Taking on hordes of demons is undeniably thrilling, but doing so just 20 minutes after you’ve rolled your character in a loot-centric action RPG like Diablo 4 can be a bit too much. Players should feel a sense of progression as they climb the ranks, gathering power with each step. Without that build-up, the drive to hunt for more loot loses its allure. For many in the Diablo 4 community, this ease of gameplay marks a significant flaw in the latest season; it simply doesn’t challenge enough.
Recognizing this, Blizzard is set to ramp up the difficulty in season 8, aiming for a fine balance between maintaining the fun of becoming an all-powerful demon slayer while introducing more meaningful challenges. In a recent stream, the developers shared their plans to slow down the journey from level 1 to 60, making it more fulfilling and ramping up the intensity of the endgame grind.
With Diablo 4’s first expansion, “Vessel of Hatred,” the game saw significant adjustments in gameplay mechanics. However, as design director Colin Finer pointed out, players have rapidly burned through content, especially in the current season. It’s taking them less than half the time to max out their levels compared to previous seasons. To preserve the rewarding elements of the early game, Blizzard plans to stretch the time it takes to reach level 25.
Adding to the challenge, Legendary items—the pinnacle of loot rarity—will become more scarce on the journey to level 60. In their place, lower-tier items will be more potent, bridging any power gaps. Finer mentioned their goal is to make the climb through these levels feel more rewarding and satisfying.
The endgame in Diablo 4, which focuses on leveling up gear and tackling higher Torment tiers for better loot, is also in for a revamp. Blizzard notes that about half of the current players have quickly ascended to the pinnacle Torment level much faster than before. “Philosophically, we aim for the toughest Torment tier—currently Torment 4—to be aspirational, representing only about 10% of the seasoned players,” Finer explained. Expect steeper difficulty hikes between each Torment tier in upcoming content.
The season will also feature revamped endgame bosses designed to test players with perfected builds rather than just acting as loot fountains. Three fresh bosses are set to challenge adventurers, and you won’t find your inventory bloated with summoning items anymore. Instead, each boss encounter comes free, dropping a special chest that requires a key for access, and the formidable boss Belial may even unexpectedly interrupt your fights.
Starting next week, Battle.net PC players can delve into these updates during the season 8 Public Test Realm (PTR), available from March 11 to March 18. The full release of season 8 is slated for April 29, promising a more challenging climb for Diablo 4’s players.
