Activision Blizzard's 'Diablo 4' Shatters Sales Records, But In-Game Shop Prices Spark Controversy

Activision Blizzard Inc (NASDAQ: ATVI) has declared "Diablo 4" as the fastest-selling game in the company's history.

Although Blizzard did not disclose specific sales figures, the game has garnered 93 million hours of playtime since its early access launch on June 1.

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Rod Fergusson, Diablo's general manager, responded in a statement: "This is a moment that the Diablo 4 team has been working towards for years. We take immense pride in delivering players the most immersive story ever presented in a Diablo game."

Fergusson also acknowledged the support received from millions of players worldwide since the game's initial announcement in 2019.

It is worth noting that "Diablo 4" had been available for four days before its official release date on June 6. Consequently, Blizzard is likely including sales from early access members, along with the purchases made by players on the first day of the game's official release.

Diablo 4's Launch Raises Eyebrows With Expensive In-Game Shop

The game has also drawn attention for its expensive microtransactions. The action role-playing game relies heavily on in-game monetization, including plans for various post-launch battle passes.

The in-game shop has become a contentious topic among fans. The shop exclusively sells cosmetic items that do not affect gameplay. While this aligns with Blizzard's pre-launch promises, the pricing of some cosmetics has raised eyebrows.

As reported by IGN, the Triune Apostate armor set is priced at $24.99, the Cryptic Hunter mount at $7,95, and the Three-Fold Nightmare Prestige mount and armor at $16.17. Purchasing all available cosmetics could cost players hundreds of dollars, with estimates reaching around $357.

The effectiveness and fairness of Diablo 4's monetization strategy will be determined when the game introduces its battle passes. Players will have the opportunity to see if the most visually appealing armor sets are only accessible through additional payments (paywalls) or if the base game itself provides satisfactory options without requiring additional purchases.

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