Revealed some of the plans with Diablo IV: frequent expansions, free seasons and paid battle passes

Diablo IV was, without a doubt, one of the great performers at The Game Awards. Blizzard’s new ARPG was dropped by the show on December 8 with a spectacular trailer that left us all speechless and also closed with its release date: June 6, 2023. A date very close to summer and which will allow us to enjoy it for hours. Also, since this reveal, we have learned new details about what awaits us in this new adventure and fight against Lilith.

One of the hot spots and the one that has explained the most is the monetization system, something much criticized in the latest games of the franchise such as Diablo III or Diablo Immortal, the mobile version. Thus, in a new interview with colleagues from EurogamerJoe Shely, director of Diablo IV, explained the title’s monetization plans.

Diablo IV will have frequent expansions that will add new classes

The first thing he commented on is that they will use modern monetization tools, that is, a store with items for the game that we can get with real money, a paid battle pass and premium extensions, understand premium expansions like those that expand the story and add new classes. With the latter, it is clear that the release of Diablo IV is only the beginning of a long story to which, as we are used to, new classes will be added as the game develops. story will develop. Thus, the director has confirmed that the game’s development team will move from this task to creating the title’s new content, that is, working on its live service with a focus on expansions, new stories, new missions, new classes and much more.

The release of Diablo IV is just the beginning. The Diablo IV design team will be moving from building it to the live service and working on our expansions for the game. We’re going to be releasing frequent expansions that have new stories, new quests, new classes, that kind of things. And our live service, which will deliver seasons every three months that will include major new seasonal features on a much larger scale than what we’ve seen in things like Diablo 3, because, again, all the people who create the game work in the seasons. And yes, it will have a season pass that will serve as a companion to each season and all of its seasonal features.

The Season Pass is itself an addition to the season. All seasonal features and the seasonal experience you get will be completely free and available to all players. The Season Pass will give you access to dated cosmetics and other cool stuff you can get. But it’s not absolutely mandatory, you don’t have to buy it to participate in the seasons.

With this, it is clear that at Blizzard they have a very ambitious plan with Diablo IV, full of content both in the form of paid expansions and free seasons for all players. Also, these seasons, as Shely commented, will have a paid battle pass which will grant players new cosmetics but, it will in no way give a competitive advantage to the players who seize it. It will not be Pay to Win or Pay to Fast, but rather any paid content will be purely cosmetic.

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