Activision Blizzard’s free-to-play mobile game Diablo Immortal is now available on Android and iOS. Diablo is the first of long-running PC franchises by the developer that has been converted into a mobile game that offers abundant in-game purchases. The microtransactions in the game might be lucrative for the publisher but are controversial with many players as there are speculations about Diablo Immortal being a “pay-to-win” game. The gameplay of the mobile game is similar to that of the PC and console versions where players have to move a warrior through graveyards and caves while slaying monsters, collecting loot and upgrading gear on the way. The only differences between the PC/Console version and the mobile version are the touch control and the in-game purchases. Here we will discuss what a “pay-to-win” game is and the different microtransactions available in the Diablo Immortal mobile game.
What is a “pay-to-win” game?
Several free-to-play mobile titles offer in-game purchases, however, not all microtransactions have the same intentions. Some of them grant players access to simple things like in-game cosmetics, while others offer significant gameplay advantages or even direct competitive advantages. Games in which microtransactions offer gamers advantages over other players are often referred to as pay-to-win titles. Titles that strongly encourage players to spend money to avoid built-in annoyances can also fall into this category and are often criticised for being money-minded. These in-game purchases eventually make users spend more money on a free-to-play game that they could have used for a premium title.
In the case of Diablo Immortal, players don’t have to buy the game(s) upfront as they had to do for the three parts of the PC version of Diablo. Players can download the 12GB mobile game from Google Play Store or Apple App Store and start playing on their respective devices. The money options start to appear after players complete the first quest.
Diablo Immortal has three main forms of currency
Players need to understand a little more about the game’s three forms of currency — Gold, Platinum and Eternal Orbs, before going into the microtransactions available in Diablo Immortal. Gold is the most common form of in-game currency that is present in any other Diablo game and can also be purchased with real money. Players can also earn it regularly by killing enemies or completing certain quests. Gold is mainly used to complete transactions with common NPCs.
Platinum can be also purchased using real money, however, players can also earn it by selling certain in-game items or completing special tasks. Platinum is majorly used to complete special, premium in-game transactions that usually yield powerful and valuable items. Most players are expected to use up most of their Platinum to forge Legendary Gems.
Diablo Immortals’ direct microtransaction currency is the Eternal Orbs, something that players can’t earn through the gameplay. However, these Eternal Orbs can be used (directly or indirectly) to acquire some of the most valuable items in the game like — Reforge Stones, Dawning Echoes, and Legendary Crests. These unattainable Eternal Orbs allow players to quickly acquire some of the best upgrades in the game.
Diablo Immortal: Loot boxes
Recently, there were reports about the game being banned (at least temporarily) in certain countries over its use of loot boxes. Diablo Immortal doesn’t feature traditional loot boxes, however, the in-game Elder Rifts and Crests serve the same purpose.
Elder Rifts are special zones filled with monsters that players have to kill and the difficulty of those rifts varies with the power level of the player’s character and party. Players will be rewarded with a series of items on completing an Elder Rift and will also be able to acquire items from defeating the monsters in the rifts. Moreover, the enemies in rifts are more likely to drop high-value items (including Legendary gear) which makes running these Elder Rift dungeons with a party a common late-game activity.
Players have to modify Elder Rifts using “crests” items if they want to increase (or guarantee) the odds of acquiring high-value items. Players need to “insert” these crests into an Elder Rift before entering the zone. Apart from increasing the chances of acquiring certain loot, these crests also add random modifiers to the Elder Rift. The crests in the Elder Rift are mostly used to acquire Legendary Gems that make the character more powerful by enhancing the effectiveness of some of their specific skills/attacks.
There are multiple means for the players to acquire Legendary Gems. Players can either buy them with Platinum from the marketplace or can craft them using Runes and Platinum. These gems can also be gained as a reward on the Battle Pass or players need to trade in Fading Embers or Hilts (two very rare items) to special merchants in exchange for them.
Using Rare and Legendary Crests on Elder Rifts is the most reliable way to acquire Legendary Gems as Rare crests increase the odds of a Legendary Gem dropping by 10%, whereas Legendary Crests guarantees at least one of them. These crests can be obtained via the Battle Pass or as very rare in-game rewards. However, the easiest way to acquire those crests is by using Eternal Orbs or real money.
Diablo Immortal: Cosmetic microtransactions
Diablo Immortal offers a wide range of cosmetic items that can be purchased with real money. The initial offering of cosmetics is pretty limited, however, each purchasable outfit may cost about $15-$25 ()u each, depending upon a player’s Eternal Orbs usage.
Diablo Immortal: Rare upgrade materials
Players will find it very difficult to acquire some of the rarest upgrade materials through the course of regular gameplay. Rare items like the Glowing Shards and the Reforge Stones are not easy to acquire in-game. The easiest way to acquire them is by buying them directly from the in-game store using Eternal Orbs. For instance, each Reforge Stone will use up to 100 Eternal Orbs (which will cost about $1.50 depending on the number of Orbs players buy at once).
Diablo Immortal: Battle Pass with free and premium tracks
Diablo Immortal allows players to access a Battle Pass like any other modern “free-to-play” game. The game’s Battle Pass includes both free and premium progression tracks that are filled with unlockable rewards. The premium track, also known as the “Empowered Pass,” costs $4.99 to access. However, the game even offers a $14.99 option that automatically unlocks 14 ranks of the premium track.
Diablo Immortal: Packs and other rewards
Lastly, “packs” that contain a variety of items can also be purchased as a part of these microtransactions found in Diablo Immortal. For example, the Beginner’s Pack costs $9.99 and includes a cosmetic weapon skin and 60 Eternal Orbs.
In other gaming news, analysts estimate that Apple has made more money from gaming than Microsoft and Nintendo. Click here for more details.
What is a “pay-to-win” game?
Several free-to-play mobile titles offer in-game purchases, however, not all microtransactions have the same intentions. Some of them grant players access to simple things like in-game cosmetics, while others offer significant gameplay advantages or even direct competitive advantages. Games in which microtransactions offer gamers advantages over other players are often referred to as pay-to-win titles. Titles that strongly encourage players to spend money to avoid built-in annoyances can also fall into this category and are often criticised for being money-minded. These in-game purchases eventually make users spend more money on a free-to-play game that they could have used for a premium title.
In the case of Diablo Immortal, players don’t have to buy the game(s) upfront as they had to do for the three parts of the PC version of Diablo. Players can download the 12GB mobile game from Google Play Store or Apple App Store and start playing on their respective devices. The money options start to appear after players complete the first quest.
Diablo Immortal has three main forms of currency
Players need to understand a little more about the game’s three forms of currency — Gold, Platinum and Eternal Orbs, before going into the microtransactions available in Diablo Immortal. Gold is the most common form of in-game currency that is present in any other Diablo game and can also be purchased with real money. Players can also earn it regularly by killing enemies or completing certain quests. Gold is mainly used to complete transactions with common NPCs.
Platinum can be also purchased using real money, however, players can also earn it by selling certain in-game items or completing special tasks. Platinum is majorly used to complete special, premium in-game transactions that usually yield powerful and valuable items. Most players are expected to use up most of their Platinum to forge Legendary Gems.
Diablo Immortals’ direct microtransaction currency is the Eternal Orbs, something that players can’t earn through the gameplay. However, these Eternal Orbs can be used (directly or indirectly) to acquire some of the most valuable items in the game like — Reforge Stones, Dawning Echoes, and Legendary Crests. These unattainable Eternal Orbs allow players to quickly acquire some of the best upgrades in the game.
Diablo Immortal: Loot boxes
Recently, there were reports about the game being banned (at least temporarily) in certain countries over its use of loot boxes. Diablo Immortal doesn’t feature traditional loot boxes, however, the in-game Elder Rifts and Crests serve the same purpose.
Elder Rifts are special zones filled with monsters that players have to kill and the difficulty of those rifts varies with the power level of the player’s character and party. Players will be rewarded with a series of items on completing an Elder Rift and will also be able to acquire items from defeating the monsters in the rifts. Moreover, the enemies in rifts are more likely to drop high-value items (including Legendary gear) which makes running these Elder Rift dungeons with a party a common late-game activity.
Players have to modify Elder Rifts using “crests” items if they want to increase (or guarantee) the odds of acquiring high-value items. Players need to “insert” these crests into an Elder Rift before entering the zone. Apart from increasing the chances of acquiring certain loot, these crests also add random modifiers to the Elder Rift. The crests in the Elder Rift are mostly used to acquire Legendary Gems that make the character more powerful by enhancing the effectiveness of some of their specific skills/attacks.
There are multiple means for the players to acquire Legendary Gems. Players can either buy them with Platinum from the marketplace or can craft them using Runes and Platinum. These gems can also be gained as a reward on the Battle Pass or players need to trade in Fading Embers or Hilts (two very rare items) to special merchants in exchange for them.
Using Rare and Legendary Crests on Elder Rifts is the most reliable way to acquire Legendary Gems as Rare crests increase the odds of a Legendary Gem dropping by 10%, whereas Legendary Crests guarantees at least one of them. These crests can be obtained via the Battle Pass or as very rare in-game rewards. However, the easiest way to acquire those crests is by using Eternal Orbs or real money.
Diablo Immortal: Cosmetic microtransactions
Diablo Immortal offers a wide range of cosmetic items that can be purchased with real money. The initial offering of cosmetics is pretty limited, however, each purchasable outfit may cost about $15-$25 ()u each, depending upon a player’s Eternal Orbs usage.
Diablo Immortal: Rare upgrade materials
Players will find it very difficult to acquire some of the rarest upgrade materials through the course of regular gameplay. Rare items like the Glowing Shards and the Reforge Stones are not easy to acquire in-game. The easiest way to acquire them is by buying them directly from the in-game store using Eternal Orbs. For instance, each Reforge Stone will use up to 100 Eternal Orbs (which will cost about $1.50 depending on the number of Orbs players buy at once).
Diablo Immortal: Battle Pass with free and premium tracks
Diablo Immortal allows players to access a Battle Pass like any other modern “free-to-play” game. The game’s Battle Pass includes both free and premium progression tracks that are filled with unlockable rewards. The premium track, also known as the “Empowered Pass,” costs $4.99 to access. However, the game even offers a $14.99 option that automatically unlocks 14 ranks of the premium track.
Diablo Immortal: Packs and other rewards
Lastly, “packs” that contain a variety of items can also be purchased as a part of these microtransactions found in Diablo Immortal. For example, the Beginner’s Pack costs $9.99 and includes a cosmetic weapon skin and 60 Eternal Orbs.
In other gaming news, analysts estimate that Apple has made more money from gaming than Microsoft and Nintendo. Click here for more details.
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