Before Diablo 4 came out, Blizzard had concerns that their latest ARPG would tank the popularity of their most recent entry in the series, Diablo Immortal, Blizzard's franchise general manager Rod Fergusson tells RPS. Immortal, which launched last year as a free-to-play MMO game, left quite a bad taste in our mouths when it launched on PC, especially when it came to the prohibitively high cost of its various microtransactions. Despite this, though, the game's continued to enjoy great success over on mobile, but even Blizzard weren't sure whether its popularity would last once Diablo 4 arrived.
"One of the things that we were kind of nervous about initially was that when Diablo 4 landed it would sort of cannibalise Immortal, and that everyone was just going to be, 'Oh we're just playing Immortal until Diablo 4 comes out'," Fergusson told me at Gamescom. As it turns out, they needn't have been so apprehensive. "In fact, it was the opposite," he says.
]]>Starting today, you can play as Diablo’s first new class in almost ten years. The Blood Knights are a group of spear-wielding warriors who survived vampire bites and were saved just before the curse fully took over. Sounds badass but the new class is only available in Diablo Immortal, meaning demon-slayers will need to give Diablo 4 a break to play with the fresh bloodsuckers.
]]>Blizzard have confirmed they’re delaying the launch of gem-wrangling time sink Diablo Immortal in the Asia Pacific region until July 7th, so they can complete “optimization”. The delay was originally announced on Sunday by the game’s regional publisher in China, NetEase, and was picked up on by industry analyst Daniel Ahmad on Twitter. The decision to delay came a few days after Chinese microblogging site Sina Weibo banned the Diablo Immortal account due to unspecified "violation of related laws and regulations".
]]>Want to know the best Diablo Immortal Monk builds? Monk may not quite top our Diablo Immortal classes tier list, but it is still the best utility class in Diablo Immortal. The class has fantastic mobility and crowd control along with a number of shields and party buffs that help you and your allies tear through dungeons.
Monk needs a little bit of gear to really shine, but once you get going it is a delight to play. Learn everything you need to do just that with this guide to the gear, skills, attributes, and gems needed for the best Diablo Immortal Monk builds for PvE and PvP. We'll also explain how to spend your Paragon points for those playing through endgame activities.
]]>Ever since Diablo Immortal launched amid a storm of controversy last week, people have been trying to work out how much it really costs to play this theoretically free game. I'll be honest that maths has never been my strongest suit, but figuring out how games work under-the-hood is one of my favourite things to do. So I've spent most of this week chasing answers, and I've come up with a ballpark estimate of what it would cost to max out your character. The answer is: £46,000, or $51,000, to fully equip your character with the best gear as quickly as possible using premium currencies.
]]>What is the real cost of Diablo Immortal, and is it in fact pay-to-win? Diablo Immortal is already infamous for its microtransaction monetisation model, which many players have pointed out are effectively loot boxes under a not-even-that-different name. You might have seen reports going around that it costs somewhere in the region of £88,000 / $110,000 to fully upgrade a character (and that an F2P player would need to grind for ten years to earn the same upgrade materials for free). This, coupled with the ongoing investigations into allegations of serious misconduct at publisher/developer studio Blizzard Entertainment, has quite understandably been enough to put many players off the game entirely.
However, it's clear that a lot of people are still playing Diablo Immortal, which, despite the various controversies surrounding its release, has become one of the most popular new games this June. And I can understand it. Finances are tight for a lot of people right now, and an F2P game that runs well on mobile devices and relatively low-end PCs can feel like a lifeline to gamers who can't currently afford to put a lot of money into their hobby. The fact that it's attached to an existing big-name franchise presumably helps boost that feeling of participation a lot too, which a cynic might say is the point.
]]>Looking for the best Wizard build in Diablo Immortal? The Wizard is a bit of a glass cannon but packs the highest AoE damage in Diablo Immortal. If you want to blast through monster packs as fast as possible, the Wizard is the best class for you. That damage helps the Wizard fit into dungeon-delving groups across all difficulties.
The class can be a little tricky to play, but we’ll help you get started with this guide to the attributes, skills, gear, and gems needed for the best Diablo Immortal Wizard build. We'll also explain how to spend your Paragon points when you reach max level.
]]>Want to start legendary farming in Diablo Immortal? Legendary Gear is crucial if you want to survive on the highest difficulties in Diablo Immortal, but it's also exceedingly rare. Legendary Gear is available in six slots for your build: head, chest, shoulders, legs, main-hand, and off-hand. Each piece of Legendary Gear you equip will offer a few increased attribute scores, a random magic effect, and a unique legendary effect. The unique legendary effect usually alters or improves one of your class abilities, meaning you will want to find Legendary Gear that synergises well with your current skills and abilities.
In this guide, we'll explain how to get Legendary Gear and how to start legendary farming in Diablo Immortal. We'll also cover how to upgrade and alter Legendary Gear, so that you can make sure you always have the best possible gear equipped. Finally, we'll also break down Set Gear items and where to find them, as they're much easier to track and equally important for your build.
]]>Looking for the best Diablo Immortal Crusader build? The Crusader can fill both the Tank and Support role in Diablo Immortal, slaying demons on the frontlines while using skills to buff themselves and allies. This versatility makes the Crusader an obvious pick for new players, but that doesn't make it all-powerful from the start. If you want to survive in the most dangerous situations in your fight against Diablo, you'll need to know how to make the best Diablo Immortal Crusader build.
In this guide, we'll break down the best Diablo Immortal Crusader build, including the attributes, skills, gear, and gems that you should use. We'll also cover how to spend your Paragon points at the end, for those engaging in endgame activities.
]]>Inside ActivisionBlizzard there are two wolves. Possibly dire wolves, or some other species of fantastical monster with surplus vowels in the name. Dreade Froste Beaste Wolfe. Anyway, one of them is made of decent people, developers who are fighting for better working conditions and making the best games they can under the circumstances. The other is Blizzard the organisation, a management structure seemingly incapable of making anything other than the worst decision possible in any given situation. So really, it's actually more like one wolf, and one flapping headless chicken (the chicken having also received a lot of allegations of harrassment and discrimination, and a lawsuit from the state of California).
Diablo Immortal, which is currently on open beta for PC and out properly for mobile (both for free), was largely made by the wolf, and it's all right to play! However, I don't know why the chicken wanted to put it on PC in its current monetised form, apart from the fact it's a bad decision and we've already established those are the only kind of decisions the chicken can make.
]]>Looking for the best Diablo Immortal Barbarian build? While the Demon Hunter strikes from a distance, the Barbarian gets up, close and personal with the demon hordes in Diablo Immortal. If you're looking for a melee master that can effortlessly cut through every boss, the Barbarian is an obvious pick. However, creating an unstoppable Barbarian build isn't an easy feat, as Diablo Immortal comes with its fair share of tricky terminology that can prove overwhelming. Fortunately, we've cut through the chaos and found what matters most when making the best Diablo Immortal Barbarian build.
In this guide, we'll break down the best Diablo Immortal Barbarian build, including the attributes, skills, gear, and gems that you should use. We'll also explain how to spend your Paragon points upon reaching level 60.
]]>Diablo Immortal is being pilloried by players for the price of its microtransactions, and for how closely tied your progress is to spending real money. One player on the game's Reddit page has suggested that it would cost between $50k-$80k (around £39k-£64k) to fully max out a character in the free-to-play action RPG. Meanwhile, the game's director has been responding to feedback on Twitter in an attempt to address those "not liking a game based on misinformation surrounding it."
]]>Looking for the best Diablo Immortal Demon Hunter build? As the name might suggest, the Demon Hunter is one of the best classes in Diablo Immortal. The Demon Hunter is well-equipped to slaughter demon hordes with ease, with its fantastic DPS capabilities making it outshine most other classes. However, you'll still struggle on the highest Hell difficulties, which you'll need to play if you want to get the best gear. To stay alive against even the toughest foes in Diablo Immortal, you'll want to have the best Demon Hunter build.
In this guide, we'll break down the best Diablo Immortal Demon Hunter build, including the attributes, skills, gear, and gems that you should use. We'll also explain how to spend your Paragon points after you reach level 60.
]]>Want to know the best Diablo Immortal Necromancer build? The Necromancer is a brilliant pick for Diablo beginners and veterans alike, as it is the best class in Diablo Immortal. Its ability to summon a group of minions to soak up damage means you can avoid taking fatal hits, leaving you free to cast extra spells from a distance without risk. They might not be as chaotic as the Barbarian or as supportive as the Crusader, but the Necromancer is able to avoid harm while inflicting huge damage on enemies. What more could you want while fighting back against the legions of hell?
That doesn't make the Necromancer an easy class to pick up and play, though. To wield its immense strength with ease, you'll need to know the best attributes, skills, gear, and gems for the Necromancer. You'll also want to know how to spend your Paragon points, which you will earn after reaching level 60. Fortunately, we've got all of that below with our best Diablo Immortal Necromancer build.
]]>There have been more auspicious PC game launches than that of Diablo Immortal. Originally revealed to a booing crowd as a mobile-only, MMO-styled take on the APRG series, its later-announced Windows release has revealed the full extent of a F2P monetisation system that ties immensely powerful Legendary Gem upgrades to costly loot boxes. Not a great look, especially coming from a company facing multiple lawsuits, staff walkouts and sexual harassment allegations.
Strictly speaking, the PC version of Diablo Immortal is in open beta, with only the mobile version launching as the finished article. The good news is that this leaves more room for the technical issues and oversights I’ve encountered to be fixed; the bad news is that they exist in the first place, and range from absent PC settings staples to repeating performance hiccups.
]]>Trying to figure out how to change the difficulty in Diablo Immortal? Despite the shift to an MMO-like structure, Diablo Immortal carries over some aspects of the difficulty level system from previous Diablo titles. However, you can’t change the difficulty in Diablo Immortal straight away. Once you do, it is important to understand which difficulty is right for your Paragon level, and how you can benefit from ratcheting it up. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Hell levels in Diablo Immortal.
]]>Looking for help with Rifts and Legendary Crests in Diablo Immortal? Rifts return from Diablo 3 in Diablo Immortal and serve as the primary source of some of the game’s most valuable items.
There are two types of Rifts: Elder Rifts can reward Legendary Gems and will be one of the most important bits of content to farm in Diablo Immortal. However, you’ll need the right Crests to get the best rewards. Challenge Rifts also come with significant rewards, plus leaderboards to show off your progress. Learn the difference between the two Rifts and where to get more Rare and Legendary Crests for your Elder Rifts with this guide.
]]>Want to know how to get Legendary Gems in Diablo Immortal? In Diablo Immortal, each piece of gear has a gem slot. Standard Diablo Immortal gems can slot into your gear set items, such as rings and belts. Legendary Gems can slot into your Legendary Gear and offer much greater bonuses. Legendary Gems offer boosts to your Resonance and Combat Rating, while also providing new abilities and effects. you want to climb the leaderboards, you'll need to know the Legendary Gems that will synergise well with your skills. However, obtaining Legendary Gems in Diablo Immortal isn't easy, as they're incredibly rare.
In this guide, we'll explain how to get Legendary Gems in Diablo Immortal and help you understand the complex and technical gem jargon. We'll also break down how to craft, upgrade, buy, and sell Legendary Gems, along with a list of the best Legendary Gems in Diablo Immortal. At the bottom of this page, you'll also find a full list of every Legendary Gem in Diablo Immortal.
]]>Want to know the best class in Diablo Immortal? Diablo Immortal has six classes, and they're all viable for fighting back the hordes of hell. However, those aiming for top leaderboards spot and higher efficiency when slaying demons will want to know the best class in Diablo Immortal.
In this guide, we provide a full Diablo Immortal class tier list to show you the best class in Diablo Immortal. If you want to experiment with the different classes on your character, we'll also explain how to change class.
]]>Looking for tips to level up faster in Diablo Immortal? Diablo Immortal is up and running now on mobile and PC, and we’re diving into Sanctuary to help you prepare for Hell. Diablo Immortal features a campaign in the vein of Diablo 3 that will guide players up to the max level of 60. However, the bulk of the game’s content is in the MMO-like endgame and clan versus clan competition. If you’re looking to speed through the story to hit level 60 and dive into rifts, raids, and other endgame content, this guide is here to help.
]]>Trying to figure out how to create or join a Clan in Diablo Immortal? Clans are Diablo Immortal's equivalent to a World of Warcraft Guild and will be instantly familiar to MMO veterans. They are particularly important in Diablo Immortal's endgame, and form the basis of intraserver leaderboard competition. If you want to get involved in the highest-end content the game has to offer, you will need to be part of a Clan. This guide will walk you through the process of creating or joining a Clan, plus some of the exclusive activities available to Clan members.
]]>Trying to figure out how to play with friends in Diablo Immortal? Diablo Immortal is out early on mobile and will release on PC on June 2. The game’s campaign features everything you’d expect from a Diablo game, including the ability to group up and play with friends. However, things work a bit differently than in past titles due to Diablo Immortal’s MMO features. Get everything you need to group up with this guide.
]]>Want to know the Diablo Immortal release time? After years of waiting since the controversial reveal at BlizzCon 2018, Diablo Immortal is almost here. This new entry in the Diablo franchise is coming to mobile and PC devices this week, set to launch on either Thursday or Friday depending on your timezone.
In this guide, we'll break down the exact Diablo Immortal release time for your region and also explain how to pre-load Diablo Immortal in advance. If you're worried about storage, we'll also explain how much space you'll need on your PC and mobile devices.
]]>Devilish MMOARPG Diablo Immortal is set to launch later this week - but not everywhere. Players in Belgium and the Netherlands won't get a release, likely because the game's microtransactions clash with their gambling laws.
]]>Blizzard Entertainment and NetEast Games have announced that the upcoming devilish MMOARPG Diablo Immortal is available for pre-load on PC today. As in, right now. It won't launch in full until next June 2nd, but Blizzard have provided a handy ‘roadmap’ for accessing the game here. Scurry forth ye demons.
]]>When is the Diablo Immortal release date? Diablo Immortal, the upcoming MMO-ARPG from NetEase and Blizzard, is almost here. Diablo Immortal is the first new Diablo experience since Diablo 3 launched over a decade ago, but fans can jump back into hell this week. However, Diablo Immortal is set to mix things up as it will bring the Diablo experience to mobile for the first time, alongside the recently announced PC version. Whether you're a newcomer to the Diablo franchise eager to get your hands on a mobile version, or a Diablo veteran cautious about this shift to mobile, we've got all of the information that you need before it releases next week.
Below, we'll explain everything we know so far about Diablo Immortal, including the release date, platforms, trailers, information on the gameplay, which classes you can choose, and how it fits into the Diablo universe.
]]>Back in 2018, Blizzard teased that they'd be announcing something related to Diablo at Blizzcon but that it would not be "what many of you are hoping for". Sure enough, it wasn't Diablo 4 , but a mobile game called Diablo Immortal. Blizzard's warnings didn't stop the developers from being booed on stage at Blizzcon, which seemed harsh.
Now that Diablo 4 has been announced (in 2019) and we've seen all the ways it's catering to fans of classic Diablo 2, perhaps the world is ready for Immortals. If that's so, then good news: it's now also coming to PC, with a free-to-play open beta on June 2nd.
]]>Rod Fergusson has worked on every Gears Of War game over the last 15 years, from starting the original Gears Of War with Epic, to helping establish The Coalition studio to work on the rest of the series. But now he's heading to pastures new, joining Blizzard to oversee all things Diablo.
"Leaving is bittersweet as I love our Gears family, the fans, and everyone at The Coalition and Xbox," he tweeted. "Thank you, it has been an honor and a privilege to work with you all."
]]>There's still a little oil left to be thrown onto the burning inferno of Diablo Immortal hot takes. According to Kotaku's sources - "two people familiar with Blizzard's plans" - there were plans to quietly announce Diablo 4 at the show, but the studio opted not to as there wasn't much to show so soon into production. For whatever reason, Blizzard decided to run purely with the NetEase co-developed mobile spinoff Diablo Immortal, which I think looks decent, but judging by the internet's general response is now apparently the worst thing since sliced plague.
Update: Kotaku have clarified that while a video announcing a new Diablo video was produced, Blizzard deny that they planned to show it at BlizzCon.
]]>Blizzard have repeated that they have multiple teams work on multiple Diablo things, keeping hope alive for Diablo 4, following Friday's announcement of unexciting mobile game Diablo Immortal. Blizzard had warned beforehand that they weren't ready to talk about all their Diablo projects and that BlizzCon's Diablo news would not be "what many of you are hoping for", and indeed it was not. I don't want to play a Diablo mobile game so I simply shan't play Diablo Immortal, though going by some people's reactions I might have missed Blizzard vowing to kick my dad's teeth out and force-feed me them if I don't play it for five hours every day. I hope they won't do that.
]]>Ahead of BlizzCon, Blizzard had hinted that they were announcing something Diablo-related but clarified it would not be "what many of you are hoping for". Yeah, but they would say it wasn't Diablo 4 even if it was going to be Diablo 4, wouldn't they? Reader, it was not Diablo 4. Blizzard last night announced Diablo Immortal, a new entry in the action-RPG series... for pocket telephones. Hey, they did make clear it wouldn't be what you wanted.
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