Diablo III Console Editions Won't Be Getting Seasons Mode

[Sarah LeBoeuf]

Diablo III Console Editions Won't Be Getting Seasons Mode

The Xbox and PlayStation versions of Diablo III won't be offering the PC version's Seasons gameplay mode or cross-system play.

Console gamers hoping to get the full Diablo III experience are in for a disappointment: non-computer versions of the game won't get the Seasons mode GameSpot [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/137042-Diablo-III-Big-2-1-Patch-Tomorrow-Adds-New-Features-Ladders]. "That's a great example for something that doesn't work for consoles."

Martens also dropped another bummer regarding the console versions of Diablo III: cross-platform play is "definitely not possible at this point with this game." It's not terribly surprising that Xbox One owners won't be able to play online with PS4 owners, but fans had hoped for a more optimistic answer nonetheless. "We didn't build it that way, so the two ecosystems are closed. I'm trying to give you the most definitive, least PR answer there is, and that is no, we can't do that. What the Xbox and PlayStation networks do is different than what Battle.net does."

That may be the "definitive, least PR" response, but it's somewhat different from what Battlecry's Rich Vogel told our own Steven Bogos just days ago at PAX Australia [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/138382-Battlecry-PAX-Australia-2014-Interview]. In Vogel's words, "Sony and Microsoft don't like crossplay... They want to keep everything in their own ecosystem. That's their walled garden."

However, the console versions do offer one advantage, according to Martens: being able to gift rare items, which isn't possible on the PC "given the history of it and the auction house and all that." So even if you can't play Diablo III with your buddies on another console or enjoy the Seasons content, you can at least send your friends some sweet rare loot.

Source: GamePolitics [http://www.gamespot.com/articles/diablo-3-cross-platform-play-is-impossible-no-seas/1100-6423471/]

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[RicoADF]

If I could sacrifice Seasons mode for offline mode on my PC copy I'd do it in a heartbeat. Sounds like a win for the consoles in my opinion.

 

[Lunar Templar]

People should stop giving the Xbone games if they're only gonna kill features that actually help the game like cross-platform play.

 

[Mezahmay]

I like the irony of disallowing Seasons mode in the system infrastructure that's less likely to get hacked or exploited. Now to go start grinding more on seasons mode to maintain my delusion of smug PC master race superiority.

 

[AuronFtw]

If I could sacrifice Seasons mode for offline mode on my PC copy I'd do it in a heartbeat. Sounds like a win for the consoles in my opinion.

All of my this. Seasons are effectively pointless, offering only marginally increased rewards over hardcore (which is pointless in every sense of the word). Oh shit, slightly earlier access to a couple of legendary items? Call the press!

Even starting a seasonal character is tedious. No IMS or life regen from paragon levels, no artisans to craft some early gear or the occasional yellow to fill in a weak spot. The most damning aspect, IMO, is hellfire rings and amulets. The whole point of that immense amount of effort (killing 20+ keywardens for sets of keys for 4 - absolute minimum - ubers for organs to craft with) is to offer your alts something to make leveling less painful. The vast majority of hellfire amulets and 100% of hellfire rings are simply too shitty to be viable on a 70, so obviously they're intended for lower level chars - and when you've played for any amount of time, you'll have most classes at 70. Roll a seasonal char, and whoops, magically no hellfire equipment, rendering that massive amount of grind pointless.

I'd take offline play over that any day.

 

[Ticklefist]

Unless you just have to cheat in order to have fun, play the PC version. It's 2014, you're always online anyways.

 

[Rozalia1]

People should stop giving the Xbone games if they're only gonna kill features that actually help the game like cross-platform play.

It is odd he singles out both when Sony has shown no real resistance to the concept, whilst Microsoft is so against it they've pretty much outright stopped certain games coming to their platform as a result of their stance against cross play.

Being diplomatic I suppose.

Unless you just have to cheat in order to have fun, play the PC version. It's 2014, you're always online anyways.

Adam Orth is that you?

 

[Lunar Templar]

People should stop giving the Xbone games if they're only gonna kill features that actually help the game like cross-platform play.

It is odd he singles out both when Sony has shown no real resistance to the concept, whilst Microsoft is so against it they've pretty much outright stopped certain games coming to their platform as a result of their stance against cross play.

Being diplomatic I suppose.

Still stupid. Cross platform play, while not 'huge' in terms of game play is nice to have.

>.> though given how the Console Warframe players like to whine about exclusive items who's offers expired a while that might better we don't have it ....

 

[Ticklefist]

Unless you just have to cheat in order to have fun, play the PC version. It's 2014, you're always online anyways.

Adam Orth is that you?

I'm gonna have to use google aren't I?

Ah, an Xbox One guy. Pretty different imo. They were trying to kill the used game market. Ours has been dead for years. As long as it's not preventing you from playing your game, there's really no reason to complain about a PC game requiring an online connection anymore.

 

[Rozalia1]

I'm gonna have to use google aren't I?

Ah, an Xbox One guy. Pretty different imo. They were trying to kill the used game market. Ours has been dead for years. As long as it's not preventing you from playing your game, there's really no reason to complain about a PC game requiring an online connection anymore.

All I read is both of you saying "you're always online anyway", forgetting/ignoring that there are people that isn't exactly the case for (I am not one of those people before you get the wrong idea). His response to that was #Dealwithit, what is yours?

 

[Ticklefist]

I'm gonna have to use google aren't I?

Ah, an Xbox One guy. Pretty different imo. They were trying to kill the used game market. Ours has been dead for years. As long as it's not preventing you from playing your game, there's really no reason to complain about a PC game requiring an online connection anymore.

All I read is both of you saying "you're always online anyway", forgetting/ignoring that there are people that isn't exactly the case for (I am not one of those people before you get the wrong idea). His response to that was #Dealwithit, what is yours?

People in those situations certainly have their options limited. There are a lot of games they just can't play, Diablo III is only one of them. I don't envy them.

 

[Morti]

However, the console versions do offer one advantage, according to Martens: being able to gift rare items, which isn't possible on the PC "given the history of it and the auction house and all that." So even if you can't play Diablo III with your buddies on another console or enjoy the Seasons content, you can at least send your friends some sweet rare loot.

This strikes me as rather misleading as, unless I'm missing something, you can't gift rare items. You occasionally loot a "gift" which is then automatically mailed to someone on your friends list who also has the game. No choice, no interaction, just a little message saying "You found a gift for Bob". Sure, it is a legendary, but it's not what I call a gift, you're, effectively, just dropping loot for people you met as you play ¬_¬