Diablo Immortal is currently being torn apart by critics. But MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus enjoys it. Even more: he wishes that Diablo 4 takes the mobile game as a model and is sure that this is a good idea.
I often hold opinions that you don’t like. I already thought Fallout 76 was great when everyone was hacking away at it. And I was right. Fallout 76 has proven to be a solid game, with years of support and a fan base of thousands of players.
I also enjoy Diablo Immortal, although, or maybe because, I can’t play 8 hours a day.
The game does a lot of things right, even if the biggest criticism is also justified in my opinion. The gameplay and content of Diablo Immortal is simply well done and it’s everything I hoped for from a gameplay point of view.
When Diablo 4 was surprisingly announced at the Xbox Showcase with new trailers and a beta test, many of the images immediately made me think of Immortal. The images are the first gameplay since the mobile game came out.
A lot can be compared and I think that’s a good thing. Even if important sides like Maxroll turn away from Immortal, I now take the opinion: If Diablo 4 becomes like Diablo Immortal, then it will be the best Diablo so far.
As a reminder, here is the latest Diablo 4 gameplay:
Diablo 4 reveals release timeline and new gameplay – Shows character editor and open world in trailer
Immortal is the Diablo MMO everyone wanted
Anyone who plays Diablo Immortal and doesn’t just blindly parrot the criticism from YouTubers and streamers will see exactly what everyone has been asking for in the mobile MMO for years. You can play Diablo, but with thousands of players at the same time.
The only drawback are the legendary gems. These are the big Pay2Win factor of Diablo Immortal. You can get Legendary Gems for free, but it takes forever. You can see more about this in the video here:
Diablo Immortal: What are Legendary Gems? Facts and locations in 3 minutes
Apart from these, the grind in Immortal is really well solved. There are enough rewards that you can get, at least as casual, before reaching the loot limits.
If you don’t gamble all day like an absolute lunatic, you won’t burn out after four weeks.
There are even comparisons to Diablo 2, which is considered the pinnacle among hardcore fans of the series. However, some players agree: Diablo Immortal is better than Diablo 2 in some respects. And that’s exactly what Diablo 4 is supposed to build on.
However, what Diablo 4 definitely shouldn’t adopt is monetization. Even I, as a defender of Diablo Immortal, demonize the possibility of becoming so much stronger for sometimes absurd prices. Leya and Schuhmann explain more about this in the podcast:
Diablo 4 can already learn from Diablo Immortal
From the information available so far, some of the content in Immortal is even more of an MMO than what Diablo 4 will aspire to be. The dungeons are specifically meant here.
Diablo Immortal has several real instances that are always built the same way with the same bosses and a fixed loot table. Certain set parts are in certain dungeons – like in an MMORPG.
Diablo 4 apparently takes a step back here. They want 150 dungeons, which is absolute nonsense. Sure there are 150 dungeon entrances, but most likely they are procedurally generated dungeons with a specific theme.
The game might still surprise me, but… real dungeons like in Immortal are just an asset to Diablo. It would be even better if both came in the form of random rifts and fixed dungeons.
By the way, the classes of Diablo 4 already look very nice. Last introduced was the Necromancer, the last release class:
Diablo 4 Reveals Final Release Class In Trailer – See The Necromancer Here
Diablo 4’s campaign length is already looking pretty good. One of the few things that might even be better here. I would still like features like the class change from Immortal, just so I don’t have to grind the campaign several times.
What we already know about the upcoming game can be found in our Diablo 4 hub with classes, release and beta.
Player interaction without Pay2Win can only get better
Diablo 4 should encourage player interaction the way Immortal does. Groups are necessary for a lot of content, sometimes even entire clans. Every week it’s about who dominates the server and guilds have to work together to achieve this.
With the factions of Immortal, there is a dynamic system through which players are meant to play with one another. The grind later also requires groups
I see Diablo Immortal as a kind of beta for Diablo 4. MMO features that are currently playable in Immortal should be tested and perfected. If they are what you want them to be, they come into Diablo 4.
Of course, I’m not blind and I see that the pain threshold for monetization is apparently being re-explored with Immortal. Diablo 4 also has a cash shop, but there shouldn’t be any equipment or the like for sale.
Blizzard employees point out: Diablo 4 will not be monetized like Immortal
So I don’t want Diablo 4 to be exactly like Diablo Immortal. Otherwise I could just keep gambling. But if the Pay2Win factor is removed, nobody can simply “buy it hard” – then all other features can safely be taken over.
A few things still need polishing, but Diablo 4 won’t be out until 2023 anyway. Plenty of time to test out what still needs polishing with Immortal. And now please: tear me apart in the comments! Or, like other players, scoff at unsuccessful whales:
Diablo Immortal: Players mock Wal who spent over €32,000 and still fails