Some Diablo 4 gamers are coming to phrases with affirmation they have to begin a brand new character to play Season 1 content material.
Diablo 4 launched early June, and whereas some followers raced in the direction of the extent cap of 100 (and a few even managed it with a degree 100 Hardcore character), Blizzard itself not too long ago revealed the overwhelming majority of Diablo 4 gamers have but to finish the marketing campaign. And but, the beginning of Season 1 nears. Whereas Blizzard has but to announce its launch date, amid-to-late July window has been confirmed.
This week, Diablo improvement chief Rod Fergusson took to Twitter to substantiate Diablo 4 gamers should create a brand new seasonal character to benefit from the Season 1 content material, together with its battle go.
“To participate within the seasonal questline, mechanics, season journey, and battle go, you will want to create a brand new seasonal character,” Fergusson mentioned. “Enjoying marketing campaign with seasonal character (in case you so need or want to complete) may even progress the season journey and battle go.”
“To participate within the seasonal questline, mechanics, season journey and battle go, you will want to create a brand new seasonal character.”
Whereas that is how seasons labored in earlier Diablo video games (gamers replay the sport with every season’s new content material quite than hitting the bottom operating with a maxed out character), sequence newcomers weren’t essentially within the know. And it ought to be famous Diablo 4 is the primary recreation within the sequence to have a battle go. Consequently, Fergusson’s clarification sparked numerous feedback from involved Diablo 4 gamers who really feel they’re already being left behind just some weeks after the sport got here out.
“I’m a brand new Diablo participant and a brand new dad,” Twitter consumer @putbackthestars mentioned. “I solely have perhaps an hour a day to recreation, if that. So my present character is barely degree 11. You’re saying I ought to mainly not even play this recreation then proper?”
Fergusson replied to this remark, stating that when the Diablo 4 marketing campaign is full, it may be skipped (you solely ever want to finish it as soon as on any character in your account after which you’ll be able to skip it for any character transferring ahead).
“No, it is best to positively play,” Fergusson replied. “The brand new season mechanics/options come after the marketing campaign is full so it is best to give attention to finishing it now so you’ll be able to simply skip it when the season begins because you solely ever want to finish the marketing campaign as soon as.”
But it surely’s the affirmation that present characters can’t be used for Season 1 content material, and the prospect of grinding a brand new seasonal character simply to participate, that’s obtained so many Diablo 4 gamers fearful.
“Gotta be sincere, as a brand new participant, I don’t see myself grinding like this once more,” mentioned Twitter consumer @chapmamba_. “If I’ve to begin from scratch for Season 1 I’m doubtless carried out maining Diablo. And I do know there’s a ton of individuals in the identical boat. I care about my present character. I’d simply say f**ok it if I misplaced him.”
It’s price stating present characters aren’t “misplaced” with the launch of Season 1. Slightly, they’re moved to the Everlasting Realm, a model of Diablo 4 with out content material from the most recent season.
Blizzard might face a communication situation when Season 1 launches, as Twitter consumer @miketheitguy identified: “Most people do not know that is going to occur. Once they get to the battle go and discover out, they’re going to know fairly shortly how dangerous of an thought that is and hopefully have a fast method out of it that may be applied inside a few weeks. In any other case RIP Diablo 4.”
Fergusson continued to reply questions from fearful Diablo 4 gamers on Twitter, addressing the difficulty of what occurs when Season 1 ends.
“You are capable of hold taking part in within the Everlasting Realm, similar to you might be at present, in case you do not wish to take part in seasonal actions,” Fergusson mentioned. “And when a season ends, your seasonal character will transfer to the Everlasting Realm so you’ll be able to hold taking part in it there if you’d like.”
Diablo 4 seasons final three months, which suggests Season 1 ought to take gamers as much as mid-October. Fergusson mentioned the three month time interval was set “to provide folks time to take pleasure in taking part in the content material”.
Diablo 4’s endgame grind kicks off correctly after the marketing campaign is full. As is typical with role-playing video games of this sort, the quantity of expertise you might want to degree up will increase as you’re employed your method in the direction of the extent cap. This implies it takes for much longer to degree up from, say, 80 to 100 than it does from zero to 50.
Subsequent month, Diablo 4 gamers will face a alternative: ignore Season 1 and proceed with their present character, no matter degree they’re at within the Everlasting Realm, or create a model new seasonal character and grind up by way of the degrees as soon as once more.
This strikes on the coronary heart of the attraction of Diablo 4: is it in specializing in only one character, slowly enhancing its energy by way of farming loot? Or is it in leveling up a number of characters, every completely different than the final? Or maybe it is a mixture of each?
In IGN’s 9/10 evaluate we described Diablo 4 as “a shocking sequel with close to good endgame and development design that makes it completely excruciating to place down”. Remember to use our interactive map to maintain observe of your progress as you play.
Wesley is the UK Information Editor for IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
