Blizzard’s highly anticipated vampire-infested new season, Season of Blood, for Diablo IV is set to go live on October 17. Gamers around the world are eagerly awaiting new quests, gear, and most importantly, a big overhaul of the XP and damage calculation system.
However, even before the season could officially begin, Blizzard found itself in a bit of a glitch. The studio released a trailer showcasing the upcoming changes, but it was quickly taken down after being ridiculed online. The trailer, which erroneously portrayed the updated math calculations for XP and damage, became a target for mockery.
The two-minute video, posted on Diablo IV’s social media channel on October 13, was meant to generate excitement for the new season. Unfortunately, fans noticed a plethora of errors within moments, leading to it being pulled down. However, a prominent Diablo YouTuber and streamer, Raxxanterax, managed to capture the footage and immortalized it in a reaction video. In the video, Raxxanterax humorously expressed his frustration with the inaccuracies, saying, “I’m trying to build some hype for your new season, but you’re making it real hard.”
The video showcased various changes included in the Season of Blood update, such as streamlining Nightmare Dungeons and increasing enemy density. However, it mixed up the “before” and “after” comparisons of the rework, causing confusion among fans. Additionally, it featured mention of overhauled mounts without actually displaying the changes. But the most significant blunder came in the form of a breakdown of the math behind XP and damage calculations.
The video presented a before and after slide, falsely showing a switch from “1,000 x 40% = 1,040 XP” to “(1,000 x 1.2 = 1,200) 1.2 = 1,400 XP.” The intention was to demonstrate that XP percentage bonuses would be multiplied instead of purely additive, resulting in greater gains. However, both calculations were mathematically incorrect. While this error may seem trivial, it became ammunition for online critics, amplifying the backlash against Blizzard.
Despite the initial blunders, Season of Blood promises to fundamentally change the calculation of crucial stats like damage and resistance. The patch notes for the update are a staggering 10,000 words long, indicating the extensive nature of the changes. If everything goes according to plan, this overhaul could breathe new life into Diablo IV. However, considering the magnitude of the updates, it wouldn’t be surprising if a few bugs were discovered once the season begins.
As fans eagerly await the launch of the Season of Blood, Blizzard now faces the challenge of regaining players’ trust after the trailer fiasco. The company must ensure that the updates are properly implemented, without any further errors or glitches. Only time will tell if Season of Blood meets the expectations of the community and provides the much-needed revitalization for Diablo IV.