Blizzard has made clear that Diablo IV will not include lootboxes and, like Overwatch before it, will instead offer Battle Passes and cosmetics through an in-game store.
Announced during its latest development update, Blizzard confirmed Diablo IV will be a full-price game and, while players can spend money if they want to, “you will not be able to pay for power”.
Post-launch content will instead be structured around Seasons that will rotate every three months, with each new season feeling like a fresh start for players. The Season Journey model from Diablo III will return, a free progression system that lets players earn rewards by completing challenges, and Blizzard will also offer a more traditional seasonal battle pass too.
Branded as the Season Pass (despite Blizzard calling it “battle pass-style progression), this progression system will let players earn cosmetics and premium currency, with “free tiers and premium tiers” available. Blizzard hasn’t shared prices of its Season Pass or how many tiers will be available to purchase.
The in-game shop will offer a variety of different customisation items but “the best looking cosmetics aren’t exclusive to the shop,” the update said. Diablo IV’s fanciest armor will be item drops that players can earn through playing the game instead of just buying. Again, Blizzard made clear that “nothing offered in the shop grants a direct or indirect gameplay advantage”.
It’s likely hitting this message following the controversy around Diablo: Immortal, its free-to-play mobile game that only offers its best loot to players who spend lots and lots of money. Blizzard has gone the opposite direction with Diablo IV, however, as it did with Overwatch, recently announcing that it too will scrap lootboxes in favor of a battle pass and store.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.