In any industry, it's always the ones who are so passionate about something that end up creating the best products. In gaming, this holds true. The first two Diablo games were made by people who lived and breathe ARPG, which was evident in a recent panel. Unfortunately, we couldn't say the same about the guys behind Diablo 4.
In an attempt to foster connection between the development team and the Diablo 4 community, Blizzard Entertainment has hosted multiple livestreams and showed a willingness to consider feedback, which has earned some goodwill among players. Unfortunately, the latest video threatens to unravel the studio's latest efforts.
This video, which is meant to introduce the team and showcase the background stories of two dungeon designers, took an unforeseen twist. Instead of enlightening the audience on the development journey of the game, it fueled anger and controversy, with many in the community openly criticizing the designers' gameplay skills. Figures like Asmongold, a notable streamer, expressed disbelief and sympathy, pointing out that the video did more harm than good by exposing the developers to unwarranted criticism.
From an outsider's perspective, this may seem somewhat overblown. After all, game development is multifaceted. From narrative writing and art direction to sound design, not every developer's role requires them to be proficient players. In this context, however, the backlash is somewhat understandable. The video displayed developers, directly responsible for designing the game's encounters, struggling with fundamental aspects of their creation. This scene inevitably raises concerns: If the architects of the game don't understand its core mechanics, can they truly deliver an experience that resonates with dedicated players?
