Blizzard, one of the titans of the video game development world, has a brand-new game out in 2022, and it is tipped to be one of the best mobile games ever.

Diablo Immortal is a new, free-to-play massively multiplayer online game that honors the other games in the series, yet condenses it in a mobile-friendly way.

Below, we’ll explore the game in more depth and look at its in-game purchase elements, such as loot boxes.

What is Diablo Immortal?

Diablo Immortal is the latest upcoming release from gaming giant Blizzard. Unlike previous Diablo games, this one is free to play and designed specifically for mobile devices.

The massively multiplayer online action game is slated for release in 2022, having initially been scheduled for 2021. The story slots into place between Diablo II and Diablo III.

The gameplay is similar to Diablo III, yet has elements of its predecessor. The activities in the game are expected to average around 10-15 minutes in length, some even shorter. This is all to align with mobile gaming trends.

Fans of the Diablo series have met news of the game with some skepticism, more so because they wanted a larger, console-based game. However, Blizzard has reassured fans that this is just one game in the pipeline.

Early reviews of Diablo Immortal have been largely positive, with some going as far as to describe it as having the potential to be one of the best Android games ever.
 

The loot box and pay2win system In Diablo

While the game is yet to release, there has been much talk about the loot box and pay2win system in Diablo Immortal.

Free-to-play games have surged in popularity in recent years, with Fortnite, created by Epic Games, the market leader. Other big hitters in this area include The Elder Scrolls Online, created by Bethesda, and Call of Duty: Warzone by Activision.

All of these massive game producers have adapted their models for free-to-play games. Rather than charge players a flat fee to purchase the game, creators make their money from in-game purchases. These include loot boxes and pay2win elements.

If you’re unfamiliar with the idea of loot boxes, they are described as features in video games that players can access either through virtual currencies earned in the game or purchase directly with real currency.

One loot box element that’s expected to feature in Diablo is something called elder rifts. These are types of challenges that players can complete. However, these challenges can be varied by using “crests”. These crests can be earned in-game or can be purchased.

Something that may temper the need to make loot box purchases is the introduction of a social marketplace. This allows players to buy and sell materials and gems with each other – however, not all items will be available. There’s also a separate currency for the marketplace, which players can obtain via microtransactions.

The game also features a battle pass system, which is a paid subscription that allows players to earn in-game currencies.
 

What other pay2win elements could Blizzard introduce?

It remains to be seen what other pay2win elements Blizzard could introduce to Diablo Immortal. Games that focus on in-game purchases are becoming more and more popular, and ways of making money are becoming more innovative.

Loot boxes have come under heavy fire over recent years, though, with researchers likening them to gambling. So what else could feature?

In summary

Diablo Immortal is shaping up to be one of the best mobile games ever. The free-to-play game will cost money for Blizzard, however, which means it’ll need to recoup its costs.

Loot boxes and pay2win elements are a likely source of income. However, some of these classic elements, particularly loot boxes, have attracted criticism in recent years. So how will Blizzard address this?

One method they may explore is the introduction of in-game activities that players can play using virtual currencies. Similar to games found on online casinos, these features could be attractive to Blizzard if they’re seeking new ways of generating income.

Asura Kagawa,
Contributor, NoobFeed