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I’ll play pretty much any video game that revolves around action-based combat, statistical numbers going up, and loot. If I can get a cool sword out of a cabinet that makes it easier to fight a monster, I’m in. Can I blast out a bolt of lightning that chains from enemy to enemy? Even better!
Diablo arguably created the modern action RPG genre — so you’d think that I’d default to playing Diablo IV these days and be done with it. However, that game has been on an evolving nightmare odyssey through live service land, and with its latest update it continues to be the definition of “not for me.” Plus, that whole iconic franchise is now owned by Microsoft, and they’ve proven just this morning that sometimes they’re going to shut down good studios for fun.
Maybe one day Blizzard will look at their corporate overlords the wrong way and Diablo will also feel the hammer. If that happens, the always-online-connected Diablo IV will just vanish into the digital ether.
Fortunately, like any popular genre, there are tons of “clones” out there. I know I sound old calling something a “clone.” I grew up reading 90’s video game magazines, and back then everyone was hunting for the latest “Doom Clone” instead of talking about “the first person shooter genre.” Refining one’s taste…
