Diablo 4has a gold problem, according to the frustrated voices from its community, as many players struggle to invest in new builds due to the tall prices of Enchanting items or resetting a Paragon Board. A highly contentious topic since launch, the cost of fine-tuning a character’s build atendgame inDiablo 4runs counter to the design philosophy established inDiablo 3. For all its initial faults,Reaper of SoulssetDiablo 3on the right track, and eventually established an addictive gameplay loop centered around Greater Rifts and easy-to-understand item upgrades.
ThoughDiablo 4attempted to strip away some of the power creep thatDiablo 3was infamously known for, it has caused a bit of a rift in the community. WhereasDiablo 3encouraged players to build their abilities and passives around the loot they discovered,Diablo 4instead dares players to stick with their build in search of the best possible item roll. This approach is primarily enabled by the lack of any convenience when it comes to changing talent tree nodes or clearingParagon Boards inDiablo 4, as well as the exorbitant prices on services thatDiablo 3players have come to rely on.
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Fans found a way to voice their disgruntlement through a thread started by Frost_King907 on theDiablo 4subreddit, pointing out the issues with the game’s economy. Gems extract a heavy cost from players seeking to upgrade them, yet the end product ultimately sells for an insultingly low amount of gold barely even worth the inventory slot. The price of clearing a Paragon Board can easily pass five million gold, with the total cost to reset one’s build being approximately eight-and-a-half million.
An important point to keep in mind is thatDiablo 4is the firstDiablogame that actually puts a value to gold at endgame.Diablo 2andDiablo 3have largely rendered it meaningless as a currency, as it was ultimately a hassle not worth balancing. Given the emphasis on spending andfarming gold inDiablo 4, it makes sense that players are more invested in where their money goes and why their expenses make no sense. The convenience that has come to define the genre over the past two decades is gone, and fans can’t help but wonder if that’s the right direction to takeDiablo 4in.
Ultimately, the heart of the issue forDiablo 4players is the simple fact that gold gets in the way of fun for some of them. The combat inDiablo 4is considered by most fans to be the best in the franchise, which is why some members of the community feels disappointed by the cumbersome systems that surround an otherwise exciting foundation. Though Blizzard has continuouslyteasedDiablo 4’s first season, it may take a while till the game truly finds its footing with its most hardcore fans.
Diablo 4is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
