diablo: Explained: All about microtransactions in Diablo Immortal mobile game
Activision Blizzard’s free mobile game Diablo Immortal is now available on Android and iOS. Diablo is the first of the developer’s long-running PC franchises that has been converted into a mobile game that offers extensive in-game purchases. In-game microtransactions could be lucrative for the publisher but are controversial by many gamers as there are has speculation that Diablo Immortal is a “pay-to-win” game. The mobile game’s gameplay is similar to the PC and console versions where players must move a warrior through graveyards and caves while slaying monsters, collecting loot, and upgrading gear along the way. The only differences between the PC/Console version and the mobile version are touch control and in-game purchases. Here we will discuss what a “pay to win” game is and the different microtransactions available in the Diablo Immortal mobile game. .
What is a “pay to win” game?
Several free-to-play mobile titles offer in-game purchases, however, not all microtransactions have the same intentions. Some of them allow players to access simple things like in-game cosmetics, while others provide significant gameplay advantages or even direct competitive advantages. Games in which microtransactions give players advantages over other players are often referred to as paid titles. Titles that strongly encourage players to spend money to avoid the inherent inconvenience may also fall into this category and are often criticized for being money-minded. These in-game purchases ultimately entice users to spend more money on a free game than they could have spent on a premium title.
In the case of Diablo Immortal, players don’t have to pre-purchase the game(s) like they had to for all three parts of the PC version of Diablo. Players can download the 12GB mobile game from Google Play Store or Apple App Store and start playing on their respective devices. Money options start appearing after players complete the first quest.
Diablo Immortal has three main forms of currency
Players should know a little about the three forms of in-game currency: gold, platinum, and Eternal Orbs, before discussing the microtransactions available in Diablo Immortal. Gold is the most common form of in-game currency found in all other Diablo games and can also be purchased with real money. Players can also earn it regularly by killing enemies or completing certain quests. Gold is mainly used to transact with common NPCs.
Platinum can also be purchased with real money, but players can also earn it by selling certain in-game items or completing special tasks. Platinum is primarily used to perform special and premium in-game transactions that usually spawn powerful and valuable items. Most players are expected to use most of their platinum to forge Legendary Gems.
Diablo Immortals’ direct microtransaction currency is Eternal Orbs, something players cannot earn through gameplay. However, these Eternal Orbs can be used (directly or indirectly) to acquire some of the most valuable items in the game, such as – Reforge Stones, Dawning Echoes and Legendary crests. These inaccessible Eternal Orbs allow players to quickly acquire some of the best upgrades in the game.
Diablo Immortal: Loot Boxes
Recently, it was reported that the game was banned (at least temporarily) in some countries due to its use of loot boxes. Diablo Immortal does not feature traditional loot boxes, however, in-game play Rifts of the Ancients and ridges serve the same purpose.
Elder Rifts are special areas filled with monsters that players must kill and the difficulty of these rifts varies depending on the player’s character power level and party. Players will be rewarded with a series of items after completing an Elder Rift and can also acquire items by defeating monsters in Rifts. Additionally, enemies in rifts are more likely to drop high-value items (including legendary gear), making running these Elder Rift dungeons with a group a common late-game activity.
Players should mod Elder Rifts using “emblazoned” items if they want to increase (or guarantee) the chance of acquiring high-value items. Players must “insert” these ridges into an Ancestral Rift before entering the area. In addition to increasing the chance of acquiring certain loot, these crests also add random modifiers to the Elder Rift. Elder Rift Crests are mainly used to acquire Legendary Gems which make the character more powerful by improving the effectiveness of some of their specific skills/attacks.
Players have several ways to acquire Legendary Gems. Players can either buy them with platinum from the market or craft them using runes and platinum. These gems can also be obtained as rewards on the Battle Pass or players must redeem Embers or faded handles (two very rare items) to special merchants in exchange.
Using Rare and Legendary Crests on Elder Rifts is the most reliable way to acquire Legendary Gems, as Rare Crests increase the chance of a Legendary Gem dropping by 10%, while Legendary Crests at least guarantees the one of them. These crests can be obtained through the Battle Pass or as very rare in-game rewards. However, the easiest way to acquire these crests is through Eternal Orbs or real money.
Diablo Immortal: Cosmetic Microtransactions
Diablo Immortal offers a wide range of cosmetic items that can be purchased with real money. The initial supply of cosmetics is quite limited, however, each purchasable outfit can cost around $15-$25 ()u each, depending on the player’s Eternal Orb usage.
Diablo Immortal: Rare Upgrade Materials
Players will have a hard time acquiring some of the rarer upgrade materials during regular play. Rare items like Glowing Shards and Reforge Stones are not easy to acquire in-game. The easiest way to acquire them is to purchase them directly from the in-game store using Eternal Orbs. For example, each Reforging stone will use up to 100 Eternal Orbs (which will cost around $1.50 depending on how many orbs players buy at a time).
Diablo Immortal: Battle Pass with free and premium tracks
Diablo Immortal allows players to access a Battle Pass like any other modern “free-to-play” game. The game’s Battle Pass includes free and premium progression tracks filled with unlockable rewards. The premium track, also known as the “Empowered Pass,” costs $4.99 to access. However, the game even has a $14.99 option that automatically unlocks 14 ranks of the premium track.
Diablo Immortal: Packs and other rewards
Finally, “packs” containing a variety of items can also be purchased as part of these microtransactions found in Diablo Immortal. For example, the Starter Pack costs $9.99 and includes a cosmetic weapon skin and 60 Eternal Orbs.
In other gaming news, analysts believe Apple has made more money from games than Microsoft and Nintendo. Click here for more details.
What is a “pay to win” game?
Several free-to-play mobile titles offer in-game purchases, however, not all microtransactions have the same intentions. Some of them allow players to access simple things like in-game cosmetics, while others provide significant gameplay advantages or even direct competitive advantages. Games in which microtransactions give players advantages over other players are often referred to as paid titles. Titles that strongly encourage players to spend money to avoid the inherent inconvenience may also fall into this category and are often criticized for being money-minded. These in-game purchases ultimately entice users to spend more money on a free game than they could have spent on a premium title.
In the case of Diablo Immortal, players don’t have to pre-purchase the game(s) like they had to for all three parts of the PC version of Diablo. Players can download the 12GB mobile game from Google Play Store or Apple App Store and start playing on their respective devices. Money options start appearing after players complete the first quest.
Diablo Immortal has three main forms of currency
Players should know a little about the three forms of in-game currency: gold, platinum, and Eternal Orbs, before discussing the microtransactions available in Diablo Immortal. Gold is the most common form of in-game currency found in all other Diablo games and can also be purchased with real money. Players can also earn it regularly by killing enemies or completing certain quests. Gold is mainly used to transact with common NPCs.
Platinum can also be purchased with real money, but players can also earn it by selling certain in-game items or completing special tasks. Platinum is primarily used to perform special and premium in-game transactions that usually spawn powerful and valuable items. Most players are expected to use most of their platinum to forge Legendary Gems.
Diablo Immortals’ direct microtransaction currency is Eternal Orbs, something players cannot earn through gameplay. However, these Eternal Orbs can be used (directly or indirectly) to acquire some of the most valuable items in the game, such as – Reforge Stones, Dawning Echoes and Legendary crests. These inaccessible Eternal Orbs allow players to quickly acquire some of the best upgrades in the game.
Diablo Immortal: Loot Boxes
Recently, it was reported that the game was banned (at least temporarily) in some countries due to its use of loot boxes. Diablo Immortal does not feature traditional loot boxes, however, in-game play Rifts of the Ancients and ridges serve the same purpose.
Elder Rifts are special areas filled with monsters that players must kill and the difficulty of these rifts varies depending on the player’s character power level and party. Players will be rewarded with a series of items after completing an Elder Rift and can also acquire items by defeating monsters in Rifts. Additionally, enemies in rifts are more likely to drop high-value items (including legendary gear), making running these Elder Rift dungeons with a group a common late-game activity.
Players should mod Elder Rifts using “emblazoned” items if they want to increase (or guarantee) the chance of acquiring high-value items. Players must “insert” these ridges into an Ancestral Rift before entering the area. In addition to increasing the chance of acquiring certain loot, these crests also add random modifiers to the Elder Rift. Elder Rift Crests are mainly used to acquire Legendary Gems which make the character more powerful by improving the effectiveness of some of their specific skills/attacks.
Players have several ways to acquire Legendary Gems. Players can either buy them with platinum from the market or craft them using runes and platinum. These gems can also be obtained as rewards on the Battle Pass or players must redeem Embers or faded handles (two very rare items) to special merchants in exchange.
Using Rare and Legendary Crests on Elder Rifts is the most reliable way to acquire Legendary Gems, as Rare Crests increase the chance of a Legendary Gem dropping by 10%, while Legendary Crests at least guarantees the one of them. These crests can be obtained through the Battle Pass or as very rare in-game rewards. However, the easiest way to acquire these crests is through Eternal Orbs or real money.
Diablo Immortal: Cosmetic Microtransactions
Diablo Immortal offers a wide range of cosmetic items that can be purchased with real money. The initial supply of cosmetics is quite limited, however, each purchasable outfit can cost around $15-$25 ()u each, depending on the player’s Eternal Orb usage.
Diablo Immortal: Rare Upgrade Materials
Players will have a hard time acquiring some of the rarer upgrade materials during regular play. Rare items like Glowing Shards and Reforge Stones are not easy to acquire in-game. The easiest way to acquire them is to purchase them directly from the in-game store using Eternal Orbs. For example, each Reforging stone will use up to 100 Eternal Orbs (which will cost around $1.50 depending on how many orbs players buy at a time).
Diablo Immortal: Battle Pass with free and premium tracks
Diablo Immortal allows players to access a Battle Pass like any other modern “free-to-play” game. The game’s Battle Pass includes free and premium progression tracks filled with unlockable rewards. The premium track, also known as the “Empowered Pass,” costs $4.99 to access. However, the game even has a $14.99 option that automatically unlocks 14 ranks of the premium track.
Diablo Immortal: Packs and other rewards
Finally, “packs” containing a variety of items can also be purchased as part of these microtransactions found in Diablo Immortal. For example, the Starter Pack costs $9.99 and includes a cosmetic weapon skin and 60 Eternal Orbs.
In other gaming news, analysts believe Apple has made more money from games than Microsoft and Nintendo. Click here for more details.
