Diablo 4 got off to a pretty strong start when it was first released in June 2023, but after a few post-launch updates, the game became mired in controversy. The first season of Blizzard's isometric action RPG, formally titled Season of the Malignant, was met with universal backlash from diehard Diablo fans, in large part because of the sweeping changes it made to the class builds in the game. Not only were the Sorcerer and Barbarian classes nerfed, but XP gains for killing high-level monsters were downgraded, and some endgame activities were adjusted to become far harder than they originally were. Season of the Malignant quite literally turned Diablo 4 into a slog, and it was met with so much criticism that Blizzard quickly reworked the game to address player feedback in subsequent seasons.
Although Diablo 4 still has some problems, its recent patches have been received far better by fans compared to Season 1. The game's updates have added more content instead of nerfing existing features as of late, and its next patch seems to continue that trend. Diablo 4's upcoming seventh season hasn't been officially revealed yet, but it's going to bring with it a bunch of noteworthy features that players may enjoy, such as new Witchcraft powers, much-needed quality-of-life features, and more uniques for all classes. Season 7 doesn't have a release window just yet, but it should be launched shortly after January 21, the day that Season 6 will end. Regardless of the exact date, Blizzard seems to have timed Diablo 4's upcoming update perfectly, as it won't have to compete face-to-face with Path of Exile 2.
Path of Exile 2 vs Diablo 4: What’s The Difference?
Path of Exile 2 and Diablo 4 may look like similar games; here are all the differences so you know which is right for you.
Blizzard May Have Chosen the Right Time To Launch Diablo 4's Next Season
Diablo 4's Biggest Competitor, Path of Exile 2, is the Talk of the Town Right Now
If there's one game that's managed to go toe-to-toe with Marvel Rivals in terms of popularity this month, it's Path of Exile 2. Developed by the New Zealand-based company Grinding Gear Games, Path of Exile 2 is the belated sequel to the free-to-play ARPG Path of Exile, which came out more than 10 years ago. Both of the PoE games are heavily inspired by the Diablo series, not just in terms of visuals but in gameplay loop as well. Players must create unique builds to hack, slash, and fight their way through hordes of demons and other dark fantasy monsters.
Path of Exile 2 was released in early access on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on December 6, and so far, it's been doing incredibly well. Even though the game currently costs $30, unlike its free-to-play predecessor, its player counts are through the roof. On just Steam alone, Path of Exile 2 had more than 570k players in the week of its release, and it's still going strong several days later. Despite being in early access, the game is overstuffed with content, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that it's maintaining most of its player base.
According to HowLongToBeat, Path of Exile 2's main campaign will take players at least 30 hours to complete, but in order to finish most of the side content, they will have to play for somewhere between 40 and 70 hours. This, on its own, is similar in length to Diablo 4's story mode, but Path of Exile 2 surprisingly has a lot more to offer. The current build of Grinding Gear Games' latest game only includes half of its campaign. The rest of the game's story content will be released when Path of Exile 2 leaves early access sometime in 2025.
Launching Diablo 4 Season 7 in Late January Will Give Players Time to Finish Path of Exile 2
Considering how popular Path of Exile 2 is, it wouldn't be a smart move for Blizzard to release a major new update for Diablo 4 just a few days after its launch. Many Diablo fans are currently occupied with PoE 2 now, and are probably not going to check out any new content that Blizzard's action RPG has to offer for at least a couple of weeks. That's why it's probably best for Diablo 4's seventh season to launch in late January, since a lot of gamers will be done with Path of Exile 2's main campaign by then.
Diablo 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
WHERE TO PLAY
Diablo® IV is the ultimate action-RPG experience with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot.
Embark on the epic campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through a gripping story in a beautifully dark world, or explore an expansive end game: battle iconic bosses for powerful loot, fight back the encroaching onslaught of Hell in Helltides, master the Forge to create your ultimate weapons and progress powerful characters, with cross-play and cross-progression on all available platforms.
Discover the critically acclaimed franchise that defined the Action RPG genre. As the battle between the High Heavens and Burning Hells rages on, hatred devours Sanctuary as evil spreads and a new wave of cultists and worshippers arise to embrace Lilith’s coming. Only a brave few dare to face this threat and bring light to the all-consuming darkness.
Expansive Open WorldForge your own path through the corrupted lands of Sanctuary, an ever-growing, fully explorable world teeming with challenges, quests, enemies, and loot. Join your fellow adventurers, rescue and retake besieged towns, delve into nightmarish dungeons and uncover lost secrets as you fight back evil. The many zones of Sanctuary are yours to explore, and with rotating areas of extreme peril like World Bosses and Helltide, danger lurks at every turn.
Immersive Character DevelopmentCreate and customize your character to face the encroaching darkness. Choose from one of five classes and build your hero with skills, abilities and cosmetics, creating a champion that is uniquely your own. Grow stronger as you progress through powerful Skill Trees and develop even more unique end game specializations with Paragon Boards.
Legendary Gear, Epic BattlesDiscover and experiment with a vast arsenal of powerful weapons, armor and more to fight back against the demons threatening Sanctuary. Explore unique combinations, create your own upgrades and collect a plethora of powerful tools to battle in immersive, action-packed combat against the deadliest of enemies.
Seasons & EventsThe tales of Sanctuary continue to unfold. Create Seasonal Characters and join in fresh adventures - master new mechanics and take on the latest threats in each new Season. Complete harrowing feats of the Season Journey and earn new Battle Pass rewards. Plus, sharpen your swords and get in the spirit of the seasons when Limited-Time Events sweep through Sanctuary.
End Game UndertakingsThere’s even more Diablo® IV to explore as you reach higher levels and more fearsome World Tiers. Face the greatest challenge yet as you take on the most powerful demons in The Pit, steel yourself against Uber Bosses to reap uber unique rewards, fight back overflowing armies of Hell as Helltides emerge across Sanctuary, battle larger-than-life World Bosses, and master the Forge to create the mightiest weapons fit for a hero.
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- All platforms
- Cross Save
- All platforms
- Franchise
- Diablo
- Number of Players
- 1-2 players
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- File Size Xbox Series
- 158.25 GB
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 players (console only)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
