Two Diablo IV Expansions in Development at Blizzard

[T0@st]

The Diablo franchise's general manager Rod Fergusson appeared on the Kinda Funny Xcast last week, only a few days before the fourth game's full launch - episode 140's interview segment focused on Blizzard's final preparations and post-game content (seasonal and possible DLC) calendar. Fergusson indicated that his team was very busy and will have more work to do: "As I sit here we're about to launch the main game, we're finishing up season one, we're working on season two, we're working on expansion one, we're kicking off expansion two…we're working on that now and we haven't even launched the game."

Blizzard Entertainment received much criticism for its slow and sparse trickle out of seasonal material for Diablo III, and Fergusson is keen to not repeat similar post-launch patterns with the latest entry in a very long running series (the first game debuted back in January 1997!). Diablo IV has been built with a live-service format in mind - thus allowing for greater and more substantial content to be delivered over seasonal time periods. Blizzard is likely aiming to compete with the likes of Bungie (Destiny 2) in terms of keeping an online game alive for a while - Fergusson outlines a key goal for his team: "We're going to be supporting Diablo 4 for years to come - (with) very rich seasons, much richer than we had in Diablo 3."



Rod Fergusson's Diablo IV Review Reactions - Kinda Funny Xcast Ep. 140 - fast forward to the two minute mark for the relevant conversation:

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[L'Eliminateur]

"seasons"... in Diablo?, wtf, gaming has turned into utter shit (no wonder i don't play anything anymore).

I play diablo for the campaign in coop, finish, close it, uninstall, that's it. WTF "season" are you talking about in a isometric RPG

 

[Sithaer]

"seasons"... in Diablo?, wtf, gaming has turned into utter shit (no wonder i don't play anything anymore).

I play diablo for the campaign in coop, finish, close it, uninstall, that's it. WTF "season" are you talking about in a isometric RPG

Seasons aka Ladders were already a thing in Diablo 2 'even tho there it wasn't for new content back then' and now D2R also has it.
D3 also had 28 seasons since they added that system to the game. 'I've played like 25 out of the 28'
PoE also has leagues, usually thats when most ppl are playing or come back to the game.

This is pretty much normal by today's standards, if anything there would be more complaints if the game had none.
Personally I'm also a seasonal only player ever since D2 ladders on Bnet, its also what kept my interest alive in D3 over the years.
Always playing for 2-3 weeks/season or until I reach my personal goals and then drop it till the next one with a new patch/balance changes.

 

[dj-electric]

"seasons"... in Diablo?, wtf, gaming has turned into utter shit (no wonder i don't play anything anymore).

I play diablo for the campaign in coop, finish, close it, uninstall, that's it. WTF "season" are you talking about in a isometric RPG

Tell me you don't know Diablo without telling me you don't know Diablo. Seasons and Ladder resets have been a thing for a very long time.

 

[awesomesauce]

all i want to know is if expansions will be free or you will need to pay it again. Because the game was 100$ at launch and content wise it not much from D3

 

[Hxx]

"seasons"... in Diablo?, wtf, gaming has turned into utter shit (no wonder i don't play anything anymore).

I play diablo for the campaign in coop, finish, close it, uninstall, that's it. WTF "season" are you talking about in a isometric RPG

seasons are a smart way of incentivizing players to start playing (and paying) for day 1 releases instead of holding out for sales. You wait for that first sale and you may miss out on a season ladder , unlocks etc.

 

[Sithaer]

all i want to know is if expansions will be free or you will need to pay it again. Because the game was 100$ at launch and content wise it not much from D3

I think its a safe bet to say that they wont be free, there is defo more content in D4 currently than what D3 has now tho. 'I have 3k+ hours in D3..'
D4's map is quite massive on its own, I've been playing for 4 days now rather actively 'lvl 50 atm' and I'm yet to even explore the whole thing nor finish all of the quests.

If the expansions will be solid additions to the game like LoD was for D2 and RoS for D3 then I don't mind buying them/should offer tons of hours of gameplay in the long term anyway.

Btw D3 was also supposed to have a second expansion too but they scratched it and relased some of its content as a seasonal update + sold the Necro for 15$.

 

[Hxx]

all i want to know is if expansions will be free or you will need to pay it again. Because the game was 100$ at launch and content wise it not much from D3

the answer is both. They said each expansion will have a free version with 20 some progression ladder and a premium version with 60 some progression ladder. So while the season content will be the same/free , the cosmetic unlocks as you progress through the season will vary between those that buy the premium pass and those that default to the free pass.

They also said that the premium pass will unlock certain amount of currency which you can put towards the next premium season pass but not fully pay it off. This is a real d**k move imo because typically people would buy the first premium season pass for $10 in this case and use the unlocked in game currency from playing the first season to keep rolling and unlocking each upcoming premium season pass. looks like if you want each premium season pass you will have to pay a small amount of money for each upcoming season

 

[Vayra86]

the answer is both. They said each expansion will have a free version with 20 some progression ladder and a premium version with 60 some progression ladder. So while the season content will be the same/free , the cosmetic unlocks as you progress through the season will vary between those that buy the premium pass and those that default to the free pass.

They also said that the premium pass will unlock certain amount of currency which you can put towards the next premium season pass but not fully pay it off. This is a real d**k move imo because typically people would buy the first premium season pass for $10 in this case and use the unlocked in game currency from playing the first season to keep rolling and unlocking each upcoming premium season pass. looks like if you want each premium season pass you will have to pay a small amount of money for each upcoming season

Basically you can choose to be on a subscription for cosmetics and you get some periodic maintenance and balance tweaks in exchange. Its not a really bad deal, especially because you don't miss much for not paying. Cosmetics. Yeah. Whatever.

If this is the price for a vibrant and kicking online community its not really a high price to pay. I'm happy we're rid of the RMAH and Blizzard isn't really likely to push two dozen bits of 4 dollar content pieces out either. We really get what we asked for - proper expansions, and a good base game with good online support.

 

[Hxx]

Basically you can choose to be on a subscription for cosmetics and you get some periodic maintenance and balance tweaks in exchange. Its not a really bad deal, especially because you don't miss much for not paying. Cosmetics. Yeah. Whatever.

That’s right I guess I am personally a bit bothered by the fact that you cannot roll the currency to keep unlocking premium season passes . Typically that’s how most live service games are so you only pay for a premium season pass once but yeah whatever I suppose Diablo is special … and who knows maybe that will change once they roll up the first season .

 

[Vayra86]

That’s right I guess I am personally a bit bothered by the fact that you cannot roll the currency to keep unlocking premium season passes . Typically that’s how most live service games are so you only pay for a premium season pass once but yeah whatever they’re just greedy lol … and who knows maybe that will change once they roll up the first season .

Well... have you looked at Apex? Or MTG Arena? Its pretty hard to get that max level within season uptime... You have to be on it every day for multiple hours. Holiday off? Sucks to be you, you're paying.

 

[Hxx]

Well... have you looked at Apex? Or MTG Arena? Its pretty hard to get that max level within season uptime... You have to be on it every day for multiple hours. Holiday off? Sucks to be you, you're paying.

Yeah well I’m hoping that a 3 months long season to be sufficient to grind through it at your own pace. They said it will be 3 months long so hopefully that won’t change when we get to it. I haven’t bought the game yet because I’m curious to see if the PC version will come on sale during blizzards summer sale starting sometime end of June

 

[Sithaer]

Basically you can choose to be on a subscription for cosmetics and you get some periodic maintenance and balance tweaks in exchange. Its not a really bad deal, especially because you don't miss much for not paying. Cosmetics. Yeah. Whatever.

If this is the price for a vibrant and kicking online community its not really a high price to pay. I'm happy we're rid of the RMAH and Blizzard isn't really likely to push two dozen bits of 4 dollar content pieces out either. We really get what we asked for - proper expansions, and a good base game with good online support.

Yeah tbh I've never really bought into these battle or whatever passes and stay free2play after buying the initial game/actual expansions.
Apparently I will have a 'trial' version of the battle pass once its live/during the first Season since I've bought the Deluxe edition and then I will see how it works for real or if its worth it for me but likely I wont pay for it once it expires.

But hey if its allows them for more free updates/patches then I don't mind having it as an option, cosmetics I would rather just buy them directly if I do happen to like some that much tho for now I'm pleased with the in game transmog looks.

 

[Guwapo77]

BRING THEM ON! D4 IS

!!!!!

For real tho, that game is legit af!

 

[EatingDirt]

Basically you can choose to be on a subscription for cosmetics and you get some periodic maintenance and balance tweaks in exchange. Its not a really bad deal, especially because you don't miss much for not paying. Cosmetics. Yeah. Whatever.

If this is the price for a vibrant and kicking online community its not really a high price to pay. I'm happy we're rid of the RMAH and Blizzard isn't really likely to push two dozen bits of 4 dollar content pieces out either. We really get what we asked for - proper expansions, and a good base game with good online support.

"Premium" Season passes, Microtransactions and Paid DLC on top of a game that's already $70.

It all seems a bit much in comparison to Path of Exile, a game that has just as more content (been out forever) for no up front cost and has only ever had microtransactions up until a year ago (when they introduced a premium season pass that basically no one uses).

 

[Hxx]

Apparently I will have a 'trial' version of the battle pass

if you bought the deluxe then you prepaid for the first premium season pass then once its over, you would need to pay for the second premium pass and so on if you want to otherwise it defaults to the free version which is same content but less cosmetics. at least thats what the devs said

 

[Mussels]

Anyone here playing it yet?
I burned out on blizz games after how D3, then D2C And W3R were handled


I can't be arsed spending the effort to learn yet another disapointment has been created

especially because you don't miss much for not paying. Cosmetics. Yeah. Whatever.

This is how DRG does things, and it works great there. Happy people can pay for cosmetics which are used to fund free content for everyone.

Devs get money and new players, die-hards get new shinies and new content lures bored people back.

Tell me you don't know Diablo without telling me you don't know Diablo. Seasons and Ladder resets have been a thing for a very long time.

I never liked them, but yeah they've been around a long long time.

 

[Sithaer]

if you bought the deluxe then you prepaid for the first premium season pass then once its over, you would need to pay for the second premium pass and so on if you want to otherwise it defaults to the free version which is same content but less cosmetics. at least thats what the devs said

I mainly bought the deluxe for the early access on 06.02 and the rest was just an extra, currently the pass is inactive and it will be active once the first Season launches in mid-late july supposedly.

Anyone here playing it yet?
I burned out on blizz games after how D3, then D2C And W3R were handled


I can't be arsed spending the effort to learn yet another disapointment has been created

I'm playing it since 06.02 but I'm yet to reach the end game content/finish the story so I can't give a proper opinion yet.
I was planning on opening a separate topic to discuss the game but eh I don't see much interest on this forum, there are only a few of us playing from what I've noticed.

 

[L'Eliminateur]

Tell me you don't know Diablo without telling me you don't know Diablo. Seasons and Ladder resets have been a thing for a very long time.

oh i know diablo very well and played far too much D2 ever since release for the challenges back then, wayy too many years ago to remember, D3 only the campaign, i simply completely forgot about all that ladder nonsense

 

[Mussels]

I played diablo II when i had 48.8k dial up, online wasn't an option. I was barely able to get updates.

It feels like they kill your childhood when they ruin sequels, it felt like it took a LONG time for Diablo 3 to catch up to what it should have been at launch - and then D2R came out without learning any of the same lessons (like yes we want a remaster with the same gameplay, but we need modern controls because mice and keyboards have changed since then guys...)

 

[big_glasses]

It all seems a bit much in comparison to Path of Exile, a game that has just as more content (been out forever) for no up front cost and has only ever had microtransactions up until a year ago (when they introduced a premium season pass that basically no one uses).

That's not true. PoE have had mtx since forever, had it when I triewd it years ago
It was split into two categories, pure comsetics and QoL (like the chest tabs)

Here is a post from 2020 talking about their most popular ones

Announcements - Most Popular Microtransactions of All Time - Forum - Path of Exile

Path of Exile is a free online-only action RPG under development by Grinding Gear Games in New Zealand.

www.pathofexile.com

Here is the "daily deals" for 2013...

Daily Deals/2013

This is a list of the daily deals for 2013.

pathofexile.fandom.com

and their point shop-link for reference: https://www.pathofexile.com/purchase

PoE is of a (semi-)fully F2P game. and imo, thus much more "OK" to have MTX than a bloody 70$ game
(Saying semi, since if you are "hardcore", the chest tabs and some QoL is allegedly almost required)

 

[Mussels]

I just saw facebook posts about people saying your games cannot be private - please tell me that just means friends can join, and not that randoms can

 

[Sithaer]

I just saw facebook posts about people saying your games cannot be private - please tell me that just means friends can join, and not that randoms can

The game has a shared open world like an MMO tho it seems to have a limit of players/world so you wont constantly run into bunch of ppl more like in towns or during world events. 'World bosses can have up to 12 players'
Dungeons are private by default and can only be entered with other players if they are in a party already.

 

[EatingDirt]

That's not true. PoE have had mtx since forever, had it when I triewd it years ago
It was split into two categories, pure comsetics and QoL (like the chest tabs)

Here is a post from 2020 talking about their most popular ones

Announcements - Most Popular Microtransactions of All Time - Forum - Path of Exile

Path of Exile is a free online-only action RPG under development by Grinding Gear Games in New Zealand.

www.pathofexile.com

Here is the "daily deals" for 2013...

Daily Deals/2013

This is a list of the daily deals for 2013.

pathofexile.fandom.com

and their point shop-link for reference: https://www.pathofexile.com/purchase

PoE is of a (semi-)fully F2P game. and imo, thus much more "OK" to have MTX than a bloody 70$ game
(Saying semi, since if you are "hardcore", the chest tabs and some QoL is allegedly almost required)

I actually meant to say it's only had a season pass for about a year, a season pass that no one within the community likes, from my understanding.

It's survived and expanded purely off of microtransactions with no up front cost, paid DLC or paid season passes for over 9 years.

Currently Blizzard says that their microtransactions will be purely cosmetic, but just looking at the QoL limitations in the game right now, such as current stash tabs(4) and lack of gem bag, etc., it's hard to trust it will stay that way, unless the paid DLC is where those QoL improvements will come from, which is just a way to get around their promise of only-cosmetic MTX.

 

[big_glasses]

I actually meant to say it's only had a season pass for about a year, a season pass that no one within the community likes, from my understanding.

It's survived and expanded purely off of microtransactions with no up front cost, paid DLC or paid season passes for over 9 years.

Currently Blizzard says that their microtransactions will be purely cosmetic, but just looking at the QoL limitations in the game right now, such as current stash tabs(4) and lack of gem bag, etc., it's hard to trust it will stay that way, unless the paid DLC is where those QoL improvements will come from, which is just a way to get around their promise of only-cosmetic MTX.

ah right, ye. I have no clue about any season pass there or not. or how well received it is.

I don't trust Blizzard to keep it only-cosmetic. 2 years mzx, and they'll introduce some bought QoL-stuff (like PoE), and a sometime after they'll introduce some kind of booster packs. I bet.
Wouldn't surprise me if they include new classes in season pass (as "early access" to them)