You’d be forgiven for thinking that Diablo 4 was headed in the right direction during Season 2. However, Diablo 4 Season 3 seems to have taken a big Barbarian Leap backward with its setbacks and the consistent community disappointment. Now, with the impending release of Last Epoch and eventually, Path of Exile 2, Diablo 4 might just shoo away enough of its disgruntled fanbase to the rather promising competition.
The New Endgame Got Delayed
During the Diablo 4 Season 3 features announcement, the developers proudly unveiled a new– and much-requested endgame feature, the Gauntlet. Along with this, they also promised a Leaderboard. It was a feature that a lot of the series veterans have been clamoring for since Diablo 4‘s release.
Both the Gauntlet and the Leaderboards were supposed to be released on February 13th. Sadly, the developers have delayed it to February 27th. Apparently, the new game mode and the Leaderboard implementation needed more polish, according to Rod Fergusson.
Still, that’s two weeks of endgame content already lost in Diablo 4‘s 12-week (or 3-month) seasonal duration.
The More Aggressive Cosmetics Didn’t Go Unnoticed
Another salt to the wound of the already aching fanbase is how Diablo 4 also keeps offering something the community considers overpriced cosmetics. Nothing new. Still, recently, they added some $30 Portal skins whose colors are locked depending on the class you play.
For some, this is a bit much. Certain popular games, such as Palworld cost that much, for reference.
It’s also worth noting that prior to these issues, there have already been several concerns for Season 3. Those would be Diablo 4‘s reportedly tedious loot system and lackluster gameplay addition for Season 3 (at least when compared to Season 2).
Is it too Late for Diablo 4?
Diablo 4 might be even in for a tougher time because of Last Epoch. It’s one of Diablo‘s most promising competitors in the isometric ARPG genre. Last Epoch is set to be released on February 21st, 2024 after a long period of early access.
It’s safe to assume that there’s an overlap of player bases between the two games. Come Last Epoch‘s official release, any disgruntled Diablo 4 fan eager to find a new “home” might find the former’s doors more welcoming.
That’s not all. Path of Exile 2, whose predecessor is often hailed as the spiritual successor of Diablo 2, is set to launch its closed beta on June 7, 2024. Now that’s an even more welcoming “home” to isometric ARPG fans, given its free price tag.
Granted, it’s not clear yet when Path of Exile will aim for a full release or how well Last Epoch will compete against Diablo 4. But with Diablo 4 continuing to set the bar low, even older ARPGs– including Diablo 3 are looking hotter.
