Without the internet, nothing works in the announced mobile game Diablo Immortal. As game designer Wyatt Cheng explains, the game requires a connection to the internet.
Diablo Immortal is an online game where interacting with other players is important. Therefore, it will not be possible to play offline.
No Offline Mode in the New Diablo
Diablo Immortal requires an internet connection: It shouldn’t be a surprise since most mobile games require an internet connection to play, and Diablo Immortal is an online game focused on multiplayer. Nevertheless, Blizzard’s game designer Wyatt Cheng confirmed that you cannot play the action RPG offline.
- You are navigating in an online world where many other players are present
- Interaction among players is important
- You experience adventures together
Diablo fans are accustomed to the internet requirement since Diablo 3. Here, too, an internet connection is necessary to play.
How Players React: It is currently difficult to find neutral opinions, as the mood among fans is still very charged. After all, the announcement of Diablo Immortal as a mobile game at Blizzcon did not go down well.
However, amidst all the outcries about the game, there is also a sense that many see it as completely normal for a mobile game – and specifically a multiplayer game – to require an internet connection.
For instance, a fan wrote on VG247: “This is quite normal for mobile games. No big deal.”
No Hardcore Mode Due to Always On?
Always-On Can Cause Problems: However, a mandatory internet connection, especially for a mobile game, can lead to issues.
- A dead zone can lead to connection drops
- A poor mobile data connection can cause lags
- Widespread, stable internet via mobile is important to play anywhere – which is still not available in places like Germany
Especially in an action RPG where reaction is crucial, a poor internet connection can lead to frustration. The developers are aware of this. Designer Wyatt Cheng explained in an interview with Inven that he is not sure if a mobile platform can offer a hardcore mode, which has always been part of Diablo.
The team will have to think further about how to handle network issues and a hardcore mode, according to Cheng.
Will Diablo Immortal be a Free2Play Game? Blizzard is currently still tight-lipped about the monetization of Diablo Immortal. Players suspect that it will be released as a free-to-play title and therefore fear pay-to-win elements.
Regarding this, designer Wyatt Cheng stated in an interview with Inven: “It is hard to say how we will approach this problem from a business perspective, but past Blizzard games are a good reference for this.”
Blizzard Has Not Forgotten the Core Fans of Diablo: The announcement of Diablo Immortal as a mobile game elicited a lot of criticism from fans. However, Blizzard wants the community to know that they have not forgotten the core players.
Blizzard’s Allen Adham stated in an interview with Digital Trends: “I can tell you, we haven’t forgotten you. We will have more news in the future. We are hardcore fans of Diablo on PC and consoles. Diablo is an important brand at Blizzard, and we continue to work on many things surrounding Diablo.”
