Release of Diablo 4 hotfixes on the same day
The release of Diablo 4 hotfixes on the same day highlights Blizzard's relentless dedication to fixing up gameplay issues in the ARPG game.
Diablo 4 hotfix 11 removes power leveling trick
Diablo 4 hotfix 11 removes a power leveling trick from the ARPG game. Blizzard has quickly issued a fix to remove the exploit from World Tiers.
Blizzard isn't messing about with the Diablo 4 hotfixes. The developer released a new update to the RPG game that fixes issues relating to World Tiers being accessible before players have technically progressed enough in the game to unlock them.
Understanding Diablo 4 World Tiers
As a refresher, Diablo 4 World Tiers are levelling zones that increase certain gameplay bonuses depending on the player's level. These benefits range from increased XP and gold drop rates to more powerful loot drops and overall increased difficulty, potentially leading to being overwhelmed if players are not appropriately leveled first.
The original hotfix notes reveal that inviting players to your party who aren't eligible to enter World Tier 3 or World Tier 4 zones will result in a warning. Players won't be able to enter the zone unless everyone in the party meets the World Tier requirements.
That being said, a new update going live today removes this safeguard for anyone currently in a World Tier 3 or 4 zone. Blizzard states that this change will require players to "beat the game and the capstone dungeon to unlock World Tiers 3 and 4," as these areas will not be accessible until then anyway.
Diablo 4 hotfix 11 changes:
- Diablo 4 hotfix 11 release time
Diablo 4 hotfix 11 went live at 7pm BST on May 13. The dev notes also state that Blizzard fixed "World Tier issues that would prevent players from unlocking World Tier 3 and World Tier 4 if they hadn't progressed far enough."
This fix was added to the same hotfix as Hotfix 10, which resolved an unintended damage interaction with the Druid's "Toxic Claws" passive. The note states that some damage over time from equipped items and passives "could stack very high during the multiple global cooldowns after attacking."
The quick turnaround on these hotfixes, with Hotfix 10 and Hotfix 11 both released on May 13, shows Blizzard's dedication to Diablo 4 and addressing player concerns. Without these timely fixes, players would have free reign to act as leeching tools to players who are striving to complete the game.
That said, as someone who struggled through Diablo 3 solo after locking myself out of Reaper of Souls mode during a livestream, I can sympathise with those who are disappointed by this particular change. Unlike the Reaper of Souls mode, you can still play through solo in Diablo 4, so perhaps this just encourages players to interact organically and take on the challenges of the game in its intended state.
That said, the removal of this trick does ensure the game is fair, giving a level-playing field for those who are taking their time to progress at their own pace without others posing a threat to their experience. The capstone dungeon also presents an additional challenge, so I won't cry too hard for those who were using this method to cut corners.
The Diablo 4 hotfixes today show a developer that isn't messing about
The Diablo 4 hotfixes today show a developer that isn't messing about - resolving issues and maintaining balance in the face of criticism. With more frequent updates showing Blizzard's commitment to getting things right, the consistent Diablo 4 updates will hopefully address the issues players have seen so far.
