Cutting down hordes of demons can be a thrilling experience in any game, but when you’re able to do it just 20 minutes after creating your character in a loot-driven action RPG, it feels a bit over the top. The real joy comes from gradually becoming more powerful, savoring every step of that climb. Without that, the hunt for better loot loses its allure. That’s the main issue many gamers are facing with the latest season of Diablo 4—it’s just too easy.
Luckily, Blizzard has recognized this and is gearing up to make things more challenging in Season 8, while still keeping the exhilaration of being a demon-slaying powerhouse. During a recent stream, the developers of Diablo 4 revealed their plans to make leveling from 1 to 60 a bit more slow-paced and rewarding. They’re also ramping up the challenge when it comes to endgame progress.
With the debut of Diablo 4’s first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, the gameplay underwent a noteworthy change. However, as design director Colin Finer pointed out, players are racing through content faster than expected. Recently, maxing out a character in half the time it previously took has become the norm. To ensure the early stages of the game aren’t just a quick breeze, Blizzard is making it take longer to hit level 25.
Adding to this, the drop rate for Legendary items—the top tier loot—is being reduced on the way to level 60. To make up for it, the weaker items you’d usually pass over are getting a boost in power. Finer mentioned they’re aiming for a journey that feels “more rewarding and satisfying as you go through these levels.”
The endgame isn’t being left out of these changes either. Players who spend their time gearing up and tackling higher Torment difficulty levels will face greater challenges. In this current season, 50% of players have conquered the highest Torment level in record time compared to before. Finer stated, “Just from a philosophy standpoint, we really want whatever the hardest Torment tier is—in this case Torment 4—to be aspirational, and to us, that means around 10%.” Next season, the leap in difficulty between each Torment level is set to be significantly sharper.
Endgame bosses will also be amped up. Instead of just being loot dispensers on repeat, they’ll now pose significant challenges to those who have mastered their builds. Plus, three new bosses will shake up the hierarchy, and you won’t find your inventory clogged with summoning items anymore. After defeating each boss, you’ll be rewarded with a special chest that needs a key to open, and there’s a chance the powerful boss, Belial, might make an unexpected entrance.
Gamers playing on Battle.net PC will have the opportunity to test out all these upcoming changes next week on the Season 8 PTR, running from March 11 to March 18. And while we’ll have to be patient for a little longer, Season 8 itself is set to launch in full on April 29.
