Taking down hordes of demons can be exhilarating, but when you’re doing it just 20 minutes after starting a new character in a loot-centric action RPG, something feels off. The thrill of getting more powerful loot comes from feeling each step of your journey. If you’re dispatching foes effortlessly with fresh gear, chasing after more loses its allure. This seems to be the main gripe at the heart of Diablo 4’s latest season—it’s feeling a bit too easy for many players.
Blizzard has acknowledged the issue and is adjusting its approach in the upcoming season 8, aiming to dial up the difficulty without diminishing the joy of becoming a formidable demon-slayer. During a livestream today, Diablo 4’s developers shared plans to make the progression from levels 1 to 60 a more meaningful experience while also presenting a greater challenge in the endgame scenarios.
When Diablo 4 introduced its first expansion, “Vessel of Hatred,” the pacing of the game saw a substantial overhaul. However, players have been blitzing through content much quicker than anticipated. Colin Finer, the design director, noted that in the current season, maxing out levels has been surprisingly swift, taking less than half the time compared to earlier seasons. To preserve the richness of the initial game stages, Blizzard intends to extend the journey through the first 25 levels.
Another key adjustment involves the Legendary items, which are the pinnacle of loot acquisition in the game. These will now drop less frequently on your path to level 60, with more emphasis on enhancing lower-tier items to keep the game engaging. Finer expressed hope that this would make the progression feel more “rewarding and satisfying.”
As for the endgame—the phase where players refine their characters and push into higher Torment levels for greater loot—it’s set to become increasingly challenging. Blizzard revealed that half of the players reached the highest Torment level in just half the time this season compared to previous ones. Finer explained, “Our philosophy is that the toughest Torment tier, currently Torment 4, should be aspirational, representing a challenge for roughly 10% of the player base.” Next season, moving up in Torment difficulty is going to be noticeably tougher.
Moreover, the endgame bosses will also see a significant revamp. They have been redesigned to ensure players with meticulously crafted builds face truly formidable opponents instead of predictable loot sources. Three new bosses will be introduced, and players won’t find themselves overwhelmed with summoning items anymore. Instead, these bosses can be challenged freely, and after their defeat, they’ll drop chests that require keys to unlock. Plus, there’s a new surprise element: Belial, the most powerful boss, may occasionally show up unbidden.
Blizzard plans to let PC players on Battle.net try out these upcoming changes during its season 8 Public Test Realm (PTR) from March 11 to March 18. Mark your calendars, as the fully revamped season 8 is set to launch on April 29.
