Microtransactions and aggressive monetization are becoming more and more prevalent in modern gaming. Publishers and developers continue to push the boundaries between what is and isn't acceptable with every year that passes, despite the fact that some of them, like Activision Blizzard, already rake in billions of dollars through loot boxes and other forms of downloadable content each and every year.
The sheer scale of the problem was recently highlighted by the hosts of the YouTube channel, Bellular News, who calculated that it would cost players $110,000 to fully gear up in Diablo Immortal. Despite the negative reaction that this news garnered, however, it appears that Activision Blizzard may be ready to double down, with a recent job listing suggesting that Diablo 4 could also feature an ungodly amount of monetization.
The listing in question, which is for a Product Manager for Diablo 4, reveals that the successful candidate "will play a critical role in managing the Diablo 4 in-game store experience," which is described by the listing as "a key component of the game's seasonal content strategy." Whoever gets the job will also be responsible for identifying sales trends and quantifying purchase behaviors, as well as using tools to configure prices and availability within the in-game store.
Though some may see all this as harmless enough, others will no doubt find some of the language used throughout the listing to be a little troubling. In particular, the in-game store being described as a "key component" and the revelation that the game will feature an "ever-growing catalog of virtual products" seem to suggest that a lot of thought has gone into how best to monetize Diablo 4 prior to its release. Indeed, if the job listing is to be believed, shop content already has its own roadmap despite the fact that Diablo 4 still doesn't have a definitive release date.
Many expect Diablo 4 to arrive at some point during 2023, so there's every chance that things could change between now and when the game finally hits store shelves. Whether that comes courtesy of Activision Blizzard having a change of heart and scaling back its plans for monetization or more governments bringing in anti-loot box regulations similar to the ones in Belgium and the Netherlands remains to be seen. Either way, though, fans of the Diablo franchise will be hoping that Diablo 4 does not suffer the same fate as Diablo Immortal when it comes to microtransactions.
Diablo 4 is in development for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.