Microtransactions in Diablo 4 have been raising eyebrows among the game's community since its inception. A recent addition to the game's store is reportedly causing further frustration among some gamers.
Currently, Diablo 4 is progressing through its third season, which is accompanied by the limited-time Lunar Awakening event. However, the introduction of this new event has given rise to renewed discussions around a long-standing point of contention.
Communication issues between the game's developer, Blizzard, and the gaming community have led to confusion about which Lunar Awakening cosmetics in Diablo 4 are purchasable. This has prompted players to scrutinize the in-game store more closely, leading to dissatisfaction with what is on offer.
One player, known in the gaming community as u/Mwatki20, has drawn attention to a pack of reskins for Diablo 4's travel portals on an online gaming forum. These were already a point of discussion when they were first announced, but the price tag has left players astounded.
Though u/Mwatki20 identified the Portal pack as a $20 microtransaction, many players pointed out that the actual cost is even higher. 'It's not $20. It's $29.99,' one user clarified, underlining that the inclusion of 1000 in-game currency does not justify charging $30.
Some gamers have expressed extremely negative sentiments regarding this pricing, with one calling it 'insulting.' Another drew comparisons with other games on the market, pointing out how one could purchase one of the most popular games of all time for a similar price.
Besides the cost, Diablo 4 players have expressed concerns about the Portal skins themselves. These skins are class-specific, which means they can only be used with certain characters. This has led to criticism from players who believe cosmetics should be more universally applicable within the game.
One gamer noted, 'I’d have probably bought those if they weren’t class-locked so I could switch between them from time to time. But like this? Nah.' This sentiment was echoed by others, showing overall dissatisfaction with the class-specific nature of these portal skins.
Before the introduction of the pack of reskins, Portal recolors could only be obtained through Diablo 4’s Battle Passes. This shift in availability might further contribute to the frustration experienced by some players.
The store in Diablo 4 has been causing concern among players since before the game's release. There were fears that its existence would negatively affect the overall gaming experience.
Blizzard pledged that there would be no 'pay-to-win' items in the store, a promise they have kept thus far. However, players have continued to take issue with the content available for purchase within the game.
Overall, the implementation of microtransactions in Diablo 4 has created a significant discussion point among the gaming community. As it stands, a significant portion of players believe that the current system could use substantial improvements to meet the expectations of the community.