Many content creators and websites interviewed members of the Diablo 4 dev team about the upcoming expansion and here’s a recap of the interviews.
The following post is based on Immundus‘ Reddit recap.
Interview Highlights
- We’ll learn more about Vessel of Hatred features as we near Gamescom 2024 (August 21).
- Vessel of Hatred offers great opportunities for adjustments, potentially changing level progression and cap.
- In Vessel of Hatred, players can choose how to engage with the campaign, either starting fresh with a Spiritborn or diving into the expansion’s story.
- Vessel of Hatred won’t be like Reaper of Souls. All current Diablo 4 game features will remain available regardless of VoH ownership.
- Season 6 will haver features available without owning the new expansion.
- Post-Season 1, a separate live team focuses on class changes and immediate game improvements.
- The goal of balance changes it to preserve player enjoyment, address overpowered elements mid- or post-season unless they are disruptive.
- The Spiritborn was designed by the Rogue class designer, emphasizing momentum and aggressive movement.
- It’s different from the Monk through hybridization, mixing different fight styles and spirit guardians.
- At the beginning, the Spiritborn had 60 prototype skills that have been narrowed down to 24 distinct and thematic abilities.
- The Spiritborn class uses polearms, glaives, and quarterstaves.
- Spiritborn has a Thorns build including a legendary aspect synergizing with dodge.
- Block mechanics provide inherent damage reduction, encouraging future use.
- There are no plans for a PTR for Vessel of Hatred to avoid spoilers and maintain polish.
- A holy archetype sword classes are under discussion for future addition.
- New classes must always avoid significant overlap with existing archetypes.
- More itemization updates and a loot filter are planned.
- Crafting mechanics similar to Tempering or Masterworking will be expanded upon.
- Raids will be optional, not mandatory.
- They have no plans for an Auction House, trading still remains a complex issue.
- Armory and loadouts are high-priority features in development.
- The team’s discussing on modernizing classic features like sets, runewords, and multiple goblin types.
- Mercenaries aim to replicate the small party experience, complementing classic builds.
- Lord Eater Barbarian set is the top-selling transmog currently in D4.
- Expansion area will include familiar region activities and encourage exploration.
- Dungeons in VoH focus on exploration, with potential for similar updates in the base game.
- No new PvP zone is planned in VoH.
- They have no specific cadence for expansions, but the second expansion is already in development.
- There’s going to be no Hell’s Ink tattoo event between now and October.