With just a few weeks left until Diablo 4’s release, the final free beta is set to begin on Friday. The developers have shared new details about the action role-playing game to ease the wait.
They held a live stream discussing Seasons, the Battle Pass, and the upcoming server slam. Here, we highlight the key updates.
You can now download the beta version of Diablo 4 on your preferred platform, although the game will not be playable until the server slam starts on May 12th. The beta will be available to play until May 14th.
Post-Launch Content for Diablo 4
The live stream primarily focused on the content planned for Diablo 4 after its release. This includes regular seasons, story expansions, and more.
Understanding Seasons in Diablo 4
Some information about seasons had already been disclosed, but the developers further clarified and elaborated on the subject during the live stream. Here are the crucial points:
· Season Start and Schedule: The first season is planned for mid-July, with new seasons arriving every three months, resulting in four seasons per year.
· Season Content: Each season will feature a Battle Pass, a Season Journey, new gameplay mechanics, and a major questline introducing these mechanics. The content will revolve around a specific seasonal theme, with new quests telling separate stories rather than continuing the main story. Story expansions will be available independently.
· Playing Seasons: To access the seasonal content, you’ll need to start a new character. If you have already completed the campaign, you can skip it and begin the game in Kyovashad.
· End of Season: When a new season starts, the previous season’s quests and game mechanics typically disappear. However, you’ll keep the rewards earned in the Battle Pass, and you can continue playing with the character you started. Developers may also permanently integrate certain quests and game mechanics into the game.
Battle Pass and Season Journey Features
By playing with your seasonal character, you’ll level up your Battle Pass, unlocking free rewards. The developers shared new information about the Battle Pass:
· Three Tiers: The free Battle Pass has 27 tiers where you unlock rewards. A premium version (around €10) offers additional cosmetic rewards and 90 levels. For an extra €10, you can skip 20 stages of the Battle Pass and receive the rewards immediately.
· Unlockable Buffs: You can collect ashes, which are used for seasonal buffs, in the levels available for free.
· No Pay-to-Win: The developers have emphasized that there will be no pay-to-win elements. Ashes can only be collected once your character reaches a certain level, so you must earn them even if you skipped the respective level with the Premium Battle Pass.
The Season Journey also grants you more tangible rewards, such as aspects or crafting resources, upon completing specific challenges. Here’s what the developers revealed about this feature:
· Increased Flexibility: The Seasonal Journey is divided into chapters, but you don’t need to complete all tasks in a chapter to unlock the next one.
· Benefits for Latecomers: If you purchase the game at the start of Season 1 and need to play the campaign first, the game will already credit you with progress for your journey in the background.
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