Gamers around the world collectively breathed a sigh of relief earlier this month when Blizzard finally unveiled the first trailer for the long-awaited Diablo 4. For one thing, everybody seemed incredibly thrilled to have confirmation that the game was in development after all these years. I suspect more than a few people were also just happy to see that it wasn't a mobile game.
It's obviously great that Diablo 4 is in development then, but we do need to temper our expectations. The game is still a long way from actually being released after all, and we already have plenty of questions about the game's mechanics, locations, and loot.
It's that that last subject in particular that seems to be the topic fans want to know about the most. Making sure that in-game rewards and items are balanced and... well, actually rewarding seems to be a "top priority" for the Diablo 4 team, you'll be glad to know.
Now that the team has had time to take stock after a BlizzCon that was undeniably an awful lot more successful than last year's effort, Diablo 4 Game Director Luis Barriga has written an update to fans addressing some early questions and concerns. Barriga started by thanking fans, and noting that the team was floored by the overall reception - especially from long-time Diablo players.
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"We were blown away by how often we met people who came back to play the demo again and again," he wrote. "The stories you shared with us about Diablo and what this series means to you moved us and inspire us to do our best."
"We've been taking this week to assess and discuss our takeaways from BlizzCon," he continued, "and we love all the deep discussions happening around the art, features, systems, and world of Diablo 4. We're also excited about a cool update we're planning for you in February of next year. It will be the first in a series of quarterly updates where we'll share behind-the-scenes looks at our progress going forward."
While that's all undoubtedly well and good, Barriga went on to acknowledge that the team knows that "one topic is burning hotter than the rest".
"We want you to know that we are having the same conversations about items and stats that you are having," Barriga explained. "Whether on the official discussion threads or external sites, we read it all!"
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"Getting this right is at the top of our minds, and in the coming weeks our lead systems designer David Kim will provide a few clarifications, share some of his thoughts, and address some of your open questions. We hope you check it out and let us know what you think."
It's certainly fair to describe loot and itemization as a "burning" topic. A detailed post from Blizzard forumite Stonewater offers a deep take on the subject and its importance in Diablo 4.
"Itemization is the most important part of Diablo for me," Stonewater argues. "There's plenty more about Diablo systems that I feel the need to articulate, and items are the core of that foundation."
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"Items are the roots of Diablo, supporting everything in the game. Without a sturdy foundation for us to build our character, the gameplay, the drive to slay monsters, and its longevity suffers."
It's something an awful lot of longtime Diablo fans seem to agree with, so it's reassuring to see that Barriga and his team are taking it seriously and are willing to work with the community to get it right. Diablo 4 is still a long way off, but it's all sounding incredibly positive so far.
Featured Image Credit: Blizzard