Diablo 4 players are already losing it over microtransactions

Diablo 4 players are already losing it over microtransactions
Images via Blizzard

Written by 

Joseph Kime

Published 

31st May 2023 17:05

Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo 4 intends to mark the start of a new era for the long-standing hacking, slashing, loot-em-up classic series, and it certainly looks to live up to the hype.

Reviews for the return to form are blisteringly good, and as the game gets nearer to its June 6 release, we find ourselves more and more excited to be dragged all the way back to hell. But, of course, there are concerns.

The Diablo series has a habit of introducing microtransactions that fans deem pretty preying, and with Diablo Immortal pushing this to new heights, there are worries that Diablo 4 will follow suit. For many, these worries have been confirmed.

Diablo 4 fans are already upset by microtransactions

Diablo 4 players are already losing it over microtransactions
Click to enlarge
Reddit - Uberkull

Naturally, Diablo 4 contains microtransactions just like its predecessors. The Immortal scandal highlighted this more than most, but as we get ready for Diablo 4, players get a real look at how exactly the shop functions. Unsurprisingly, they're a little concerned that some cosmetic sets are overly expensive.

A new post in the Diablo subreddit has revealed a look at the new Wraith Lord cosmetic set, with the original poster expressing their concerns with its price. It comes to 2,800 in-game coins, which amounts to roughly $28 of real money. Blimey. "Ok with cosmetic cash shop, but $28 for one set?!" says the post.

With this cosmetic seemingly like just the tip of a monetary iceberg, other fans have been quick to take the OPs side and sharpen their pitchforks in Blizzard's direction. 

Fans react to $28 cosmetics in Diablo IV

Diablo 4 players are already losing it over microtransactions
Click to enlarge
Blizzard

The Reddit post comments are filled with disdain for such expensive cosmetics, suggesting that some could completely boycott Diablo 4's in-game shop as a result. "Yeah ill never buy anything tbh other than new expansions," reads the top comment.

"That's half the price of a AAA game for a single skin. Like... f**k off," reads another. "The sad part is that there will be whales buying this shit and encouraging Activision Blizz's predatory behavior."

A third fumed, "I'm pretty loose with my wallet tbh, but I could never imagine paying more than like $10-12 for something like this, and even THAT would be a rare occasion for me."

You don't have to like Diablo's money-making tactics, but it looks like they're here and they're here to stay. As long as people shell out for skins like this, we sadly won't be free of practices like this. Diablo 4 may have learned from many of its mistakes, but this one isn't budging.

Joseph Kime is the Senior Trending News Journalist for GGRecon from Devon, UK. Before graduating from MarJon University with a degree in Journalism, he started writing music reviews for his own website before writing for the likes of FANDOM, Zavvi and The Digital Fix. He is host of the Big Screen Book Club podcast, and author of Building A Universe, a book that chronicles the history of superhero movies. His favourite games include DOOM (2016), Celeste and Pokemon Emerald.

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