Comment on [Game] Diablo 4 is coming to Steam
bug@lemmy.one 11 months agoI don’t really play online multiplayer games anymore, what actually are “seasons” (and “battle passes” for that matter)? I’ve seen them mentioned in games like rocket league and overwatch which I’d paid for, but they cost more money and didn’t appear to be DLCs/expansions so I just ignored them.
ezures@lemmy.wtf 11 months ago
Battlepasses are usually an another progression system with time limited skins and rewards. Usually a season last a couple of months, then a new one starts with new progression and rewards. Sometimes there are events tied to a season.
In theory, it means the game always gets updates, but in actuality its ripping off players for like a handful of skins (theres a lot of filler in most of them), while getting them to play the game more because of fomo.
Also sometimes you can earn back the price back in in-game currency, so if you keep maxing them out its “free” after the first one.
bug@lemmy.one 11 months ago
So it’s all just a way to sell you cosmetics?
kafei@mtgzone.com 11 months ago
Battle passes yes. Often battle passes will have a free progression tier and a paid one. But seasons are often just made so people have an incentive to come back to the game. In the case of diablo3 and path of exile for example a new season will mark a new patch that changes game mechanics (buff certain builds, Nerf others or through new items enable builds that weren’t possible before). To play a season you have to start a new character so that gives you the incentive to try a new build which Poe has plenty of. Seasons will also introduce a mechanic only available in the season that make playing it feel unique and different. Season mechanics often require a lot of Dev work and are free to play but sometimes come with a season pass (that is optional )or the developer just hopes you buy some cosmetics while playing.
bug@lemmy.one 11 months ago
I guess it makes complete sense for these “live service” games, but it’s so weird to me that the game itself changes and you lose access to something you might already have paid for!