# Diablo 4, cross-platform, now in beta **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** video-games-e-games\ **Created:** [March 25, 2023, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620 "2023-03-25T01:36:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/81 "2023-06-01T17:38:05Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > TONIGHT! > > Can’t wait. Reviews are stellar. I’ve avoided watching any of the cinematics and didn’t play the beta so its all fresh. I have a fairly beefy system so I hope it can handle ultra at 4k. I also have avoided reading/watching anything including the class info. We have a flawless plan to get the kiddo in bed early tonight. When Diablo 3 was released, I took the entire day off to play. This time I’m waiting until they’ve ironed out the kinks before I set aside the time. But tonight is definitely spoken for! ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/82 "2023-06-01T17:49:54Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > Except for the possibility of lag? No, exactly the same. D3 forced you to be online also. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/83 "2023-06-01T17:56:52Z")
I played Diablo 3 (single player) on an Xbox 360 without an internet connection. Maybe it was a console-only thing. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/84 "2023-06-01T18:09:28Z")
Well, yeah. The whole “online play only” thing is to prevent piracy, I don’t think that is a concern for consoles. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/85 "2023-06-01T22:13:30Z")
Anyone chosen a class to start with? I’m really on the fence. (Barb or Sorceress) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/86 "2023-06-01T22:25:20Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > Maybe it was a console-only thing. It was. PC required (and still requires) a constant connection. The console version doesn’t, but if you don’t have a connection then you lose some features like the leaderboards and seasonal play. D4 is the first entry that always requires a connection no matter what, no matter which platform you play it on. (I don’t count Diablo Immortal as a real Diablo game, since it’s just the Chinese mobile game “Endless of God” with a Diablo skin put on it. NetEase made both games.) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/87 "2023-06-01T22:28:42Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Anyone chosen a class to start with? Necromancer. I planned to do a Druid, but when I played beta I didn’t care for it at all. Necromancer was the class I was least interested in, which of course means that when I tried one out I fell in love with it. 🙄 Sorcerer is my close second-favorite though. When I found a build based around Chain Lightning mixed with freezing spells I was hooked. And the Enchantment system (where you can turn any active skill into a passive always-on buff) might be the deepest customization option of any class in the game. To me, that system is the most innovative thing in this game. (Overall, D4 doesn’t bring a lot of new things nobody has seen before, it just takes the best systems we’ve seen in ARPGs and mixes them together into a ridiculously good game.) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/88 "2023-06-01T22:46:30Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I planned to do a Druid, but when I played beta I didn’t care for it at all. Yeah…not sure what it is but Druid isn’t intriguing me either. By all accounts it is a very good and very capable choice (all the classes seem well balanced despite being quite distinct). Just not for me. I want to like the Rogue but it seems a little too click-heavy for me. Probably ideal for the Starcraft player mindset I think. Looks really cool though. Necromancer seems pretty great but I have yet to get my head around how it plays. Guess I just have to try it. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/89 "2023-06-02T02:26:13Z")
Question for the Mods: Should we continue discussing Diablo IV in this thread (i.e. tips and whatnot playing the game) or start a new thread? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/90 "2023-06-02T02:57:01Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Anyone chosen a class to start with? I’m really on the fence. (Barb or Sorceress) I went with Druid, which shocked my husband, because I’m usually a straight-up brawler. But Druid has some good brawling abilities if you like close combat, with some solid endurance in Werebear form. Plus I can do fun things with lightning. Wizards are always awesome in Diablo but I noticed the “overview” didn’t show very many interesting skills. You can use Fire, Lightning and Ice? You don’t say? But my husband seems to be enjoying his Wizard. We are at Level 6 now. I have a feeling we’re going to have some sleepless nights. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/91 "2023-06-02T03:24:00Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Should we continue discussing Diablo IV in this thread (i.e. tips and whatnot playing the game) or start a new thread? I started this thread but I’m all good with closing it for a new one. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/92 "2023-06-02T03:27:17Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I went with Druid, which shocked my husband, because I’m usually a straight-up brawler. But Druid has some good brawling abilities if you like close combat, with some solid endurance in Werebear form. Plus I can do fun things with lightning. The one part of Druid I liked was the werewolf stuff. You’re fast and poison stuff. I loved zipping around like a hyperactive murder machine. Especially when I got my wolf pets. What I didn’t like was how I felt like I never had enough spirit. I’d be spamming my basic 95% of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/93 "2023-06-02T05:11:13Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I started this thread but I’m all good with closing it for a new one. Personally I am fine continuing here but the mods are not keen when a thread goes too far off the rails from its initial purpose. I am fine with whatever (if that matters). ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/94 "2023-06-02T13:55:32Z")
We don’t need a new thread, just edit the title to “now live”. Or technically “now in early access”. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/95 "2023-06-02T13:56:28Z")
I say we just change the title of this one. The current title suggests this thread is about the beta, so just change it to “Diablo 4: Who’s Playing?” or something like that. What @DigitalC said. I’m probably going to start a solo Barb today. The weapons arsenal thing sounds like too much fun. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/96 "2023-06-02T17:09:09Z")
Ouch, $70? Does Blizzard ever put games on sale? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/97 "2023-06-02T17:15:54Z")
Some times, but not while they are relevant. You might see this on sale near D5’s release. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/98 "2023-06-02T17:39:21Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Ouch, $70? Does Blizzard ever put games on sale? Sadly, 69.99 seems to be the new ‘standard’ price for first release major games. And that’s (in this case) without the premium packages. 🤮 In terms of sales, @DigitalC is largely correct, but I’d expect the first minor sale in about a year, where they’ll offer it at $10 or 10% off, with the first major sale (25% or so) at or around year two. I don’t expect to see a 50% off sale until 3-4 years down the line at best. Unless they release paid DLC at which yeah, you might see slightly bigger discounts applied to the base game with full price DLC to get people to come in. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/99 "2023-06-02T18:05:32Z")
Ah well, c’est la vie. I’m in between games right now and looking for one to stick, but I don’t think I can justify dropping $70 on a game. EDIT: Off topic, I have at least a half dozen quality games installed that I haven’t yet played and was excited to get, but pretty much the second I install them it’s like buying a movie I like on DVD: I have acquired it, put it away, and now I never have to touch it again. What’s up with that? (Rhetorical.) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620/100 "2023-06-02T21:49:39Z")
$70 gave me pause as well. I justified it to myself that there is a lot of entertainment value there. I’ve seen it said that if you speed-run beginning to end there is 25-30 hours of content. But, personally, I like doing all the side missions and then I think you can get 50+ hours out of it. Then, there is loads of replayability. You can try a different class or try a different build on the same class and still have lots of fun because they genuinely play differently. Then, Blizzard is putting out new “seasons” every three months which, reportedly, change a lot with new classes and story and dungeons/maps and whatnot. On a price/hour of entertainment this is much less than a movie. And, it is just great fun. If you have played Diablo games before and enjoyed them then you will definitely enjoy this one. Eventually the price will drop but I think it will be a while before they do. Of course, YMMV. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diablo-4-cross-platform-now-in-beta/981620.md?page=6)