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"It's going to be really f***ing hard": Diablo 4 is getting 8 new difficulty tiers in Lord of Hatred because Blizzard wants OP builds to actually have to try
Diablo 4's upcoming Lord of Hatred expansion will introduce eight new difficulty tiers called Torment to challenge overpowered builds. Associate game director Zaven Haroutunian explained that this approach aims to provide a better risk/reward system for players. The expansion, releasing April 28, will feature a more granular progression through these tiers, with the final level described as "really fucking hard."
'This Is Big Unemployed Behaviour': Overwatch Dev Roasts SteamDB Fanatics
An Overwatch developer criticized the intense focus on Steam concurrent player numbers within gaming communities, calling it 'big unemployed, maidenless behaviour.' The developer highlighted how these metrics are often misinterpreted and lack context, especially for multiplatform releases where data from PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo is unavailable.
Blizzard nerfed this WoW item, but players found an even better loophole that allowed them to travel across the planet…
Players discovered a loophole in World of Warcraft that allowed for rapid travel across the game world using a newly introduced item. Blizzard initially attempted to patch the exploit, but a subsequent hotfix has provided a compromise, turning the item into a reliable teleportation device to Silvermoon City, similar to a hearthstone.
Overwatch senior dev says using Steam player counts to dunk on multi-platform releases like Marathon is "big…
Overwatch senior designer Dylan Snyder and Warframe creative director Rebecca Ford have commented on the scrutiny of Steam player counts for multi-platform games like Marathon. They argue that Steam player data alone is not a definitive measure of a game's success, especially for titles available on multiple platforms or through different launchers like Battle.net. The discussion highlights the increasing competition and saturation in the PC gaming market.
WoW: Midnight's new Prey mechanic is the coolest system the MMO's added in a while, but it needs to be…
The new Prey mechanic in World of Warcraft: The War Within expansion is an engaging addition that allows players to be ambushed in the open world. While the normal and hard difficulties are currently underwhelming, the upcoming nightmare mode and potential for unique target behaviors offer promise for the system's future.
As the Marathon player count discourse reaches peak stupidity, Warframe and Overwatch devs speak up in solidarity: 'This is big unemployed, maidenless behavior'
Developers from Warframe and Overwatch have spoken out against the intense scrutiny of Marathon's player count on Steam, calling it "unemployed, maidenless behavior." Rebecca Ford of Warframe highlighted the increased competition in the market since the game's launch, while Dylan Snyder of Overwatch pointed out the limitations of using SteamDB for player count analysis. The discussion touches on the challenges faced by new live service games in a crowded market.
Diablo 4: Lord Of Hatred Will Have 12 Torment Difficulty Levels To Grind
The upcoming Diablo 4 expansion, Lord of Hatred, will introduce 12 Torment difficulty levels, significantly increasing the current four tiers. Blizzard aims to keep the endgame relevant for players by offering more granular rewards and a higher aspirational challenge, with Torment 12 being exceptionally difficult. This overhaul, along with other changes like the removal of passive skills and the addition of new classes, aims to refine the player experience.
Blizzard wants Diablo 4's outrageous damage numbers to mean something again in Lord of Hatred, so it's letting you crank the difficulty up to near-impossible levels: 'It's going to be really f*cking hard'
Blizzard Entertainment is increasing the difficulty tiers in Diablo 4's upcoming Lord of Hatred expansion from four to twelve. This change aims to make player power gains more meaningful and provide a greater challenge, with the highest tier described as 'really fucking hard.' The expansion will also introduce a loot filter and the Horadric Cube crafting system.
Steam game listing achieves knockoff singularity by aping Pokémon, Zelda, and even Overwatch designs with a shamelessness Palworld could only dream of
The Steam game listing Pickmon is heavily criticized for its blatant imitation of popular titles like Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda, and Overwatch, going as far as to copy Palworld's designs. Despite its derivative nature, the game's developers have implemented a card-throwing mechanic instead of ball-catching to potentially avoid legal issues with Nintendo. The article questions the ethics of such shameless copying, even if it remains within legal boundaries.
'If we love this work, we have to protect it:' Heart Machine workers secure voluntary union recognition
Employees at Heart Machine, the studio behind Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash, have successfully unionized with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and received voluntary recognition from the company. This move follows recent layoffs and aims to secure better work-life balance, creative autonomy, and job security for developers. The unionization effort at Heart Machine is part of a broader trend of increasing labor organizing within the game industry.
MMO Week in Review: Midnight’s proper launch, Ashes of Creation’s legal battle
This week's MMO news roundup covers the official launch of World of Warcraft Midnight, a legal battle involving Ashes of Creation's former boss Steven Sharif, and the debuts of Bungie's Marathon and Equinox Homecoming. Several games, including Highguard and Eldegarde, are also announced to be sunsetting.
The Best Games Under $5 on the PS Store Right Now (Limited Time)
Rob Pardo, Bonfire Studios manager and former Blizzard chief creative officer, will deliver a keynote address at GDC's Festival of Gaming. The article also briefly mentions a list of games under $5 on the PlayStation Store.
The Overwatch devs think you're banning the wrong heroes
Blizzard Entertainment has shared data on hero ban rates and win percentages in Overwatch, indicating that players may be focusing bans on the wrong characters. The developer noted that the new hero Mizuki is currently flying under the radar in terms of ban frequency.
Overwatch 2 Midseason Skins Drop March 10 with Void Venture Concept Art
Blizzard Entertainment is releasing a new midseason skin collection for Overwatch 2 on March 10th, featuring "Void Venture" and "Sigma" designs. The concept art for these premium cosmetics has generated excitement within the community, while also reigniting discussions about the game's monetization strategy and the balance between cosmetic updates and new gameplay content.
Overwatch Players Spot Major Character Design Inconsistency With Domina
Overwatch players have identified a significant inconsistency between the character Domina's in-game model and her voice line icon, which appears to be from an earlier design. This discovery highlights potential oversights in UI design and quality assurance within live service games like Overwatch. Blizzard Entertainment is expected to address the issue in a future patch.
Least Toxic Online Games for Adults in 2026
This article discusses online multiplayer games that are less likely to expose players to toxic behavior, focusing on community culture, game structure, moderation, and anonymity. It highlights games like Deep Rock Galactic, Final Fantasy XIV, and Warframe as examples of well-designed environments that foster positive player interactions, while also advising on self-protection strategies applicable to any game.
WoW's recent revamp of Silvermoon for Midnight is so good, I'm starting to wonder if the MMO's model of a 'new exciting continent every 2-3 years' was ever the right way
The upcoming World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion's revamp of older zones like Silvermoon is praised for its detail and scope, prompting a discussion on whether Blizzard's traditional 'new continent every few years' model is optimal. This approach focuses on enriching existing areas rather than constantly introducing new ones, potentially avoiding the 'continent creep' issue common in long-running MMOs.
Overwatch Players Question Why Antarctic Peninsula Was Removed
Overwatch players are questioning Blizzard Entertainment's decision to remove the Antarctic Peninsula map from the game's rotation. The community argues that several other maps currently in play are worse, sparking a broader discussion about map design quality and Blizzard's handling of player feedback regarding map rotation.
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred is Rethinking Its Approach To Levelling In A Good Way
Blizzard Entertainment is revising the leveling approach for Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred to allow players more time to familiarize themselves with new classes like the Paladin and Warlock. Game director Colin Finer explained that early game monster clearing will be slower, but later levels will feel more dynamic with more skills and faster combat. This change aims to provide a more evenly paced experience throughout the game's progression.
A decades-old Diablo 2 easter egg has suddenly become relevant again as players hunt for the best loot in Reign of the…
A long-standing Diablo 2 easter egg, known as the "souls dance," has become relevant again due to the Reign of the Warlock expansion. This easter egg grants a significant, hidden magic find buff for 19 hours, substantially increasing the chances of rare item drops, including new sunder charms.
