Blizzard brought a big punch to this year’s Gamescom. Not only did Diablo IV fans get to see a new trailer for the upcoming Ships of Hatred expansion, which focused on mercenaries, they also learned more about the Shin Nahantu region and got a peek at what to expect when it’s actually available.
But the developers have more surprises in store for us, many of which will affect all players, not just those who plan to buy Vessel of Hatred.
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With the release of Ship of Hatred in October, the game is getting two major updates. The first update is arguably the most impactful and the one that many players have been waiting for. The leveling experience in Diablo IV is changing in order to give players more power earlier in the leveling process.
Unfortunately, Blizzard hasn’t revealed much about this overhaul of the leveling experience, but the developer will reveal more on August 29, most likely as part of a Developer Update livestream. Whether it’s raising or lowering the level cap, Blizzard says the impact will be as wide-ranging and far-reaching as the item overhaul in Season 4: Loot Reborn.
Another big update that all Diablo IV players will benefit from with the release of Ship of Hatred is the new Party Finder feature. This is actually the biggest social update to Diablo IV since its release, and the social aspect really needed some work.
This LFG feature allows you to find other players’ teams, or create your own. Its scope extends to the entire game, meaning you can specify the activities you want to help/join. You can also choose from a range of preferences (casual, hardcore, no mic, etc.).
If you really want to look for something specific, Party Finder also supports advanced search. When it arrives, you’ll be able to access it directly from the map, the in-game menu, or by simply bringing up the emote wheel.
Vessel of Hatred will be released on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on October 8. A free update adding the features discussed in this article will likely be released around that date.