The release of Diablo Immortal is just around the corner. However, there has already been criticism from many voices, including well-known names on Twitch and YouTube. MeinMMO had the opportunity to speak with the heads, including about the topic of Pay2Win.
What are the allegations about?
- Diablo Immortal will be a Free2Play game for Android and iOS. Free mobile games are often criticized for wanting to extract quick money from players.
- In the beta, there were already allegations that you would have to grind for the best gear for 40 years if you don’t pay with real money.
- Some YouTubers then made videos about how much Diablo Immortal is Pay2Win. Among them was Asmongold, the largest MMORPG streamer in the world (via YouTube).
The corresponding videos received several hundred thousand views within just a few hours. Asmongold and co. are upset about the items that can be purchased and the advantages they bring.
Previously, the heads spoke about the shop in Diablo Immortal. Since the beta, a lot has changed, and feedback and criticism from players have been implemented for the release. However, what exactly is changing has not yet been revealed.
In the interview, we spoke with Wyatt Cheng (Game Director) and Peiwen Yao (Executive Producer). The two are significantly involved in the development of Diablo Immortal. We asked them how they deal with such videos and feedback.
What you are reading here is just an excerpt from the full interview, which we found important enough to show you separately. The full interview on updates, content, and more will be released soon on MeinMMO. Here you can also find everything you need to know about Diablo Immortal in 3 minutes:
“Every piece of feedback is a gift”
MeinMMO: Some influencers have created and published videos highlighting alleged Pay2Win features. They garnered hundreds of thousands of views within a short time. What is your stance on influencers and such content in general?
Cheng: “Two things about that. The first is that I encourage every player to provide feedback. We say at Blizzard: every piece of feedback is a gift. Influencers are of course a source of feedback.
We also look in forums, social media, direct feedback… Feedback comes in many forms. We want players to always tell us what they think of their gaming experience.
Regarding these videos specifically: I think it’s important to emphasize again that the best way to progress is simply to play the game. A lot of the recent coverage was super focused on the legendary gems and acted as if that was the only thing that mattered.
But that’s really not the case. Think about your Diablo experience. There is XP and Paragon, which are almost more important in their way. There is gear and legendary items, the social network, and friends. In an MMO, it is important how you interact with others.
When we think about the game, we think about players never being barred from progressing their character. At no point should you say: ‘Ah, I’m not even logging in. There’s nothing to do without spending money.’ That’s just not true.
You can always find new items. We will never sell gear. We will not sell XP boosts. You have to play the game to progress. That is a cornerstone of the gameplay-first philosophy: the best way to improve your character is to play.”
Yao: “For us, the key is to offer different ways to play the game. Some may like the legendary gems and crests, others may enjoy the social aspect. Diablo Immortal is a free game, and we will attract many new players.
I would hope that these players find their own way to experience Diablo Immortal in its entirety.”
When will Diablo Immortal be released? On June 2, Diablo Immortal officially goes live. Just before the release, there was another roadmap with important info about the launch, including the start time. At 7:00 PM German time, you will be able to play.
You can play Diablo Immortal on iOS, Android, and PC, with the PC client still officially in open beta. However, all progress will be carried over later, which is why we are talking about a soft launch.
More information about Diablo Immortal can be found in our info hub about the game:
Everything you need to know about Diablo Immortal – Release, costs, gameplay
