On October 17, the new Season 2 is set to launch in Diablo 4. There is supposed to be a lot of new content that will be presented in detailed streams until then. However, criticism is rising on Reddit against this announcement. The main argument: Blizzard is confusing content with replayability.
What is being criticized? On Twitter, Rod Fergusson, the head behind Diablo 4, stated that the new Season 2 brings so much content that it will require 4 hours for the presentation. The presentation is supposed to be split into two livestreams, each lasting two hours.
While a lot of new content initially sounds great, some players remain skeptical. Reddit user MrMunday explained in a thread that, in his opinion, Blizzard is backing the wrong horse. Instead of new content, the focus should be on improving the gameplay systems.
For him, neither Diablo 2 nor Diablo 3 provided significant content. Both games relied heavily on item grind, diverse builds, and experimental elements. However, there are major gaps in the latest installment.
“The items and builds in Diablo 4 are so obvious that they do not invite experimentation”
What exactly is the player criticizing? In Diablo 4, everything is too obvious and simple. While this may be good for attracting casual players, it will harm the long-term experience because veterans have little to experiment with.
In comparison, he mentions Diablo 2, where it took years to develop a perfect meta. In Diablo 4, however, that has already happened in a short amount of time.
He concludes his contribution with the sentence:
They need to stop thinking about “content” and rethink their systems. They need to be revised. Adding 1,000 more items will likely not improve replayability.
How is the statement received? Over 600 upvotes and 550 comments were received on the thread on Reddit from Diablo 4. Many agree with the fundamental statement made by MrMunday or go even harder on the subject.
- Megane-Senpai writes that Diablo 4 would fail on both crucial elements of the ARPG genre: replayability and the feeling of progress in levels and gear.
- D4Twilly even believes that Blizzard will never get Diablo 4 back on the right track and is already waiting for the successor, Diablo 5.
- Another user jokingly states: “As long as there are at least 1,000 useful items, that would already be a huge improvement for Diablo 4.” The topic of loot is criticized by several, including our colleague Maurice Weber, who has analyzed the current state of Diablo 4 in a video.
However, not all players are so pessimistic. Some write that we should wait for the 4-hour livestream before making negative comments. Others believe that not only new elements will be introduced but also some revisions.
In any case, Blizzard must respond, as Season 1 was a small disaster: “Fun was reduced by 95% – Diablo 4 receives harsh criticism after patch for Season 1.
What do you think about the future of Diablo 4? What does the game need to excite you again or continue to do so?
