The heads of Diablo Immortal say: “Diablo Immortal is a large and ambitious MMO”

In a world exclusive interview, MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski spoke with two leading developers about Diablo Immortal. Wyatt Cheng (Game Director) and Joe Grubb (Principal Game Designer) explain what changes are to come between beta and release, and how the balance between PvE and PvP content looks.

On the occasion of Find Your Next Game and the upcoming release of Diablo Immortal, we still had questions about the big mobile offshoot of Diablo, such as: changes from beta to release, the balance between PvE and PvP content, loot, and social features.

In the first part of the interview, we discussed the main campaign: This is how long the story campaign of Diablo Immortal lasts.

MeinMMO: Diablo Immortal already feels quite “finished”. What still needs polishing and at what point do you say: Now we are done?

Cheng: The goal is to launch in the first half of 2022. So we are already on the final stretch, and I think we can do it. The main focus we are currently trying to address is incorporating feedback from the last beta. There was feedback about:

• the Paragon system, allowing players to continue leveling after reaching the maximum level
• the strength of set items that were introduced there and which players obtain from dungeons
• the social system

Diablo Immortal is an MMO, which differentiates it from other Diablo titles, especially Diablo 3. You could play Diablo 3 in multiplayer, but many still played solo. Immortal aims to make social interactions rewarding and interesting. We have looked at how players behave to see how often they visit dungeons in groups, how many friends they accumulate or join clans. Such activities should be worthwhile, and we are now adjusting that.

One of the biggest changes since the beta is to facilitate social interaction

MeinMMO: What were the experiences with the social components in the game? Were they used often or were you not entirely happy with them?

Cheng: The biggest change we are making is to the Cycle of Strife, our biggest feature. There is a faction called “Immortals”, a group of about 300 players who have defeated all other challengers in PvP. That’s why they are the Immortals and can do special things that no one else on the server can do – like a special raid for 48 players, Kion’s Ordeal.

To become an Immortal, you first have to join the “Shadows” faction. The Shadows have the opportunity to challenge the Immortals once a week to claim the title.

One of the biggest changes is happening here. When you wanted to become a Shadow in the beta, you had to join the faction and then become part of a “Dark House” with other players. If your group was successful, all houses were dissolved, and a few people became Immortals. If they were then overthrown, they returned to being adventurers. But a week later, when the houses reformed, you had to find everyone again.

We are now getting rid of that system of having to find the groups again. Instead, we are using clans. These are permanent social structures that you can join. The entire clan starts as adventurers and can then become a shadow that can challenge an immortal clan. If you are successful, the whole clan will become the new Immortals. This way, you can stay together for as long as possible without having your groups constantly dissolved and needing to find your friends again.

MeinMMO: That actually sounds reasonable, considering how social systems work in MMORPGs. But we were also curious about the system and were surprised that PvP constitutes such a large part of the game. In the predecessors, there were really crazy builds with super strong synergies. How will the balance work in Diablo Immortal, especially in PvP?

Grubb: The advantage is that in Immortal we don’t have 1v1, but group fights. This allows more freedom in balancing. Everyone on the battlefield has a role and an influence on the fight, without a small detail that gives the advantage. Everyone can participate and influence the outcome of the battle, regardless of the level of their build or skills.

“We do not want a guild to reign endlessly“

MeinMMO: In faction-based PvP MMORPGs, there is sometimes the problem of power guilds – players who simply dominate the server and only accept the best players. How will you tackle that?

Cheng: We have 2 measures against it, but first a point: If there are strong players who team up with like-minded people, then that means there is something to team up for. So I don’t see that as entirely bad.

Still, we do not want an immortal guild to reign endlessly. That’s why shadows become a bit stronger each week, depending on how they perform. They receive about a 5% damage increase in PvP. And after a few weeks, this bonus can become strong enough to overthrow the Immortals.

Another rule in the game states that you cannot become an Immortal if you were one in the previous cycle. There must be at least 100 new players coming to power.

In extreme cases, you have 2 guilds alternating. But since the dark clans also fight against each other for the right to become Immortals, we expect more like 4 or 5 clans. We observed this in the beta as well.

For everyone who is not interested in this complex 100-player PvP and just wants to play with their friends, there are “Warbands.” This is a feature that focuses on you and your group of 8 close friends. This is meant to feel more like family. Because in MMOs with large clans of 30-100 players, you rarely get to know the people well. You usually have 4-8 really good friends, and for them, we want to create a unique social structure.

MeinMMO: So, if I’m not interested in the big Immortal war at all, can I just go with my friends and do dungeons?

Cheng: Yes, that’s right! Dungeons and especially raids. We have raids for 8 players. So you can play these raids up and down with your 7 friends.

Grubb: The Warbands are meant for PvE-oriented goals and do not play a role in the Cycle of Strife. And as Wyatt already said, we want to create an endeavor for the Warbands with raids and dungeons.

As an MMO, Diablo Immortal will constantly be expanded with raids and bosses

MeinMMO: We also found the balance between PvP and PvE particularly interesting. We had the feeling that the endgame is very PvP-heavy, but we also know that there are many people who place more value on PvE. What does the balance look like, how much PvE is there and how much PvP is there? Can I still have fun if I only play PvE?

Grubb: Immortal is designed to last for several years and receive updates – including raids. We have only shown a few of the Helliquary bosses so far and tested them in the beta, but more will come with higher difficulty levels. Just as players are used to from MMOs and endgame raid content. Evergreen content that we can continuously expand and renew.

MeinMMO: Are there other loot that can be obtained from different activities? Or: Do I need to engage in PvP and PvE to get everything?

Cheng: Good question. [He thinks for a long time.] I actually wanted to say that you can get everything in PvE. But I have to think briefly about whether that’s really true. I believe you get everything from PvE, yes.

But there are rewards for PvP, which is why I hesitate so much. You get additional drops or more currencies for the vendors. The currencies can also be obtained elsewhere, for example in the Battle Pass. So yes, I believe you get all rewards from both areas. PvP is more of an alternative way to obtain them.

Grubb: I believe the only thing PvP offers that PvE does not are the buffs at the end of the cycle. They depend on your performance in the previous cycle. But these are not buffs intended to significantly modify your character. So you don’t need them for PvE content.

MeinMMO: What do I need these buffs for then?

Grubb: They are more of a reflection of your participation in the cycle. If you performed well, defeated many opponents, you receive a buff that shows that. Like a PvP title.

Cheng: Shadows and Immortals are part of the PvP system, but that doesn’t mean you as an individual have to participate. You can join the shadows and complete a few “missions” to help your Dark House. This way, you receive a buff at the end of the cycle without ever entering an 8v8 battle.

MeinMMO: Assuming I wanted to be one of the players who want to get the absolute maximum out of their character. What would I have to do?

Cheng: Every item can drop anywhere. We stick to the traditional Diablo experience of randomness. I think the best way is the raid content. But you never know where you will ultimately find your items.

Diablo Immortal is a large and ambitious MMO

MeinMMO: One last question to conclude: Mobile games have a reputation for being casual, although they are becoming increasingly complex. Some people are wondering how “hardcore” Diablo Immortal will be. On a scale from casual to core, where would the game be?

Grubb: It’s a Diablo game, and that’s core. That it runs on mobile doesn’t change that. It’s a full-fledged Diablo experience. Everything fans had in previous titles regarding the depth of the game is brought back.

Cheng: Immortal is a large and ambitious MMO. When you look at other MMOs, you find a wide range of different player types that take different things from their games. One likes PvP, another goes raiding, a third stands around in town making new friends. And all of that has its justification.

We have many different activities for players. And hopefully, the different types here will find something to do. If you want to slay monsters, you can go into an Elder Rift. That takes about 5 minutes. If you’re into group play, you can raid with your warband and face tricky bosses.

I assume players will find something they enjoy and want to do.

MeinMMO: Thank you for the answers and your time!

In our beta test, our editor Benedict concluded: Every MMORPG fan should definitely check out Diablo Immortal