This weekend marks the start of Diablo 2: Resurrected's Early Access beta, an opportunity for pre-orderers and others to try the remade action RPG for the first time. Yet an introduction to the new game also comes with some revelations regarding how Diablo 2: Resurrected will work, particularly on consoles. Needless to say, not everyone is happy with some of the decisions Vicarious Visions has made, particularly regarding how Diablo 2: Resurrected handles multiplayer lobbies.
Those familiar with the original Diablo 2 will recall the game's multiplayer allowing any user to make a game lobby with a custom title via Battle.net. Other Diablo 2 players could then peruse a list of open game lobbies, joining based on whether the title promised trading, questing, leveling, PvP, loot runs, or other fun opportunities. The console versions of Diablo 2: Resurrected appear to have removed this option, meaning players won't have the option to create or join custom lobbies via Diablo 2's original menu system.
Instead, what Diablo 2: Resurrected offers is a similar system to what was available in Diablo 3. Players can join other player's lobbies through an automated system with no transparency regarding its matchmaking. In other words, Diablo 2: Resurrected doesn't allow console players to find custom lobbies. If players want to find leveling runs, boss rushes, or trading, they'll have to do so using a third-party platform like Reddit, Discord, or the like, and then invite people to their match by hand.
Another notable absence from Diablo 2: Resurrected's Early Access beta on consoles is a lack of communication tools. Diablo 2: Resurrected currently doesn't feature either in-game voice chat or text chat options, regardless of whether a user has a headset or a keyboard extension. If players want to talk to those who have randomly joined their lobby, they have to use invite them to chat through their platform's party system.
In other words, like Diablo 3, it seems like Diablo 2: Resurrected's not built for lasting multiplayer communities on consoles. Rather, it's great for multiplayer with a group of friends who can invite each other to a lobby and use party chat. Beyond that, support is minimal. Keep in mind that Diablo 2: Resurrected doesn't support couch co-op, either.
It's possible that Vicarious Visions could add a custom match menu to Diablo 2: Resurrected for consoles later. This is an Early Access beta, after all. But the fact that it already has Diablo 3's random lobby matchmaking system implemented implies this is the company's chosen direction for console multiplayer. If Diablo 2: Resurrected players on console aren't happy with that, now's the time to reach out to Vicarious Visions and Activision Blizzard to make their feedback heard.
Diablo 2: Resurrected releases September 23 on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: Reddit