Blizzard EntertainmentSome Diablo 4 players are showing empathy toward the difficult tightrope Blizzard has to walk with Season 8 and there isn’t an easy answer.
As Season 8 of Diablo 4 comes into view, bringing with it one of the main bad guys from Diablo 3, Blizzard is faced with a difficult decision – and it’s more stark than ever. The developers need to decide what they want Diablo 4 to be going forward, especially now that the game will feature fewer expansions than previously thought.
Essentially, the game needs to strike a balance between two camps, those who enjoy Diablo 4 as it is, enjoying the seasonal reset and viewing the game as primarily as a live service experience, then those who yearn “for the good old days”, and want to see it go back to being about questing while the story drives forward.
When it comes to small matters or larger concerns, Blizzard is often stuck between a rock and a hard place. If they make a change, such as adjusting loot drops, players complain. However, if they do nothing and maintain the status quo, players get frustrated and bored.
Blizzard Entertainment“Damned if they do, damned if they don’t”
Posting to Blizzard’s forums about the delicate balance, one player said, “I believe the biggest problem facing the developers for S8 is that they now find themselves in a no-win situation. If they don’t make significant changes they alienate much of the player base, if they make changes, they alienate the rest of the player base. Whatever happens now, season 8 will be rough on many people – including the Devs I’m afraid.”
Another agreed, but said they think Blizzard needs to make a decision and stick to it, rather than endlessly pivoting to please everyone, saying, “Damned if they do, damned if they don’t. No matter what they do some people will complain about it. They just need to make a decision and run with it, they will never be able to make everyone happy.”
Other players that Blizzard should stop tinkering with difficulty and loot and just focus on making new content with one saying, “Leave everything as it is, and build new things on top.” However, others players felt like Blizzard should continue to listen to player feedback, and if the stopped making changes, the game could never improve.
Finally, one user simply suggested that Diablo 4 accepts its status as a game for two camps of players, and should just cater to both separately, saying, “The answer is quite simple but expensive and labor intensive; Make 2 different modes or servers. Candy Crush Mode and ARPG Mode. Done. Keep your cake and eat it.”
While Diablo 4 tends to favor the live service crowd over those who prefer the classic ARPG experience, it’s clear that the game needs to evolve in future seasons, and that Season 8 will be pivotal to the direction it takes.
