of its hit gothic video game series, Diablo, is preceded by the installation of a huge gothic art piece in a French cathedral. 

Called The Cathedral of Diablo, and created by 72andSunny, the mural combines the epic scale and storytelling of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes with the drama of Caravaggio’s chiaroscuro technique. The mural's story follows a player’s journey into The Burning Hells to battle Lilith, the Queen of Hatred, and gives viewers a glimpse of some of the characters and stories they will encounter on their way through the game.

To create this massive art environment, 72andSunny partnered with experiential production partner Wildlife, and Adam Miller, an artist whose Baroque-style paintings have been shown in galleries around the world. Together they created 20 unique paintings to install in the cathedral’s dome and vaulted ceiling, as well as a vast mural covering its back wall. The behind the scenes of this undertaking can be watched below.

The paintings, as well as the exterior and interior of the deconsecrated cathedral, also star in an atmospheric film [above] directed by Henry Hobson through MJZ. Featuring a voiceover by actor Charles Dance, the film allows audiences to experience the space and art, and understand the epic struggle between Light and Darkness at the heart of Diablo IV.

“From the beginning we were inspired by all the concept art, craft and care going into the game, and realised we needed to come up with something that celebrated Diablo IV's dark gothic roots," said Tim Wolfe, Group Creative Director at 72andSunny. "Something that leaned into their Caravaggio art style and the game narrative to create a campaign that was equally as ambitious as the game itself.”