Blizzard Confirms Less Microtransactions In 'Diablo 4'

Following the massive community backlash to the monetization of “Diablo Immortal,” a Blizzard executive took to Twitter to reassure fans that the same scheme will not be present in “Diablo 4.”

Rod Fergusson, the head of the entire “Diablo” franchise, clarified that “Diablo 4’s” monetization will only involve its upfront payment price as well as cosmetics and future expansion packs via an in-game store, PC Gamer reported.

Additionally, Fergusson said that “Diablo 4” is designed for PC and gaming console audiences. Players can expect less oppressive monetization options compared to “Diablo Immortal,” which was built specifically for the mobile gaming market.

“We are committed to delivering an incredible breadth of content after launch,” Fergusson tweeted.

However, comments across various social media platforms appear to suggest that fans remain skeptical of Fergusson’s statement, with many claiming that their expectations were tempered – if not outright killed – by the “Diablo Immortal” fiasco.

“Diablo Immortal” was heavily criticized for its allegedly abusive and predatory monetization practices. YouTuber Bellular News’ in-depth analysis of the game’s cash shop explained the many facets that gave “Diablo Immortal” such a horrible image in the greater gaming community.

Players quickly called out the game’s business model, as almost every aspect of the game’s design appeared built to force gamers to make a purchase.

Blizzard’s team that worked on the mobile game has yet to give a statement regarding player feedback, but Fergusson’s tweet indicates that the company as a whole is well-aware of how the beloved ARPG franchise is being perceived by its fans.

Should the developers follow through with the cosmetics and expansion-only microtransaction model for “Diablo 4,” players can expect paid skins, story DLCs and possibly additional character classes to be added to the game in the future.

“Diablo 4’s” fifth and final class, the Necromancer, was revealed during the Xbox showcase in the 2022 Summer Game Fest along with more snippets of gameplay. While many players agreed that the game looked great, some were apprehensive about how Blizzard was going to handle monetization following “Diablo Immortal’s” backlash.

“Diablo 4” is set to release in 2023, but whether or not it will be part of the Xbox Game Pass is yet to be confirmed.