Diablo IV
Released 5 June 2023 Developer Blizzard Entertainment
- Action role-playing
- Hack and slash
- PS5
- PS4
- Xbox Series
- Xbox One
- PC
A dark-fantasy action role-playing game in which you pick a class, fight demons across a shared online world and keep collecting stronger gear. You can play the story alone or with others, then continue into repeatable dungeons and bosses, and every few months a new season restarts the climb with a fresh character. It is rated for teens 15 and over and is aimed at players who enjoy long loot-driven games.
Money health
CautionBuilt to push spending
Addictive design
Mild2 of 5 — counts the hooks designed in
Average price
A$74.95average of 3 store prices
Spending ceiling
No ceilingRepeat purchases, no limit
Australian rating
Strong fantasy themes and violence (classified 23 August 2022)
How it makes money
Caution: built to push spending
Diablo IV costs A$74.95 for the base game, and two expansions have followed: Vessel of Hatred (October 2024) and Lord of Hatred (April 2026, A$59.95), with the Age of Hatred Collection bundling all three for A$104.95. On top of that, each season of about three months has a free battle pass and a paid premium pass, and an in-game shop sells cosmetics for Platinum, a currency bought in packs from A$7.45 (500 Platinum) to A$224.95 (18,500). Blizzard says the shop sells only cosmetics, not stronger gear, though reviewers called some prices high. Blizzard said in September 2026 that no further expansions are planned, with seasons continuing.
How you pay
- Battle pass
Each season of about three months has a free battle pass and a paid premium one, bought with Platinum (priced at 1,000 Platinum, about A$14.95, when seasons launched in 2023; check the in-game store for the current price). Paid tiers unlock extra cosmetics.
- Cosmetics
The in-game shop sells armour sets, mounts, pets and other looks for Platinum. Blizzard decided before launch to sell cosmetics and the season pass rather than item upgrades like those sold in Diablo Immortal; reviewers criticised prices, such as about US$8 for a small accessory pack.
- Editions
Lord of Hatred is sold as Standard (A$59.95), Deluxe (A$89.95, adds cosmetics, a mount, a pet and a premium battle pass bundle) and Ultimate (A$134.95); the Age of Hatred Collection with the base game and both expansions is A$104.95.
minor part of the game - Game library
The Standard Edition is included with Xbox Game Pass Premium (and Ultimate) on the Australian Xbox store; it joined Game Pass on 28 March 2024.
minor part of the game - Expansion
Two paid expansions that need the base game: Vessel of Hatred (October 2024, adds the Spiritborn class) and Lord of Hatred (April 2026, adds the Paladin and Warlock). Lord of Hatred Standard is A$59.95 and unlocks Vessel of Hatred too.
- Pay once
The base game is A$74.95 on Steam, PlayStation and Xbox (regular price on 22 October 2026) and includes the campaign and the seasonal content.
Techniques it uses to keep you paying or playing
- Never-ending
A live game with new seasons about every three months, a seasonal character that moves into the permanent 'Eternal' realm at season's end, and an endgame of repeatable dungeons and bosses.
- Game currency
Shop items are priced in Platinum, sold in packs on the Australian Xbox store from 500 Platinum for A$7.45 and 1,000 for A$14.95 up to 18,500 (15,000 plus 3,500 bonus) for A$224.95; bigger packs add bonus Platinum.
- Always online
Diablo IV cannot be played offline and needs a Battle.net account and an internet connection, even for solo play; Game Informer's reviewer found login problems annoying.
minor part of the game
Fairer alternatives
Similar games with a healthier money model
What it costs
Price: A$74.95
| What | Where | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition Base game; needs a Battle.net account |
Steam (AU) · PC | A$74.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Age of Hatred Collection Base game plus Vessel of Hatred and Lord of Hatred |
Steam (AU) · PC | A$104.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Lord of Hatred Standard Edition Expansion; requires the base game and also unlocks Vessel of Hatred |
Steam (AU) · PC | A$59.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Lord of Hatred Deluxe Edition Adds cosmetics, mount, pet and premium battle pass bundle |
Steam (AU) · PC | A$89.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Lord of Hatred Ultimate Edition | Steam (AU) · PC | A$134.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Standard Edition PS4 and PS5 |
PlayStation Store (AU) · PS5 | A$74.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Standard Edition Included with Xbox Game Pass Premium and Ultimate |
Microsoft Store (AU) · Xbox Series | A$74.95 | Oct 2026 |
| 500 Platinum Smallest Platinum pack |
Microsoft Store (AU) · Xbox Series | A$7.45 | Oct 2026 |
| 1,000 Platinum The amount reported for a premium battle pass at launch in 2023 |
Microsoft Store (AU) · Xbox Series | A$14.95 | Oct 2026 |
| 2,800 Platinum (2,500 plus 300 bonus) | Microsoft Store (AU) · Xbox Series | A$37.45 | Oct 2026 |
| 18,500 Platinum (15,000 plus 3,500 bonus) Largest Platinum pack |
Microsoft Store (AU) · Xbox Series | A$224.95 | Oct 2026 |
Store prices change often and sales are common; we record the regular price on the date shown.
Reviews from across the web
What the critics said
-
9/ 10
-
8/ 10
-
9.3/ 10
Game Informer
Called it a massive, absorbing action RPG with satisfying character growth, rewarding loot and a strong story, but found exploring on foot tedious early on and the always-online requirement annoying; he thought the cosmetic shop pricey but felt no pressure to buy.
-
9/ 10
TheSixthAxis
Found it the best Diablo in a long time, polished and addictive with a strong story, though level scaling, weak minion AI and the always-online requirement held it back; he also objected to cosmetic pricing.
-
8.5/ 10
DualShockers
Called it a return to form with a darker tone, a stronger villain and well-balanced classes, but felt the quests are repetitive and the play is too close to Diablo III.
Scores belong to the outlets that published them; follow the links to read the full reviews. Summaries are ours.
Age ratings & content
What's in it
Content labels
- Violencestrong
Fighting, weapons, injury and death, from cartoon bonks to realistic killing.
From ACB and ESRB descriptors - Blood & gorestrong
Blood, injuries and body damage on screen.
From ESRB descriptors - Mature themesstrong
Crime, cruelty, death, suicide and self-harm, discrimination, and crude humour.
From ACB descriptors - Languagemoderate
Swearing and crude language, from the odd 'damn' to frequent strong profanity.
From ESRB descriptors
Classification
Age ratings judge content (violence, language, gambling themes), summed up in the content labels above. They say little about how hard a game pushes spending — that's what the money badges are for. About rating boards
Safety & parental controls
Who can talk to your child, and what can they buy?
- Text and voice chat
- Players can interact with strangers
- No user-made content
- Needs an online account
- Terms of service minimum age: 13
Diablo IV is a shared online world: other players appear in towns and open areas, and your child can join public events or group up with strangers. Cross-play and cross-progression link PC, PlayStation and Xbox. Blizzard's agreement says children under 13 may not use an account and that 13 to 17-year-olds need a parent or guardian to agree to its terms. Text and voice chat are available between players.
Who makes it
The company behind it, and its track record
- Workplace misconduct
Workplace misconduct findings
California Civil Rights Department sued Blizzard and its parent in 2021; settled for about $54 million over pay and promotion discrimination claims in December 2023, approved by the court in January 2024; the claims were not adjudicated. - Loot-box action
Loot-box enforcement
Belgian Gaming Commission, April 2018: found Overwatch's paid loot boxes were a game of chance in breach of Belgian gambling law. - Shut down paid games
Shut down games people paid for
Blizzard shut down the servers of the original, paid Overwatch on 2 October 2022, replacing it with free-to-play Overwatch 2.
Latest on the record
- Labour
About 1,900 workers ratified first union contract
Kotaku - Investigation
EU consumer regulators investigated Diablo Immortal spending design
Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) - Other
Blizzard games went offline in mainland China after NetEase deal ended
The Verge
A company's history doesn't change this game's money verdict, which rates only how the game itself makes money. About company track records
Platforms & release
Where you can play it
| Platform | Released | Store |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | 5 June 2023 | Store page |
| PlayStation 4 | 5 June 2023 | Store page |
| Xbox Series X|S | 5 June 2023 | Store page |
| Xbox One | 5 June 2023 | Store page |
| Windows PC Battle.net first; on Steam from 17 October 2023 |
5 June 2023 | Store page |
Further reading
- Official website
- Diablo IV on Wikipedia: seasons, battle pass and monetisation
- Blizzard End User Licence Agreement (age rules)
- Wikipedia
Facts last checked 22 October 2026. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, store.steampowered.com, store.steampowered.com, www.xbox.com, www.xbox.com, store.playstation.com, store.playstation.com, www.classification.gov.au, www.blizzard.com, www.metacritic.com, opencritic.com, www.gameinformer.com, www.thesixthaxis.com, www.dualshockers.com, primagames.com. Spotted something wrong? Send a correction.