The Campfire Chat on March 20th was hailed as the most extensive in Diablo 4’s history, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive thus far. This time next week, PureDiablo will have a review of some of the feedback from the Diablo community following this groundbreaking event. However, before thousands of players put their pedals to the metal tomorrow morning, let’s take just a few minutes to add a bit more perspective to what I hope is the “real” reason why most of us are doing this.
Blessed Blizzard, Save Us!
The most pertinent issue that probably should be addressed first is the matter of “saving” the game. Just prior to the recent Campfire Chat Livestream, many of our beloved Diablo Content Creators, who we’ve come to know so well, published their “Will Diablo 4 be Doomed or Saved?” videos, as usual.
What Are You Looking at Me For?
Of course, those same Content Creators already knew what their answers were going to be in their follow-up videos, because they all got an exclusive preview of the Campfire Chat talking points a few days before it livestreamed, as is customary. It’s like when the POTUS gives a State of the Union address, and the response from the opposition party has already been written well beforehand. But hey, why not bang out two videos for the same update by pretending you don’t know anything when you produce the first one, right?
What Is The Matrix?
The main point here, though, is that this roller coaster ride we’ve been on since before launch got old really fast, and it has also weighed heavily, and perhaps unfairly, on the Devs. “Yeah, well, that’s just too bad for them,” you say? In that case, let me propose a somewhat different perspective, which is that the whole roller coaster thing has been largely fabricated by the marketplace, it is not, by any means, unique to Diablo 4, and it is also counterproductive for the health of the game itself.
The reporting done by many Content Creators and Gaming Journalists follows a cyclical pattern that is both quite apparent and obviously well-coordinated. As I have stated in some of my previous articles, their goal is to keep viewers and readers hooked either way by shifting back and forth from praise to criticism depending on what direction the forum tides are turning.
Keep Calm and Carry On
In the meantime, when you look at the overall, long-term trajectory of Diablo 4, it continues to climb upwards despite periodic dips, just like the DJIA. The gamers who I follow still enjoy playing Diablo and have really never stopped. On that note, I would like to give a shout out to AnnaCakeLive, who posted a clip earlier today that featured her first HC character reaching Level 100. So, the answer to the question “Is anyone still playing this game?” is yes, there’s plenty of game to be played here folks if you’ll just take the time to look. There’s no doubt that this group of gamers represents the majority of Diablo fans out there, so Diablo 4 doesn’t actually need “saving.” Yes, there’s plenty of room for improvement, but long-time ARPG fans are familiar with the process and will keep trucking along. As they say, “Just keep a stiff upper lip, old boy!”
High Octane Gaming
It’s obviously more important for some pro streamers to choose games that are fun to watch rather than more complex to play. Many such streamers made names for themselves during Diablo 3’s heyday, which was all about blasting 24/7. However, as we all know, Diablo 4 continues to grow in complexity as it improves in breadth and depth. It’s like comparing a game of 9-Ball (no relation to Neinball), which is better for TV, to 8-Ball, which usually moves slower and may not hold the attention of the audience as well. Gone are the days when you could reach Level 70 in just a couple of hours, and then hit a world-first GR 150 clear before the end of the first day of a new Season in Diablo 3.
Riding Off into the Sunset
I mention this because you may continue to see some well-known streamers, who were previously devoted to Diablo 3, that are now moving away to other games in order to attract more viewers. Nevertheless, do not despair or be swayed too much by this because Diablo 4 isn’t going anywhere, it will continue to get even better in the future, and PureDiablo will always be here to share your passion for the game. It also makes room for new streamers to come along and take on the mantle of being the best in Diablo gaming.
What We Hope to See
To close I would like to share just a few comments from some of my gamer friends in anticipation of the first Diablo 4 PTR:
KSI_TERM_7:
“Some concerns I originally had about the removal of physical aspects shortening the game were alleviated by the addition of Tempering and Masterworking.”
“These changes could possibly feel like a reset for Eternal Realm players given that all the gear they have will now be significantly weaker and players will have to farm all of their gear again.”
Mewfassah:
“The changes to Itemization, Masterworking, and Tempering are cloned systems from Last Epoch.”
“The Pit is a clone from Diablo 3 Greater Rifts, which is good and bad. It adds a game loop (a reason to farm the gear and min/max), but it is nothing revolutionary and it SHOULD have a leaderboard system.” (Agreed)
“Pet Buffs are a huge win!”
“Happy that D4 is finally making Hardcore what it is supposed to be and removing the cheat deaths.”
Fame_Regalis:
“I just hope that the overall changes result in better build diversity in the endgame.”
Disclaimer
We would love to hear your opinions on the matter, so please sound off in the comments section below or contact me on Twitter. Please also keep an eye on the news feed here at PureDiablo so you’ll have all the up-to-date info you need to get the most out of your game.
If you believe that any of the information shared above is inaccurate in any way, please let us know, along with a reference for the correct information, so we can update this document accordingly.
Cheers,
Gazerrick
