Diablo: Immortal players are angry with the proliferation of microtransactions in Blizzard’s latest action RPGs.
Launched on June 2nd, the free game brings a relatively complete Diablo experience to mobile (and now Early Access PCs), albeit with some simplified systems. However, as is common in free games, in-game purchases are often optional, and Diablo: Immortal’s best loot seems to be quite difficult to get without spending a fortune. Still, there is no guarantee.
Players are using Reddit and Twitter to express their concerns, and Legendary Gems is at the heart of the microtransaction controversy. These are powerful upgrades in nature, ranked 1 to 5 stars, and players unlock by completing the Elderlift Dungeon with the Legendary Crest modifier added. The highest rated Legendary Gem can only be found by breaking and opening the Legendary Crest.
The problem is that unless the player spends money, only 3 Legendary Crests are available each month, basically acting like a randomized root box.according to ForbesPlayers have only a 0.05% chance of getting a 5 star gem for each Legendary Crest used.
Wait a minute, do I understand this correctly for immortality?
Rank 10 of a legendary gem to further increase the power of that gem and its items to the next level (awakening). Do you need a mat for this level that literally costs $ 15 and can only be reached from the store?
Blue tells me this is wrong
— Ted Bacinschi (@Slootbag) June 5, 2022
The most efficient way to get a legendary gem is also very expensive. You’ll have to spend $ 100 on the game’s premium currency (which you can’t earn except by spending cash). This will give players 45 Legendary Crests. One is about $ 2.20. There seems to be a failsafe feature that guarantees one legendary gem when a player purchases 50 Legendary Crests, Twitch Streamer Quin69 spent nearly $ 3,000 without seeing any five-star Gem...
Other microtransactions are also embedded in the endgame content. For example, a $ 15 purchase is (currently) the only way to unlock legendary gems to their full potential and is known as the Awakening Level.
Players do not have to spend most of the game to enjoy (although repeatedly requested). However, is it expensive to maximize the character in the endgame? Many Thanks to time and luck, many people have branded the game as “pay to win” since a certain point in time.
As pointed out in the ongoing IGN review, the early hours of the game seem to be playable with consistent and active progress. However, players have reported that they hit a wall near level 35 and need to be further crushed to reach maximum level 60. Then, in order to get the best possible gear (Diablo player’s general endgame goal), the pressure of microtransactions seems to really kick in.
Blizzard has not yet publicly responded to community backlash, but has contacted the company for comment.
Diablo: In Belgium and the Netherlands, loot boxes are considered gambling and were discontinued a few days before their launch date. This idea was endorsed by the Norwegian Consumer Council. Last week, the Norwegian Consumer Council released a report endorsed by consumer councils in 18 countries that called loot boxes operational and exploitative.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer and sometimes remembers tweeting @thelastdinsdale. He talks about The Witcher all day long.
