Would microtransactions be a way to save Diablo 3, or are you against such a payment model?
Blizzard’s hack and slash Diablo 3 currently faces challenges among parts of the community. Common criticisms associated with the game include a boring endgame or lack of creativity in new content. As a current example, Blizzard recently introduced the Primal Ancients, which received so much negative feedback that the developers are now planning major changes to these.
Micro-payments could help the game by investing the revenue from these purchases into game development. But is that a realistic option?
Better development through additional sales
Apparently some players are willing to make small in-game purchases to improve the game. On the Diablo subreddit, user Paladinwtf_ suggested that the Diablo 3 team should start selling cosmetic add-ons to fund better development. Examples of these micro-payments mentioned by the user include:
- Special dyes
- Glowing auras
- Cool transmogrification sets
- New wings
Of course, the in-game purchases should not grant advantages over other players (Pay 2 Win), but rather be of a cosmetic nature. “Sell me something so that I can give you (Blizzard) money to make the game better instead of relying on sales of the actual game,” demands Paladinwtf_ in his post.
Many users agree with this idea and support the introduction of such a payment model on other servers. Players on Chinese servers already have the option to purchase wings, pets and portrait frames or a experience boost + extra loot slot.
Perhaps the Necromancer DLC in Diablo 3 paves the way for such in-game purchases if both the community and Blizzard are satisfied with the results of the DLC.
Improve Diablo 3 – or release Diablo 4?
A discussion point on this topic is whether the earned money through microtransactions should be invested into improving Diablo 3 or into the development of Diablo 4. Reddit user Shadic writes that he would prefer if resources were funneled into Diablo 4. In his opinion, Diablo 3 is beyond saving. The sooner Blizzard would start working on a new game, the better.
Whether a potential fourth part of the Diablo series would indeed bring about a major change is hard to say at present. The developers probably have more freedom if they create a game from scratch rather than being bound to the structures of an existing game.
What do you think about this topic? Would a payment model be a way to improve Diablo 3? Or should the money from these purchases go straight into the development of Diablo 4?
