We had a global chat in beta. The other ARPG’s have global chats which are fun for memes or for class information sharing (shoutout global necromancer chat /global 6666 in poe).
What was the thought process behind trimming this feature before launch?
I’d also like to understand how the D4 team feels about the current social features in game from grouping and group xp (infinite range) as well as things like guilds, trade chat, etc.
Troll invasion. Just look at forum. Imagine in game. Lol.
Companies don’t want any social features and if they could remove them all without an outcry they would do it in a heartbeat. Less chances for someone to say “the word”. Also helps push people towards third party apps that they can monetize and control in ways they wouldn’t be able to if it was in game. Think of discord and how totalitarian it is. They can’t do that on their own forums or games.
It’s just another layer of thought policing towards molding the perfect citizen in the brave new world.
I don’t think Blizzard has said anything about the presence or absence of in-game chat one way or another.
I am guessing it was not working fully yet so they removed it until that is completed. Maybe cross platform chat in particular was not working right? Maybe having the chat communications going caused issues with stability/lag (more than we already have)? Maybe it was not playing well with the way the game is instanced? We have a small instance for the game world, more in town, then the party/dungeons. Those would be about the only type valid reasons I can think of to not have some sort of global chat channel. Their other Diablo games all have one, including Immortal.
Also, keep in mind, that while Blizzard created content is rated by the ESRB (or other rating board), the player created content (names and chat) all has to follow the Code of Conduct - which is very family friendly. There is a requirement for a reporting system, ignore system, and moderation that comes into play with that. They don’t sit around monitoring in real time - they depend on player reports. So yeah, I don’t think that is part of the decision, but something to keep in mind. Esp if you want to post “memes” and things. Some folks like to troll and see who they can rile up instead of just chatting.
Yes they can. Just like Discord the game and forums are Blizzard’s private property and subject to whatever rules Blizzard sets. Either you agree to those rules and the consequences of breaking them, or you don’t use their platform. Discord is the same.
Blizzard gets no money off “pushing people to third party apps” though. They have their own, they just want people to follow the code of conduct when using it. Which means yeah, you can’t use slurs, profanity, masked profanity, many insults, spam, etc.
Same rules have been in place for modern Blizzard games since 2004 when WoW released. Those rules apply to all Blizzard games. The forum Code of Conduct is a pretty good overview of the types of language they tend to action for when reported.
And the more general game Code of Conduct
I don’t buy the reporting system, ignore, and moderation being an issue whatsoever. Games have had these features since the stone age. Blizzard has personally developed a dozen or so games with global and trade chat functions over the years. They have the technology to automate moderation and reporting.
some chat lets you inspect people, so it would be my guess is it was loading stashes into chat natively or when you clicked on someone’s name.
No they can’t, new discord bots can censor and ban you in real time. They don’t have or don’t use that tech on forums (yet).
Also the monetization comes in not having to provide the same services and being able to use reddit/discord as cheap/free advertising. Also serves as an easy pipeline for recruitment for the in house censorship team. Speaking of which how come you haven’t moved up yet?
Agreed, which is why I said the following about the reasons I listed - the actual game reasons. The moderation is secondary and not a factor, I hope, is not having chat.
Some of it has a level of automation - enough reports in a short time can get an account temp squelched in WoW, for example, pending GM review. Reports overall are how to get a GM to review something, and more unique reports (different Bnet accounts) moves it up the priority chain for review. A report captures the Btag, char name, time, date, server info, chat channel info, and chat logs. Makes it easy for a GM to review.
So far they have not actually automated the monitoring or the chat bans. Yet… They still have a GM push the button for the chat penalties (Silences or Suspensions) at this time.
Yeah and it avoids some drama but I’d rather have it, free speech and all. If it offends someone they can have the option to hide it
Ah, yes. Ok that I agree with. They don’t have automated real time moderation bots. That is true. So far.
Moved where? I don’t work for Blizzard and have zero powers on the forums. I can answer questions, point people to support articles, etc. I can even explain policies. That is all I can do. I have no intention, and never did, of working for Blizzard. I have been at TS/CS green since 2013. Perfectly fine not having a “job” doing anything for a big company.
That is one perspective I suppose and not wrong. If they don’t do forums or chat then they don’t have to pay for resources related to it. That said, they started that way with D Immortal and then recently opened a forum for it 
I haven’t seen any chatting since I started the game 4 hours ago now that I thought about it. I’ve seen a total of 3 people as well.
Then again, I’m playing Hardcore 
Yeah I’m doing hc as well and the world at low levels (30 rn) feels super dead. I’ve only done blood harvest so far and have only come accross 2 or 3 people total. I’m not putting a ton of time into this season. Still enjoying the poe league and may just restart hcssf there if I stay bored of diablo.
Are you really going to sit here and tell me you have no power when you just used it to expedite censoring my communication that didn’t use any expletives or slurs or break any rules? Don’t piss on me and call it rain, leave me the heck alone I can only take so much of you for one day.
None of your comments in this thread are hidden. You’re really just derailing the discussion right now because you’re mad about green text. Sure the longwinded explanations with multiple quotes and cutouts are annoying and weird, but shut up dude. Contribute to the discussion or post somewhere else.
You talk about trolling lawl
I literally just had a post deleted minutes after posting it. How do you think that happened?
Yeah this will be the correct answer imo
Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. I did not do anything about any of your posts. I did not even report or see whatever you are talking about. Me being around does not mean I have moderation powers. Really really. Not in the 10 years I have been green.
You accusing me of something does not make it true. I WISH I had powers sometimes, but alas I don’t.
There are actual Blizzard employees on duty right now. One of our Community Managers is currently here… Blues have power to do forum things.
Games with limited chat and grouping are at least now a clear red flag on what to avoid. Triple A will give way to indie, and that will be good for a few years until indie becomes Triple A themselves, and the cycle continues. PoE2 is in going to be in its golden age, so we have that to look forward to.