Diablo 4 Makes Important Clarification About Hardcore Race

Diablo 4 just made an important clarification about the Hardcore Victories Contest that will level the playing field. This new rule means no Diablo 4 players will have an inherent advantage over their peers once the competition begins with the game’s release.

Recently, Diablo 4 announced the Hardcore Victories Contest–a race where the first 1000 players to reach level 100 on a Hardcore character will have their names immortalized on a statue of Lilith on the Blizzard campus. However, some fans were concerned that players who have had access to review copies of Diablo 4 for the weeks prior to its launch would have an unfair advantage over those who did not.

This led Diablo 4 to amend the rules of this contest to ensure it would be fair. According to the updated terms and conditions, players who had access to review copies and employees of Blizzard and their affiliates, as well as their immediate family members and people living in the same households, are ineligible for this competition. Additionally, Blizzard retains the right to disqualify anyone who attempts to claim the offer if it discovers other outliers that could have given them an unfair advantage.

Before Blizzard officially disqualified these individuals from the Hardcore Victories Contest, many reviewers who had prior access to Diablo 4 had voluntarily recused themselves from the competition. Maxroll, a major website that writes guides for ARPGs like Diablo 4 and Path of Exile, was one such group that led the charge in promoting equity with this contest. Many believe the initiative set by Maxroll and other creators encouraged Blizzard to make the official rules change.

Many Diablo 4 player are glad Blizzard made this change. Having full knowledge of the Diablo 4 map would inform these players of the fastest ways to hit level 100 while also giving them experience on how best to survive the bosses and traps they will encounter. Disallowing these players the chance to claim one of the 1000 slots in the Hardcore Victories Contest ensures the winners will have to earn their spot without an advantage.

That said, the competition still won’t be truly equitable. Hardcore Victories Contest begins when Diablo 4 enters early access on June 1 at 4 PM PDT. Unfortunately, early access is only available to players who purchased the Deluxe or Ultimate editions of Diablo 4. If players are hoping to claim one of these limited slots in the contest, they will need to upgrade to a premium version of Diablo 4 so they don’t lose out on four extra days of leveling.