In Season 12, a feature returns to Diablo 4 that allows you to farm XP. The first players are testing it out and say: It not only looks unappealing, but is also very distracting.
What is the feature all about? With Season 12, Blizzard introduces a so-called Killstreak system in the ARPG, which veterans will likely remember from Diablo 3. If you slay many monsters within a short timeframe, a Killstreak counter starts. As long as the timer runs, you earn points with each additional kill. The more monsters you kill in that time, the more XP you gather – and the level you reach also gives you extra XP.
Currently, players are testing the new features from Season 12, which will be released on March 10, 2026, on the PTR (test server). However, the “new” Killstreak system is not well received so far.
Season 12 is a kind of transitional season until the new DLC Lord of Hatred, which will be released on April 28, 2026:
“Oh great, more pixels on the screen”
How is the feature being received? On Reddit, Diablo fans are not enthusiastic. In a thread on the topic, a user even writes that the new Killstreak counter is ugly and very distracting. He hopes for an option to hide the display or at least change its position. Over 800 upvotes indicate he is not alone in this opinion.
Many players already find the screen overloaded with effects and symbols. Now, another element is added that obstructs the view. Users like AeonChaos demand to keep the thing away from the center of the screen – the top or bottom edge would be a much better choice. Prestigious_Bus1573 also dryly comments: “Oh great, more red pixels on the monitor.”
Some also note that the display in Diablo 3 was much more elegantly done and did not ‘clutter’ the screen as much. In the screenshots, you can see the Killstreak feature in direct comparison:
Will it stay like this? That remains to be seen. The PTR is precisely for such cases – to test features and provide feedback to Blizzard. It is therefore very possible that the developers will tweak the system by the start of Season 12. You can submit feedback through the feedback tool in the game (found in the menu under “Report a Bug”) or through the Diablo 4 PTR forums (in English).
I remain hopeful that Blizzard takes the community’s feedback seriously and improves things before the release. There is still time since the PTR runs until February 10 at 19:00 CET.
In line with the Killstreak system, Blizzard introduces the “blood-stained items”. These new items are directly linked to your Killstreaks: their affixes scale with your current Killstreak level and thus create increasingly stronger effects the more monsters you slay. Additionally, there will be new seals for endgame activities that will have the Butcher relentlessly hunt you. You can find out more about this here: Diablo 4 rewards you with rewards in Season 12 for taking down enough enemies in a short time
