Summary
Diablo 4is the latest installment in Blizzard’s iconic ARPG franchise, but the return of the series hasn’t been what many fans imagined. WhileDiablo 4has taken steps to open the game up to more casual players that may be new to the genre, several design decisions recently made by the developer have left many confused. Controversy has surrounded the title’s latest seasonal updates, and the battle pass at the core of the game’s live service model has become a massive point of contention within the community.
Following the many maligned nerfs ofDiablo 4’s Season 1 patch, players have been vocal about concerns regarding the future of the title. Given the reduction in power of the five playable classes and buffing of enemies nearly across the board along with reduced experience gain, several of those who have dedicated hours to optimizing builds that became obsolete with one update became fed up. Adding insult to injury, players have similarly voiced disappointments with the Season of the Malignant’s battle pass, a feature at the heart of many modern live service games.
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The Battle Pass Precedent Set By Fortnite
Dota 2first experimented with the concept during its earlier days, allowing players to level up the game’s Compendium for cosmetic rewards.Fortnitewould be the one to popularize the concept and bring it into the mainstream, however, and the entire landscape of the gaming industry hasn’t been the same since. A common sight in AAA products from practically every major publisher, battle passes allow developers to generate much more profit from a title for months, or even years following initial release.
The battle pass business model has proven especially successful in the world of free-to-play titles likeFortnite, butDiablo 4’s usage of it follows a different trend. Utilized by even one the biggest games inModern Warfare 2, battle passes have become staples of even fully priced titles. Bringing more content to large releases for months at a time, features likeCall of Duty’s most recent battle passhave seen support for five full seasons now. Between licensed tie-ins with fictional characters likeThe Boys' Homelander and real celebrities alike, the offerings of battle passes like those inModern Warfare 2have been far more well-received than those ofDiablo 4.
The Criticisms Diablo 4’s Battle Pass Are Facing
Battle passes are meant to extend the life of a game by incentivizing players, but thelackluster reception toDiablo 4’sis showcasing the opposite effect. By not providing gear on the level ofFortnite’s hype-generating skins orCall of Duty’s crossover tie-ins, Blizzard hasn’t properly tapped into what makes evolving battle pass content so special.Diablohas never featured this system before, considering the previous mainline entry predated the concept’s popularity, and melding it into the ARPG ecosystem likely required much more care.
Blizzard’s reputation has wavered in recent years, and the situation withOverwatch 2’s PvE content showsDiablo 4players aren’t alone in being concerned. The circumstances are too much for several players that have chosen to wait until the next major update to return to the game, but at least that light lies at the end of the tunnel.Diablo 4’s problemsmay be evident now, but the best part about a live service experience is the title’s potential to improve and grow from here, something players can hope for when Season 2 eventually rolls around.
Diablo 4is currently available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
