Blizzard says it won’t monetize Diablo IV like Diablo Immortal
Diablo IV shouldn’t have a monetization system like Diablo Immortal, but fans are still skeptical.
According to Blizzard, Diablo IV will offer monetization systems very different from those found today in Diablo Immortal, which are highly controversial. “To be absolutely clear, D4 is a complete game designed for the PC/PS/Xbox audience,” Diablo General Manager Rod Fergusson said after the latest Microsoft Summer Game Fest presentation on Sunday. “We aim to deliver a lot of post-launch content for many years to come, focusing on additional cosmetics and story expansions.”
Diablo IV should not have a monetization system like Diablo Immortal.
Blizzard similarly promised to support the recent Diablo Immortal for a while, but the studio is doing so through a range of in-game purchase options. Along with cosmetic items, there’s also a battle pass and Eternal Orbs. be exchanged for disputed premium crests.
By all accounts, Diablo Immortal has one of the most aggressive monetization systems of any Blizzard game to date. Specifically, it has been estimated that it would take around 10 years or $110,000 to acquire enough legendary gems to equip your character with the very best. Since the launch of Diablo Immortal, fans of the franchise have been concerned that the studio will use a similar monetization system in Diablo IV, which will release sometime in 2023.
But the fans are still skeptical
However, Rod Fergusson’s statement suggests that Diablo IV will be closer to Diablo III than Diablo Immortal in this respect. Diablo III did not offer microtransactions despite launching through a controversial in-game auction house, and Blizzard offered a $40 expansion in 2014 and then a $15 DLC in 2017 that added the Necromancer from Diablo II.
In any case, if you read the replies to Rod Fergusson’s tweet, you’ll see that many fans are still very concerned that the mention of these microtransactions for cosmetic items may be hiding more in-game purchases than intended. Neither Rod Ferguson nor Community Manager Adam Fletcher mentioned a paid battle pass, but it’s an option the studio could use to make some cosmetic items available, as many games, including Diablo Immortal, do.
To be clear, D4 is a full price game built for PC/PS/Xbox audiences. We are committed to delivering an incredible breadth of content after launch, for years to come, anchored around optional cosmetic items & full story driven expansions. More details soon. Necro blog tomorrow!
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