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In recent memory, the Diablo franchise has been met with some controversy surrounding some of the business decisions concerning the series. Specifically, many players were upset by the previous game that came before the release of Diablo 4, Diablo Immortal. Since its announcement, the Diablo mobile game has brought about a negative reaction, with many citing issues with the monetary aspects it introduced. More importantly, Diablo Immortal further pushed back the opportunity for a new mainline game to follow Diablo III. Now that Diablo 4 has been released, however, the series has received a second-wind and positive reviews that make up for the failures of Diablo Immortal.
Diablo Immortal’s Release Was Disappointing For Those Who Wanted Diablo 4
In a now infamous clip from Blizzcon 2018, Blizzard announces their new Diablo game. However, as the presentation goes on, it is also announced that the game will focus on mobile platforms and not be Diablo 4 as people had previously anticipated. Based on the quiet audience and uncomfortable silence, it was easy to see that fans were not very happy with this decision made by Blizzard. Although Diablo Immortal itself didn’t receive bad reviews, players were extremely disappointed that they would have to wait even longer for the release of Diablo 4.
On top of this, Diablo Immortal’s failure continued with some very predatory microtransactions that left many players unenthused about the game. Many of the game’s upgrade materials and resources are locked behind a paywall, with some players spending $20,000 without receiving a single Legendary Gem. For a series focused on grinding to upgrade characters, fans of the series found this new direction unbearable. Even though Diablo Immortal may have been technically well-designed, players were ready to move on to Diablo 4′s release.
Diablo 4’s Release Had Some Controversy
Although Diablo 4’s release wasn’t immune to controversy, the game was a major step up from Diablo Immortal. Despite being plagued by server issues and a microtransaction shop placed in a predatory position, Diablo 4 was a step up overall. So far, Diablo 4 has been receiving some pretty impressive reviews and a positive community perception. While many are still cautious due to the many failings of Blizzard in the past and a rocky beta, it might be safe to say that Diablo 4 is an excellent addition to the Diablo series.
Diablo 4 Includes Fewer Microtransactions and More Content
Diablo 4 has also made up for the long wait that Diablo Immortal created with heaps of content to explore and wonderful additions to Diablo’s classes. Diablo 4 will take around 35 hours to beat for just the main story. Compared to Diablo III’s 18-hour length, the new game features almost double the content. Additionally, the returning classes of Diablo 4 bring back some of the series’ classic nostalgia. Compared to Diablo Immortal’s classes, which were re-hashed from Diablo III, Diablo 4 makes up for the mobile game in terms of both variety and design aspects.
Unlike Diablo Immortal, Diablo 4’s release does away with the previous game’s pay-to-win nature. Instead, Diablo 4 now includes a battle pass and some microtransactions. Though these aren’t considered a good thing necessarily, it is better than forcing players to spend thousands of dollars to get ahead in the game. On top of this, many tiers of Diablo 4’s battle pass will be available for free, meaning players won’t need to spend the $10 to enjoy the pass. The microtransactions themselves are kept to cosmetic items and mounts. Based on this change, Diablo 4 has at least learned one lesson from Diablo Immortal.
The Newest Game Sets A Good Pattern for the Future of Diablo
In the end, although Diablo Immortal’s failures created an extremely divisive game, Diablo 4 has made many improvements. With the series now heading in a better direction, many fans can now rest easy that the Diablo franchise is in a better place than it was a few years ago.
Blizzard has included less necessary microtransactions, more content, and an experience closer to the traditional Diablo games. Being the first mainline Diablo release since Diablo III in 2012, this isn’t too bad of an accomplishment. Hopefully, Diablo 4 will set a pattern for Diablo V’s eventual announcement.