Is the game pay to win? The infamous question that either makes or breaks a mobile game. Gaming has changed over the last few years. Microtransactions have increasingly become the norm. It’s normal to pick up a mobile game, and even some console games, and notice that certain features or resources can only become available to you with an easy payment. Skins, coins, upgrade materials, the list goes on! That begs the question is Diablo Immortal a pay to win game? We took a deep dive to see if you can play it without needing to pay for materials.
Is Diablo Immortal a Pay to Win Game?
The answer is complicated, but Diablo Immortal does feature some pay-to-win elements.
First off, let’s look at the game’s positive aspects. Players have praised the game for feeling realistic and loyal to the Diablo franchise. It’s a perfect game for beginners who want to be introduced to the series but just don’t have the time to play like they used to. This game is fast-paced where you’ll be flying through levels, has an easy-to-understand gear system, and the controls are simplistic.
But with every mobile game, there comes a time when those easy levels halt and you’ll find yourself grinding. Certain activities that seemed easy at the beginning become a chore to the point where you feel like you want an out.
That feeling you get when you want to spend money to ease the pain of grinding? It’s real and players believe once you hit end game you will be tempted to want to spend money to craft gear to become stronger. We would say that because it’s difficult to get Legendary Gems, Diablo Immortal, in a sense, is pay to win. Players can spend money if they don’t want to grind after-end content to purchase Legendary Gems. These gems come from loot boxes called the Legendary Crests.
What Is the Legendary Crest System in Diablo Immortal
These fancy loot boxes are the key to acquiring Legendary Gems. Once you defeat a dungeon, you get a Crest. These Crests are the only way you can get 3-5 star gems to upgrade your armor so you can become stronger. The catch? You aren’t guaranteed these high-ranking gems because it is 100% up to chance. In fact, you only have a 0.5% chance of getting a 5 star gem.
Similar to games such as Genshin Impact, Diablo Immortal has a system that guarantees a 5-star drop after you’ve opened 50 Legendary Crests. But even the highest bundle pack, priced at $100, only contains 45 crests. This means you won’t get that 5 star, however, if you spend more money, you could get more crests.
What are Crests?
Crests are a type of currency used in Diablo Immortals. These Crests are used to help earn bonuses during Rift challenges. You can either get crests through eternal orbs, diamonds or by logging in to earn a Rare Crest for free.
When your party uses crests during the rift challenges, it helps to boost your percentage chance to get awesome rewards. Basically, Crests are pretty important, and buying them can be costly. If you pay $25 you get 10 Legendary Crests. If you want to really upgrade your character, buying these Crests, would probably cost thousands of dollars. Those are some pretty expensive microtransactions!
Although, technically, you can get through the main content and enjoy the game for what it is without having to pay; once you hit the end it’s really just a grind. We wouldn’t classify Diablo Immortal as a strictly pay-to-win game but it does feature some controversial elements. We are leaving the decision up for the players.
Related: All Microtransactions in Diablo Immortal
Be sure to check out some of our other guides on the latest Diablo installment. We can show you tips & tricks for beginners interested in the game & we have guides that talk about other popular gaming titles.
