Summary
The main draw ofDiablo 4’s seasonal model is the new content players can expect to dive into on a consistent basis, keeping the game feeling fresh long after the initial release hype has died down. The Season of the Malignant forDiablo 4has delivered on this expectation to a degree, but has also been overshadowed by controversy regarding gameplay changes made in the seasonal update. However, amid this update controversy, one major flaw of the seasonal content model seems to have been overlooked, and it could come back to bite players by the end of the Season of the Malignant.
Players new to theDiabloseries may have been turned off by the fact that the game requires them to create anewDiablo 4character each seasonafter they have spent so much time investing in their initial character. While many players are excited by the prospect of trying out a new class or build type on their seasonal character, there is one element of this seasonal character structure that makes playing this content frustrating no matter the player. Seasonal mechanics likeDiablo 4Season 1’s Malignant Hearts disappear after the season ends, potentially throwing a wrench in the build of a character the player has worked hard to grind for.
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Diablo 4 Players May Lose Out on a Powerful Seasonal Build Once the Season Ends
Diablo 4’s seasonal contentis separated from its main game content by the presence of two different realms that players can create a character on. The Seasonal Realm only exists for the duration of the current season and allows players to access all the content present in that season including the Battle Pass, new story quests, and seasonal mechanics. After the season ends, the player’s seasonal character will migrate to the Eternal Realm, which as the name suggests is always accessible but doesn’t contain any of the seasonal content.
While it is good to know that all the work that went into creating a seasonal character won’t completely go to waste, the disappearance of seasonal content after the season ends means the seasonal character’s build on the Eternal Realm may not be the same as it was on the Seasonal Realm. This creates a bittersweet situation where participating in seasonal activities and taking advantage of thenew season’s content can helpDiablo 4feel fresh and add an interesting twist to character creation. However, this character’s potential is ultimately hindered by the fact that it will eventually lose out on much of its power.
For example, the Season of the Malignant introducedMalignant and Caged Heartsthat can drastically change a character’s build by offering bonuses similar toDiablo 4’s legendary aspects. However, these hearts will disappear at the end of the season, meaning the buffs they provided accessories that were integral to a build will be rendered completely unavailable once the character moves to the Eternal Realm. So while it may be fun to tackle some ofDiablo 4’s most difficult challenges with a build powered up by Caged Hearts, this build will ultimately never reach the same heights it did once the season ends.
This type of limited-time content presents a tough choice for players as while participating in the season and building a seasonal character allows them to try something new with their builds, the knowledge that any build that relies on the seasonal mechanic will ultimately be null in a few months is a bit disheartening. As such, seasons could be more engaging by introducing new permanent mechanics to the game to alleviate the double-edged nature of the current seasonal model. Unfortunately, this type of permanent content update is unlikely to happen untilDiablo 4releases its first major expansion.
Diablo 4is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
