Fans patiently awaiting the release of Diablo 4 will, of course, have some concerns about the new title’s direction. The Diablo franchise’s previous offering, Diablo Immortal, left a sour taste in players’ mouths after realizing they’d have to break the bank to have a chance to make their mark in the end game. Blizzard doesn’t have the utmost faith in its player base anymore, so it’s only natural to wonder if it’s going to have to make a deal with the devil in Diablo 4 to stay relevant as well. Here’s everything we know about microtransactions in Diablo 4.
Microtransactions in Diablo IV
Blizzard has detailed its plans for Diablo 4’s store quite clearly throughout development. The goal of in-game microtransactions is to keep them optional and also based on the world of Sanctuary. Developers want players to feel good before, during and after their purchases. They never want to force someone to buy something, but leave the choice to personal desire.
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Microtransactions in Diablo 4 will only feature optional cosmetics. These parts will remain embedded in the core of Diablo, meaning they will integrate with naturally acquired parts in-game and can be mixed and matched for further customization without looking clunky.
These items will be available for premium currency, but there’s no pressure to spend a penny on anything. Blizzard assured fans that the store is completely optional, and players can experience all base and seasonal game features without spending any extra money.
Image via Activision Blizzard
The example above shows armor earned through gameplay on the left and a cosmetic from the shop on the right, indicating that the company wants to provide the same quality whether you pay or earn your gear. Blizzard also says the store will be transparent, with no surprises, cheats, or random loot boxes. What you see is what you get, and a single purchase unlocks this gear for all characters on your account, or for all of that specific class if it has class restrictions.
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Pay to win in Diablo 4?
The Diablo 4 store won’t sell anything that directly or indirectly provides an in-game advantage. While the armor is obviously visually stunning and epic, it won’t feature any stats or potency. There will also be nothing available to speed your way to victory.
Image via Activision Blizzard
The whole shop ethos seems to keep it optional while still providing a fun and flashy visual transmog for players with some extra cash to spare. Whether Blizzard will deliver on that promise remains to be seen, but everything shown is standard practice and in no way intrusive.
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