Diablo 4 players who are excited about petting a dog in the game might want to think twice about it. The fourth installment of the Diablo franchise is said to be much more brutal than its predecessor, but this particular interaction adds a different element of fun to the action RPG.
There seems to be a collective fascination among gamers about petting dogs in games. So much so that there's even a Twitter account called @CanYouPetTheDog dedicated to this mechanic. Last February, it was confirmed via social media that Diablo 4 players could pet dogs in the game. However, instead of simply pressing E when they're near the dog, they have to face it and pull up the emote wheel and select "Hello" to greet it. This will also prompt the dog to follow the character around.
Many people have already been petting dogs, as well as cats, while playing through Diablo 4's early access and open beta. However, as Reddit user Truesilverchamp pointed out, the dog could also get killed if they follow the player's character out of town. The heartbreaking revelation shocked and saddened some players.
Fortunately, there's a solution to make sure that the dog doesn't get out of town and meet its untimely demise. Many players on the subreddit advised others to pull up the Diablo 4 emote wheel again while near the dog and choose "Wait," so it would stay put. After that, players could get out and fight demons without worrying about the canine's safety or feeling guilty about its death.
While it's tempting to pet every animal in Diablo 4, this piece of information would definitely have players think twice before doing so. Especially since there had been anecdotes from other players that multiple dogs could follow them at once. Despite the addition of the wholesome interaction, Diablo 4 really didn't fail to remind players that they're figuratively in hell.
Meanwhile, players who were able to unlock the wolf pet cosmetic during Diablo 4's beta period last March won't have to worry about their animal companion dying. Once unlocked, this cosmetic will reportedly be carried over to Diablo 4's full release on June 6th. So, they can enjoy carrying a sleeping wolf pup on their backs while slashing away at demons and monsters. If all else fails, there's always the Druid class, which has the ability to transform into a wolf or a bear.
Diablo 4 will be available June 6th for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X.