Diablo Immortal has long been criticized for its monetization. Now, at least some of it has received reprimands from a regulator. However, players no longer even see a symbolic value in this, the penalty is far too low for that.
What was the problem? Diablo Immortal is a Free2Play game for PC and Mobile that features loot boxes and a shop. Due to the random mechanics, the game did not get approval in 2 EU countries.
Before the release, however, the game had to be evaluated by the Pan European Game Information (“PEGI”), which carries out age ratings throughout Europe. Since 2020 there has been a separate sign for loot boxes and random systems in games.
As the PEGI writes, Blizzard concealed these random systems when testing Diablo Immortal. A verdict has now been made for this.
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by Benedict Grothaus
This is the decision: In the PEGI overview, both Activision Blizzard and Plaion are the culprits. Blizzard is about Diablo Immortal, Plaion is about the limited edition of Hunt: Showdown Bounty Hunter.
Both companies are said to pay €5,000 for failing to declare their systems during the test. Blizzard and Plaion took immediate action to update the marketing material.
The big criticism of Diablo Immortal is the Legendary Gems:
Diablo Immortal: What are Legendary Gems? Facts and locations in 3 minutes
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“There were players who spent more”
The decision caused ridicule in the gaming community. In the gaming subreddit, the corresponding thread is currently one of the most popular with over 4,600 upvotes. The players get upset here about the amount of the penalty.
It is said, for example: For a multi-billion group, 5,000 euros is nothing. These are at most “operating costs”. There are certainly even players in Diablo Immortal who would have spent more money than that on their own.
Even several million are “nothing” for such companies, as the creator adds:
How did we get to the point where such a penalty is just a cost of doing business? 5K is nothing more than a kick-off. Not even that, it’s a shoulder tap. I can’t help but laugh at how little that is.
Nightsahde238 on reddit
Anger is mixed with frustration with the legal system in general and dissatisfaction with current society. But the tone is very clear: hardly anyone finds the punishment appropriate.
The shadow of the forthcoming Diablo 4 is also hanging over the discussion. Here, too, nobody really knows all the contents of the shop and that causes uncertainty among fans:
“Cosmetics are the least toxic monetization for Diablo 4” – fans argue over the most controversial topic