Summary
Blizzard Entertainment’sDiablo 4had a lot of heavy lifting to do when it launched on June 6 of last year. Not only was it theDiabloseries' first foray into an always-online, live-service model, but consumer perceptions and fan goodwill toward Activision/Blizzard were arguably at an all-time low. After a mostly successful launch forDiablo 4(despite the odd technical hiccup here and there), the game would release its first season just over a month later on July 20, and player perception of the title quickly shifted from cautious optimism to outright disdain almost overnight. But, on its one year anniversary,Diablo 4might be in its best state ever.
To its credit, Blizzard Entertainment has continued to work tirelessly on addressing fan feedback regardingDiablo 4’s loot, progression systems, endgame, and in-game monetization, resulting in the recent launch of Season 4 seeing thousands of lapsed players returning to Sanctuary. Steam review scores also reflect a course correction forDiablo 4, with the title having recently reached a “Mostly Positive” user score and maintaining a daily average of roughly 25-30k players (and that’s without even considering console player counts). Perhaps most importantly,Diablo 4is inching ever closer to a satisfying endgame, and the changes implemented as part ofSeason 4 and the Loot Reborn updatecouldn’t have arrived at a more fitting time.
Season 4 and Loot Reborn Are a Perfect First Anniversary Gift for Diablo 4
The launch ofDiablo 4’s latest season, Season 4, was accompanied by the Loot Reborn update that makes significant overhauls to the loot grind and endgame buildcraft, with both launching simultaneously just ahead ofDiablo 4’s first anniversary on June 08, 2025.
In addition to the plannedfirst anniversary events forDiablo 4, the title is also in the midst of a dramatic upswing in player engagement and satisfaction thanks to the changes implemented as part of Season 4 and the Loot Reborn update. Most of the new features implemented as part of the update tie in organically with the new content delivered to players as part of Season 4, with a lot of smaller quality-of-life improvements adding up to a cumulative feeling ofDiablo 4’s endgame and gear customization being the best it’s ever been.
Players now have greater agency over customizing and improving their favorite gear thanks to the newMasterworkingand Tempering mechanics, as well as a better understanding of which Aspects are most beneficial for their class, loadout, and build. Being able to quickly reference Aspects and save particular rolls for use on future builds streamlines the endgame power curve in a way thatDiablo 4has needed since launch, and its arrival as part of Season 4 just weeks ahead of the game’s first anniversary is a case of “better late than never”.
Diablo 4’s Seasons Are Starting to Catch Up to Its Campaign
Diablo 4’s Season 4 might see the game doing a complete turnaround and being the most fun it’s been since launch, but it was a bit of an arduous road to get there. One of the main problems with the title’s seasonal model was its seemingly throttled progression, with both Season 1 and Season 2 struggling to get the balance right in terms of XP gain and quality loot drops. The end result was that many ofDiablo 4’s seasonal activitieswere too much work for too little reward, paling in comparison to the game’s excellent campaign.
As of Season 4, though,Diablo 4is finally seeing its seasonal model catch up to the quality of the campaign mode, giving players a real reason to jump right into crafting a seasonal character and diving into some Helltides. In the year since thelaunch ofDiablo 4, the game has seen its fair share of ups and downs, but the continued persistence and dedication of its player base, as well as the willingness of Blizzard to address fan feedback and listen to those same players, gives hope that the title will only continue on its upward trajectory.
Diablo 4
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 campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through beautifully dark settings and a gripping story, or explore an expansive end game and shared world where players can meet in towns to trade, team up to battle world bosses, or descend into PVP zones to test their skills against other players – no lobbies necessary – with cross-play, cross-progression, and couch co-op on Xbox.This is only the beginning for Diablo® IV, with new events, stories, seasons, rewards, and more looming on the horizon.
