Three directors working on Diablo IV held a campfire chat livestream yesterday, addressing the concerns raised by players regarding the recent patch for the game. The version 1.1.0 patch, which nerfed players’ builds, received significant backlash. In response, the directors promised that updates like this won’t happen again in the future.
During the livestream, associate director Joe Piepiora, game director Joe Shely, and community chief Adam Fletcher acknowledged the negative impact of the patch, stating that they are aware of the dissatisfaction it caused. Fletcher admitted that the reduction in player power was “bad” and “not fun,” and assured players that they don’t plan on implementing a patch like this ever again.
To address the immediate concerns after the 1.1.0 patch, Piepiora announced a quick fix to rebalance the game. The team recognized that nightmare dungeons in the game were “dramatically overtuned” and extremely difficult for most classes, leading players to pursue very specific builds. Piepiora revealed that the team would be reducing the difficulty of tier 100 nightmare dungeons by about 30% through a hotfix to provide a more balanced gameplay experience.
However, the team clarified that they won’t be restoring player power to its previous levels. Instead, they aim to make the game world slightly easier to navigate without compromising the overall gameplay experience.
Shely announced that a version 1.1.1 patch is in the works to further balance the game. This update will include adding more monsters to nightmare dungeons and Helltide events, allowing higher-level players to enjoy demolishing hordes of monsters. The patch will be discussed in more detail during the next Campfire Chat, scheduled for Friday, July 28th, and will be released in a couple of weeks.
Shely also mentioned that the team is changing their approach to game-balancing updates, particularly those related to reducing player power. They emphasized the importance of providing compelling alternatives for players to pursue and will only implement such updates when they can fit seamlessly into the overall changes. Additionally, updates will be introduced predictably, such as at the beginning of a new season.
To improve communication with players, Fletcher mentioned that Blizzard will release patch notes a week before the update’s release, detailing the changes players can expect.
Overall, the directors of Diablo IV addressed player concerns and vowed to learn from their mistakes. They acknowledged the negative impact of the 1.1.0 patch, assured players that it won’t happen again, and outlined their plans for future updates that focus on maintaining a balanced and enjoyable gameplay experience. By revising their approach to game balance and enhancing communication, the team aims to regain player trust and deliver a more satisfying gaming experience.
