While Diablo IV’s Vessel of Hatred expansion isn’t expected until sometime later next year, Blizzard has decided to apparently burn some goodwill early. According to a video report from YouTube channel Bellular News, the studio is sending out surveys that ask some very concerning questions about expansion bundles – particularly in regard to their costs and offered benefits.
According to Bellular’s source, Blizzard has been sending out surveys that detail various expansion bundles with various price points ranging from $50 to $100, each with distinct benefits such as class cosmetics, mounts, a stipend of cash shop currency (both in instant bundles and in stacks of currency at the start of each season), and premium battle pass access.
Where things get gnarly is the survey’s mention of “early access to a functional item […] before it’s released during the expansion,” granting a unique item for the $70 bundle and a legendary aspect for the $100 bundle, as well as additional stash tab space for the $50, $70, and $80 packs and a “non-player companion” that provides “conveniences and utility such as access to your stash or gold pick ups” in the $50 and $80 bundles.
It’s at this point we should remind readers that surveys are not set-in-stone confirmations of bundle features or prices, but all the same these are extremely worrisome questions for Blizzard to be asking, particularly when Blizzard president Mike Ybarra is usually quick to leap ahead of survey question outrage. Blizzard additionally has used surveys like this to test the limits of player patience and potentially renege on initial plans.
Player outcry over this leaked survey has come fast and thick across Reddit, the game’s official forums, and other YouTube channels, with many calling the bundle offerings pay-to-win, worrying about what the benefits of the “functional items” are, and raging about paying for more stash space in an OARPG that reportedly is stingy with storage.
Still others are coming to the defense of Blizzard by claiming stash space isn’t important enough to get upset over, arguing that these options aren’t dissimilar to other studio offerings, and asking others to source their outrage. There are even some who are lashing out against influencers, arguing that their purchases of high-dollar D4 bundles has encouraged Blizzard’s monetization behavior.
As of right now, Blizzard has yet to post any official response to any of the player outcries or acknowledge the leak on its official channels. What it will be doing is hosting another Campfire Chat today, November 30th, when the devs will discuss the Abattoir of Zir dungeon, the Midwinter Blight event, and some unspecified quality-of-life updates due next year.
