Diablo 4has had a solid first year since it was launched in June 2023. The fourth mainline game in the long-running Blizzard franchise may have had its various bumps along the way, butDiablo 4has proven to be a fun experience for many. The game has received its fair share of updates, but one of the biggest changes yet is just around the corner.
The game’s long-awaited first DLC,Vessel of Hatred, promises a harrowing expansion. From the impending arrival of Mephisto to the never-before-seen classknown as the Spiritborn,Vessel of Hatredcould signal a new era in the game’s life. As the DLC’s launch date draws closer, there are many players wondering just how much the expansion will improve the game. It won’t be clear until players get hands-on experience, butVessel of Hatredneeds to try to improve one ofDiablo 4’s weakest points: multiplayer.
Vessel of Hatred Can’t Continue to Neglect Diablo 4’s Multiplayer
Diablo 4 Fails to Incentivize a Social Experience
Despite the high points ofDiablo 4, the game’s multiplayer is a massive blemish on the game. When comparing solo players against co-op players, the difference is staggering. It was recently revealed that a whopping85% ofDiablo 4’s players prefer soloto multiplayer. SinceDiablo 4is designed with in-game events and allows for co-op, it is clear that Blizzard wanted the game to be an online experience for players, but there still isn’t much of an incentive to do so.
Not only is there no real incentive, but finding a party inDiablo 4can be a huge hassle.Diablo 4has crossplay, which is great as it broadens the number of players one can team up with. However, it also seems as though the crossplay co-op wasn’t as fleshed out as it should have been. If someone is playing on PC and trying to interact with a party of console players who don’t use headphones, it completely destroys the joy of socializing with other players. This issue occurs in many crossplay titles, but it feels far more prevalent inDiablo 4. At that point, one might as well be playing with an NPC. It is expected thatVessel of Hatredwill bring improvementsto the game, and strengthening co-op needs to be at the top of the list.
A Feature Launching Alongside Vessel of Hatred Could Cure Co-Op Woes
A Major Quality of Life Upgrade Could Be the Key to Diablo 4’s Multiplayer
An all-new story and unique class are exciting enough, but the upcoming Party Finder is one of the most promising updates on the horizon.Diablo 4has several points of frustration, and the hassle of finding a party to play with is definitely a struggle for those who prefer co-op. Just as the name suggests, the Party Finder feature will hopefully be the change that makesDiablo 4a good experience for both solo and multiplayer lovers.
The Party Finder allows a satisfying amount of customization, too. Instead of pairing people with just any open party, players can get pretty specific with their preferences.Diablo 4still needs various quality-of-life features, and Party Finder is a promising step forward.
Although the Party Finder launches alongsideVessel of Hatred, it will be available to all players, so purchasing the expansion isn’t necessary.AsDiablo 4continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see how Party Finder impacts the game’s co-op.Vessel of Hatredcould breathe new life into the game, and a resurgence in multiplayer love would be great to see.
