As a service game with microtransactions, Diablo 4 always sparks Pay2Win concerns. We answer all the pressing questions on the subject here.
Diablo 4 is finally scheduled for release in June 2023. The action RPG already makes a pretty good impression in a preview version, but concerns remain in the community. Especially the rampant monetization of the mobile offshoot Diablo Immortal is hard to forget, which is why some fear similar things for Diablo 4.
While the next Diablo will be a full-price title, it will rely on a service model and include in-game purchases. What you can buy for real money and why there are no signs of Pay2Win so far, we clarify here:
- Is there a shop in Diablo 4?
- What is sold in the shop?
- What are the benefits of the Battle Pass?
- Is Diablo 4 Pay2Win?
Table of Contents
The most important questions about shop and ingame purchases explained
Is there a shop in Diablo 4?
Yes. Diablo 4 sees itself as a live service game that wants to regularly release new content for free such as gameplay features, live events and additional story chapters, but also lets you spend real money in an in-game shop via a premium currency. The shop was introduced in a blog post a few months ago.
What is sold in the shop?
According to the current status, only purely cosmetic items will be available for purchase in the shop. To be more precise, it”s about transmogs, i.e. skins for weapons and equipment found while playing. Before buying, you should be able to take a close look at all the items included in bundles. It also means that these armours don”t always look cooler than the ones you might pick up in the game.
You shall also not be able to directly or indirectly accelerate your progress in the game or gain gameplay advantages from items in the shop. It is not yet known how much the items from the shop and the Battle Pass will cost.
What are the advantages of the Battle Pass?
In addition to individual items, you will also be able to purchase a paid Battle Pass every season, i.e. every 3 months, as a supplement to a free variant. Unlike the free Battle Pass, you will receive additional cosmetic items, but no gameplay benefits such as experience point boosts. The latter are only included in the free Battle Pass. You can earn the following rewards through the Battle Pass:
- Cosmetic Items (new looks for armour and weapons)
- Premium currency for the shop (in the free and paid pass)
- Experience Booster (only in the free pass)
In addition, although it is possible to skip Battle Pass levels in exchange for premium currency, you will not be able to unlock Season or Experience Boosts in this way: These require additional level milestones, which you can only get by playing the game.
What does it cost?
If you opt for the paid Battle Pass, you”re expected to pay $10 for it. An exact Euro price is not yet known, but should also be in the range of 10 Euros.
Is Diablo 4 Pay2Win?
According to the current information on microtransactions and the ingame shop, these cannot be called Pay2Win, as you cannot acquire any gameplay advantages for money. Of course, it is still possible that something will change before or after the release. With Diablo Immortal, too, there was originally talk that there would be no gameplay advantages in the shop. The reality then looked different, as there were no items to buy, but powerful crests for better rewards.
What else is there to know about Diablo 4?
If you”re more interested in the straight facts, we”ll tell you about the new boss villain Lilith, clear up any questions about multiplayer, and show you how the five classes work?
What do you think of Diablo 4”s monetisation model? Do you find the implementation of the shop fairly solved, or would you rather have neither microtransactions nor season content? Feel free to write your opinion in the comments!
