Can Diablo 4's first seasonal patch be saved?

Earlier this week patch 1.1.0 for Diablo 4 dropped in preparation for the first season, Season of the Malignant. But after p?layers resoundingly disapproved of its many changes, Blizzard is hosting a Campfire C??hat to talk about all the controversial updates made in patch 1.1.0.

Diablo 4 Campfire Chat set for July 21

A Diablo 4 developer Campfire Chat will take place on July 21 at 11 AM PDT. According to community development director for Diablo Adam Fletcher, they've been hearing?? the feedback.

"We have been hearing feedback from players regarding some of the changes in 1.1.0 for #DiabloIV," Fletcher tweeted??. "We are going to have a Campfire Chat later this week on Friday to talk more about it."

//twitter.com/PezRadar/status/1681472781563891719

The Campfire Chat will have game director Joe Shely, associate game director Joseph Piepiora, and Flecther on the stream to discuss feedback they've received from the community, and detail what's coming for Diablo 4.

The Season of the Malignant

The ??first season for the ARPG had immense hype leading up to the patch. The developers had said the patch notes were over 6,600 words, giving many players hope that some big issues would be remedied.

With that big of an update, surely Necromancer minions would get a buff to have a viable summoner build. Surely, the Sorcerer class would get a proper rework to make them no longer the weakest class by far. Leveling to 100 in the pre-season proved to be quite a slog, so there had to be some experience changes on the way to make the leveling experience better, right? Well, I think the folks over on the /r/Diablo4 subreddit sum it up perfectly.

//www.reddit.com/r/diablo4/comments/154ka5q/patch_??notes_summari??sed_in_one_line/

??Then the patch notes released, and they are very disappointing. In fact, in some case??s, these issues were amplified as opposed to remedied. Experience gains were nerfed across the board, including making boosting no longer a thing. The patch as a whole feels like it literally slowed the game down. Overall it feels like monsters die slower while hitting harder. All classes got a pretty hefty nerf, including the already weak Sorcerer.

In many ways, it feels like the game suddenly became less fun. But why? Players were complaining about the experience grind taking a bit too long, not that it needed to be longer. I don't think anyone felt their class was doing too much damage—except maybe this wonky Barbarian Rend Bleed build—and at least not enough to justify such ?sweeping nerfs. There's ??even a one-line patch note about increasing the time it takes to teleport out of a dungeon from three seconds to five seconds. Why?

If I've learned anything from being a Blizzard fan for as long as I can remember, it's that this sort of thing can be commonplace. Until recently, World of Warcraft decisions often seemed to be made in spite of players, not with them. The players would complain, and then changes often brought the final results somewhere in the middle. As this is essentially the first big update, we'll learn a lot about the future of Diablo 4 based on what Blizzard does now.

Hopefully, Blizzard listens to the criticism from players. I'd really like to be able to play Diablo 4 for a long time.

The post Blizzard will talk about controversial Diablo 4 p?atch in Campfire Chat this Friday appeared first on Destructoid.

Season of the Malignant is upon us

Players are not happy with the recent 1.1.0 patch for Diablo 4. Yet regardless of the controversy, the first season of Diablo 4, Season of the Malignant, releases later today. The patch was intended as a supplement to all the new features coming with the new season, so be sure to check out the patch notes if you're interested in the gritty changes.

However, here we're going to take a look at the new content and features introduced with Diablo 4 Season 1, Season of the Malignant.

[caption id="attachment_392606" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Blizzard[/caption]

All new questline

As Blizzard promised, the story will move forward with each season of Diablo 4. A new corruption has? caused malignant monsters to emerge across Sanctuary. Players will team up with a former priest of the Cathedral of Light named Cormond who has a technique to capture the Hearts of the Malignant Creatures.

In order to embark on this new questline, you must have already completed the campaign. This counts w?hether you complete the campaign in the new season or if you have already finished it on a pre-season or Eternal R??ealm character.

You can find Cormond in Kyovashad to begin the new quest.

[caption id="attachment_392607" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Blizzard[/caption]

Increase power with Malignant Hearts in Diablo 4 Season 1

As you capture these corrupted creatures, they will d??rop their Malignant Heart. Using a new quest item??, the Cage of Binding, you can capture the Malignant Heart to gain its power.

This is the primary special feature of the new season. Each Heart will correspond with one of four unique colors and types. The orange Vicious Heart focuses on offensive power, the blue Brutal Heart on defensive power, the pink Devious Heart on utility power, and the black Wrathful Heart on super power. Each?? Malignant Heart will have its own effect with 32 possibilities. There are four unique Hearts for each class and 12 available to all classes.

Jewelry in this season will no longer have normal sockets but instead malignant sockets. T?hese sockets will c??orrespond with the colors of the Hearts, with the Wrathful Heart fitting in any socket.

Finally, you will be able to salv??age the Malignant Hearts that are of no use to you into Ichor. This Ichor can then be used to craft new Hearts, allowing you to?? try and create one more tailored to your build.

[caption id="attachment_392610" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Blizzard[/caption]

Delve the Malignant Tunnels to find a brand new boss: Varshan the Consumed

New replayable dungeons have also popped up across Sanctuary in the form of Malignant Tunnels. There are six unique dungeons in total, each full of Malignant Monsters that need to be taken down. Inside you will come across malignant outgrowths. Using an item called Malignant Invokers, you can draw out a fully corrupted enemy from the outgrowth. Defeating the powerful creature will result in them dropping a specific type of Malignant Heart. This feature will allow you to attempt to farm a specific hear??t type, as opposed to relying entirely on RNG.

Once you've decimated enough Malignant Monsters you will draw out Varshan the Consumed, an all-new boss with Season of the Malignant.

[caption id="attachment_392612" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Blizzard[/caption]

Diablo 4 Season 1 debuts the Season Journey and Battle Pass

Diablo III players will recognize the return of the Season Journey. This feature is broken into chapters with tasks for you to complete while playing through the season. As you progress, you will unlock season-exclusive rewards such as titles and cosmetics. You will also receive rew?ards for your seasonal character to help jump-start your experience including Legendary Aspects and consumables.

Completing chapters in your Season Journey will also grant you Favor used to progress the battle pass. There's a free track and a premium track of the battle pass. In total, there are 27 free tiers and 63 premium tiers. The free tiers grant Smoldering Ashes that you spend on Seas?on Blessings which provide you with bonus experience, gold, or obols.

The premium tr??ack includes the rewards from the free track as well as some platinum and cosmetics including armor sets??, mounts, and mount armor.

If you purchased the Digital Deluxe or Ultimate Edition of Diablo 4, you will have an unlock token for the premium Battle Pass. This token has one use, so make sure the rewards of this Battle Pass are of interest to you before using it!

That is pretty much everything that is coming in Diablo 4 Season 1. Season of the? Malignant launches on July 20 at 1PM ?EST.

The post Breaking down everything coming in Diablo 4 seaso??n 1 appeared first on Destructoid.

No more item drops way over your level

Diablo 4 Season 1 is already full of updates aimed at improving the overall quality of life for players. But a recent tweet by the Associate Game Director of Diablo 4, Joseph Piepora, indicates another big cha?nge is coming. Starting in Season of the Malignant, Sacred Items will have a level requirement cap of 60, and Ancestral Items will have a level requirement cap of 80.

In the current system, these items have no such cap meaning you can be level 55 and get a Sacred Item drop that requires level 65. Levels don't come quite so easily in Diablo 4, so it makes it hard to get excited about some??thing you can't use for potentially days. It's always bittersweet when you see a cool drop, only to realize you won't be using it any time soon.

[caption id="attachment_388914" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Why is this such a big deal?

With the improved item level requirement caps, it will be a more streamlined process of gearing.? Each item tier will now essentially have its own bracket. Sacred Items will essentially be used up to level 60, after which you will begin looking for Ancestr??al Items.

It will also be a lot easier to obtain endgame gear ?for alt characters. If you are on a level 100 character in the existing format, you can get a nice Ancestral Item drop for another character, but it may require level 100. With the new system, the absolute highest item level requirement for such an item would be 80.

Honestly, the existing item-level cap system doesn't make much sense. It was probably more of an overlook on the part of Blizzard rather than an intended feature. This is just another overall win in the quality of life department for Diablo 4. Now all I want to see is some Sorcerer reworks.

Diablo 4's fir?st seasonal update, ??Season of the Malignant, launches on all platforms on July 20.

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Fight against the spreading malignance in Diablo 4 season 1

As part of the Diablo Developer Update for July, Blizzard has revealed the details for Diablo 4 season 1, titled Season of the Malignant. The first ever season will include an all new storyline as well as new features and systems to improve character power. An update with balance changes and new items will release on July 18, but the actual season will go live on July 20.

You will have to create a new character to experience the seasonal content, which has become pretty standard for the action-RPG genre. At the end of the season, your character can be transferred to the Eternal Realm. In other words, it will remain playable even after the rele?ase?? of future seasons.

Those that have no desire to play the new season can still play their existing character. However, while existing characte??rs can experience balance changes from the patch, they will not have access to the season-specific content. New players will be able to ??jump right into the new season, but they will have to complete the campaign to unlock the seasonal content.

[caption id="attachment_390556" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Activision B??lizzard/Twi?tch[/caption]

Season of the Malignant features a new storyline

The theme of season 1 picks up where the campaign?? ended. Corruption is spreading in the hearts of creatures throughout Sanctuary. A new malignance is turning them into bloodthirsty fiends determined to destroy everything.

A new character, Cormond, seeks your help i??n fighting back against the new threat. As a former priest of the Cathedral of Light, he thinks he has found the source of the corruption.

With your help, he believes he can turn the malignance against itself. This quest line will start in Kyovashad and be available right from level one in the new season.

[caption id="attachment_390555" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via? Activisio?n Blizzard/Twitch[/caption]

Destroy creatures to claim their powerful malignant hearts

A unique system is also being added to Diablo 4. Throughout Sanctuary, every elite monster can spawn as a malignant variant. Defeating a malignant enemy will cause it to drop its malignant heart. Interacting wi??th it will cause you to use a cage of binding in an effort to c?apture the heart.

In doing so, more powerful malignant creatures will spawn and attack you to stop the process. Fending them off will allow you to claim the ?caged heart. These hearts can be socketed into? jewelry.

In season 1, jewelry will have three possible socket colors: red, blu?e, and yellow. Malignant hearts will fit one of the specific color types, with a fourth version that can fit any color. Socketing these hearts will grant you Malignant Powers. There are over thirty of these powers being introduced??, further expanding the ways to build your character. Higher world tiers will drop better versions of the hearts.

Even though grinding is a part of any ARPG, a system is in place to help you get the hearts you want. You can break down hearts you don't plan to use and receive a material used to craft an Invok??er to target a specific power. You can than take the Invoker to a malignant tunnel, a mini-dungeon that spawns across the world. Inside you will fight more malignant monsters until you reach a malignant overgrowth at the end. Using the Invoker, yo?u can destroy the overgrowth and reveal a powerful boss inside. Slaying the boss will net you a heart with the power you are looking for.

[caption id="attachment_390554" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Activ?ision Blizzard/Twitch[/caption]

Other new content includes the first Battle Pass

With the first season comes the first Battle Pass as well. It ??will feature a free tier for all players that allows you to earn Season Boosts to accelerate progress, in addition to a title and a fe?w transmogs. An additional paid tier will offer exclusive cosmetics. As you play you will progress the Season Journey, a multi-chapter objective system. Doing so will earn you Favor that unlocks rewards on the Battle Pass.

Furthermore, the season will include a new boss battle: Varshan the Consumed. Players will also have six new Unique items and??? seven new Legendary Aspects to find.

Overall this looks like a solid first season. We get some new story, a big new system, and a much needed source for creating new builds. There is a bit of concern around adding more player po??wer into the game this early. Typically such systems are not added to the core game after the season to prevent power creep and bloat of systems. We'll have to see what Blizzard chooses to do.

For those looking to prepare for the Season of the Malignant, I have a few recommendations. First, you want to complete the campaign on at least one character. This will let you jump into the new content when it releases. Furthermore, try to fully explore the world map and find all of the Altars of Lilith. This progress w?ill carry over into the new sea??son, which will also start you off with a small Renown boost.

Diablo 4 Season of the Malignant releases on all platfor?ms on July 20.

The post Diablo ??4 season 1 revea??led: Season of the Malignant appeared first on Destructoid.

Season 1 kicks off in Battlefield 2042 on June 9

More tools for mayhem are arriving on the battlefield. Electronic Arts and DICE debuted a trailer today, showing what's coming in Battlefield 2042 Season 1 on June 9, 2022.

In today's trailer, the team gives us a good look at Exposure, the new map arriving in Season 1. It's set in the Canadian Rockies and looks to make big use of verticality, allowing aircraft and wingsuits t?o really get around.

Also shown i??s the new Specialist, Ewelina Lis. Lis is particularly skilled at tackling vehicles, using a remote-controlled rocket launcher to wreak havoc on armor.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hfeb7eIzbo

Alongside those, new vehicles and weapons are also coming in Battlefield 2042 Season 1. Two new gunships, the RAH-??68 Huron and YG-99 Hannibal, take to th??e skies. The BSV-M Marksman Rifle offers a new mid-range option. And the Smoke Grenade launcher offers some infantry ground cover.

But good lord, the Ghostmaker R10 Crossbow looks like a blast. Literally, because it has explosive ammo, alongside regular, light, and heavy? ammo. The core content additions are available as part of the free Battle Pass track, though it will require playing to unlock. Additional cosmetics? are in the Premium Battle Pass Track.

Seasoned veterans

There are also more fixes for stability, balance, gunplay, performance, and more. It looks like DICE is trying to make good on its commitment to improving Battlefield 2042 after its rough launch.

The focus comes at the cost of some initial pillars, like the removal of the 128-player Breakthrough variant. The team also shuttered all future content development for Hazard Zone, its Tarkov-style multiplayer mode, ?in favor of focusing on its other?? pillars.

With Season 1 for Battlefield 2042 finally going live, it seems like this could be ??the time for DICE to rally ??and try to right the ship. Exploding crossbow bolts are a good start, at least.

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