Great Sip! Diablo 4 No Pay-to-Win Mechanism
Activision Blizzard confirmed that Diablo 4 will not feature a pay-to-win or Pay-to-Win mechanism. Also, the long-awaited dungeon crawler title will only contain cosmetic items in its in-game shop.
The deliberately made statement comes after the controversy surrounding their latest release, Diablo Immortal, which offered an advantage gameplay in exchange for money in the real world.
The upcoming Diablo 4 also includes the system battle pass and will be released sometime in 2023, on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and PC. Blizzard confirmed the news in their quarterly update report, and detailed their plans for Diablo 4.
“Our goal in designing in-game purchases is that we want to create beautiful things that add value to the player experience in the game,” said Kegan Clark, Product Director for Diablo IV.
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The latest installment will see the return of Season Journey, as players are tasked with exploring the Sanctuary and earning limited time rewards at the end of each chapter.
Blizzard plans to increase the difficulty level in later stages, creating a rewarding experience for skilled players. Like Diablo 3, Seasons Journey will be free for everyone.
Season Pass is the new live services monetization system in Diablo 4, adding new quests, challenges, and quality of life improvements to the game. Think of it like a system battle passwhere completing tasks and leveling up will unlock new items.
But as previously mentioned, these gifts are only cosmetic and do not add value to gameplay or skills. Tiers will be divided into two parts, namely Free and Premium.
The Free Tier, which is open to everyone, provides improved gameplay for everyone. In contrast, the Premium Tier is battle pass ‘paid’, where the prize is focused on high-quality aesthetics.
Purchasing a Season Pass also offers in-game currency, which can be used to unlock items in the Diablo 4 store. In fact, the only reason to buy a Season Pass is to earn XP quickly and play dress-up with your in-game character.
This change in marketing tactics is huge, especially when compared to Diablo Immortal, where you can throw money into the game to ensure steady progress.
The buzz around the game skyrocketed when Twitch streamer Quintin “Quin69” Crawford spent $25,000 in an attempt to get his hands on a rare five-star gem. These items can only be achieved through the gacha/ loot box system, and will help upgrade weapons and armor, and ultimately complete the game.
Once done, the streamer deleted the game in frustration and asked its viewers to never buy into the system.
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First revealed at the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase, Diablo IV introduces the fifth playable class Necromancer, a legendary priest who can summon and command the undead in battle.
Players can venture onto a vast open world map through plague lands, canyons, and mountains, and come face to face with iconic demons such as Lilith, the Queen of Succubi. Like previous entries, customization options will vary and players can also make choices for the Skill Tree.
Diablo 4 is slated to launch sometime in 2023, on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and Windows PC via Battle.net. [HBS]
