Just days after the announcement of the highly-anticipated Diablo 4, developers have made an unfortunate blunder when they announced that the game would double down on a decision made in the recently released Hogwarts Legacy. The decision in question is to make the game’s main story and content dependent on the player’s chosen class, making co-op and multi-player elements next to impossible.
Players of Hogwarts Legacy were extremely frustrated when this decision was first announced. It means that character-specific story elements, dialogue, and events will be exclusive to the player’s chosen class. This eliminates the ability to join in online co-op sessions with friends, as each player will have to work through entirely separate story content. Designer’s of the game argue that it deepens the player’s experience and offers a unique perspective on the story for each class. Critics disagree, saying that developers are more interested in padding the game with extra content than focusing on providing an enjoyable experience.
Months later, Diablo 4 has announced that they too will be making the same mistake. While Blizzard Entertainment has yet to reveal the full details of the game’s story, they have confirmed that it will also feature content dependent on class. This same commitment to story elements was credited for the success of Hogwarts Legacy, but it’s proving to be a major frustration for many. Players have already accused the developer of copying and pasting mechanics from the failed game, instead of investing into content that will actually provide an enjoyable, communal experience for their players.
Whether Diablo 4 will be able to make up for this decision with a stellar design and replay value remains to be seen. Fans of the series are hoping Blizzard Entertainment will prove them wrong and deliver an experience that evokes the same excitement of previous games in the series. Only time will tell, but for now, players must struggle with yet another copy-paste mechanic from a failed game.
