Diablo 4 cosmetic items theory

General Discussion
1

I have a theory on what main cosmetic items will be in D4.

When I originally thought about cosmetic microtransactions, standard things like character looks, items, mounts and maybe pets came to mind.

The thing is, D4 has limited option with implementing above, due to dark, more realistic art style than let’s say D3 or WoW.

Funny or quirky costumes, pets, mounts won’t fit in the game world and atmosphere (e.g. unicorn mount or cosmic wings etc.) and would break the immersion, especially in an open world, where you can see and meet other players.

But there is another system in the game, which has already been announced, that can be altered by cosmetic microtransactions - dungeons.

There are almost 150 of them, they are personal, so only you and your group can see them and they are one of main end-game mechanics, which means we’ll be doing them over and over again.

Where this theory came from? I’m glad you’ve asked!

The first clue was in the March 2022 quarterly update where D4 team gave us a little insight on how dungeons will work:

Brian Fletcher: “We break it all down into what we call tile-sets. […] we can mix and match them with props, interactives, and lighting to create dungeons that are varied, handcrafted and yet procedurally created.”

Around the same time couple articles appeared one of them with especially interesting wording:

“Blizzard’s new method of customizing the tile-sets with different cosmetic items and props in a layer that can be easily toggled on and off will make them feel visually distinct and provide plenty of options without needing a massive overhaul.”

In my opinion this gives the devs massive opportunity to add custom tile-sets and props to make any dungeon feel distinct and that 1000 run more interesting.

Obviously it wouldn’t make sense to obtain those items in-game, so it would have to be from the store.

What do you think? Am I making sense or just rambling nonsense? :smiley:

2

It could be done for Nightmare dungeons, to have these cosmetic adjustable, but this will probably come first for the hideouts.

Note that they renamed camps to strongholds, so they are probably keeping the word hideout for what is to be our customizable private stronghold with MTXs like in PoE.

2 Likes
3

Probably skill altering looks, armour and weapon skins, tatoos, horses/mounts, horse/mounts equipement, stuff for your hideout.

4

I think they can’t just throw everything as mtx. There has to be a balance, after all this will be full price AAA game.

For example skill, armour and weapon skins - they can’t (I mean of course they can, it’s just my opinion) put the coolest designs behind paywall. That would be insane in the loot based game. Also, all designs must fit the world theme, otherwise whole world building goes down the drain.

Tattoos I’m fine with, but don’t think many people will buy them - your character will be mostly covered in armour and helmet.

I think you’re right with the hideout stuff. That makes most sense.

PS. Horse armour anyone? :wink:

5

Horse armour? Yes please! Aaaaand an annoying imp that sings.

2 Likes
6

There are a few other things that are not pay to win that isn’t cosmetics along with skins for weapons or skills to make them look different. They could have account services that would not sell power like name change, stash space, character slots, etc…

7

Depending how it is done and what advantages it gives over people with less slots it could become p2w with character and stash slots. Still likely less obnoxious forms, but in the end everything you sell that is not just QoL would be p2w and I do find it reasonably easy to design a system where they would be p2w and give advantage. Now for a dev or store manager that is being valuated based on those sales, the temptation will always be pretty big to design something that would incentive people to buy them even if he was not outright ordered to do so. We have a saying in my country that you should not tie a cat to the bacon and then expect the cat to not eat it. :stuck_out_tongue:

Game companies and also including Blizz have not been showing us in last ten years they are very good at resisting that temptation as a whole, despite there having been some exceptions.

8

This is an incredible idea!

It would be so nice if all cosmetic micro transactions were skins for dungeons, the overworld and changing the look of mobs and bosses.

That way I wouldn’t have to look at anybody in towns and be disgusted and possibly /spit them for buying a paid for skin, and instead be happy to pay for custom skin sets that change up environments and dungeons to keep the game fresh.

9

I am not a tattoo person, but some warpaint like tattoo will be cool. ( provides they can be remove and changes of course)

10

Paying to change name is BS. I think QoL shouldn’t be montertise, but it is sure better than any P2W

11

Call it how ever you like, those were just examples.

1 Like