Info about Diablo® IV: Vessel of Hatred™:

Official game description:
DIABLO® IV: VESSEL OF HATRED™
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Uncover the next chapter of Diablo® IV in Vessel of Hatred™. Continue your fight to thwart the diabolical plot of the Prime Evil, Mephisto. Battle as the all-new Spiritborn class, empowered by mystical Spirits. Expand your map to the new region of Nahantu and traverse through its lush jungles. Recruit new Mercenaries, take on new enemies, dungeons, a new PvE co-op challenge, and more. Plus, explore base game updates that introduce new power and continue to enhance the world of Diablo® IV.
New Class
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The Spiritborn, apex predator of the jungle, is poised to strike. Battle with styles and mystical synergies that could only be awakened deep beneath the jungle’s canopy with an entirely new class to the iconic Diablo® series.
New Region
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Expand Sanctuary to discover new Towns and bygone civilizations shrouded in the vast region of Nahantu. Battle courageously through new dungeons and Strongholds and take on new enemies from ferocious demons to warring Tribes.
More Campaign, More Evil
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Prepare for the next chapter of Diablo® IV. Your search for Neyrelle takes you deep into an ancient jungle in an attempt to uncover Mephisto’s malicious agenda and put his corruption to an end once and for all. But be warned - within the jungle await gruesome new foes plotting your demise.
New PvE Co-Op End Game Activity
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Party up to take on the Dark Citadel - a new multi-faceted dungeon with powerful challenges and promising rewards. First of its kind to Diablo®, this dungeon will require eager warriors to team up and take down the challenge together. Make use of the new Party Finder to create a group and conquer the challenge together.
Recruit Your Mercenaries
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Discover and recruit new Mercenaries to join you on your quest. These powerful allies fight alongside you, grow in power as they progress and aid you in combat with unique abilities.
Tons of Base Game Updates
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All Diablo® IV players can now venture forward with new Pets to aid in gold and material pickup, and experience tons of additional major updates to the base game. This includes leveling adjustments, new max levels, a new difficulty system, Paragon adjustments, and itemization updates. You can also empower your favorite classes with new skills and passives, and find allies to accompany your adventures with the new Party Finder.

Release date: Oct 7, 2024

Categories: Action RPG, Hack and Slash, Open-World Exploration, Character Progression, Cooperative Multiplayer, Equipment Customization, Endgame Content, Dark Fantasy

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 82; verdict: Predatory Monetization: Paid Power and MTX; summary: The audit finds strong predatory monetization signals: the paid expansion is described as locking runes, character access, and season progression, while other reviews allege that core upgrade features were removed or degraded to force buying new content. Reviews also directly mention in-game microtransactions, skin expansions, and a paid season pass. Widespread complaints about DLC rebundling without discounts for existing owners are real-money pricing issues, but the high score is driven primarily by paid power and create-problem-sell-solution patterns, not by DLC price complaints alone. No evidence of real-money gacha or loot boxes was found.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Tier 3 - The Student; summary: The feedback is dominated by endgame friction: Dark Citadel requires external walkthrough research, high Excellence levels demand billions of EXP, and RNG raids are solo-unfriendly. No review explicitly requests farming locations, drop rates, loot tables, inventory or selling guidance, crafting data, map fixes, or bug workarounds. The strongest wiki-tax signal is instructional dependency on walkthrough and build knowledge.
- Proton/Linux: score 65; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: Steam Deck and Proton compatibility evidence is mixed. Some users report that the game runs great or amazingly on Steam Deck, but multiple reviews describe Battle.net launcher failures, missing install/play options, and a disputed Verified status that blocks or deters Deck play. The game is not universally broken on Linux/Steam Deck, but launch reliability is inconsistent and users may encounter launcher-related friction.
- Steam Deck: score 85; verdict: Broken on Steam Deck; summary: The Steam Deck feedback shows severe friction. The Steam version still depends on Battle.net, users dispute the Verified badge, and multiple reports describe launch failures, startup hangs, and frequent crashes or freezes. Some users report smooth performance with good Wi-Fi, but the dominant evidence matches the Broken category because the game can fail to launch and remains unstable for a meaningful share of Deck users.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $30.00 - $45.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews show strong price sensitivity: full-price content is repeatedly called overpriced, reviewers recommend waiting for a 50% discount, and a $25-$30 sale level is treated as acceptable. Even positive comments are conditional on buying on sale. Applying this value standard to the base game, the community fair range is roughly $30-$45 rather than a premium full price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 12.0h
  - Story completion: 8.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: 60.0h
  - Reasoning: The 12-hour report explicitly covers completing the DLC campaign plus all map objectives, while another report gives 10 to 11 hours for the main quest and larger side content on a new character; together these support a gameCompletion estimate of about 12 hours. A translated review directly reports the story being stretched to 8 hours, so storyCompletion is set to 8 hours, though other reports vary widely. The translated season-6 advice of at least 60 hours supports an endgame/seasonal playtime estimate of 60 hours. No review provides a reliable per-session play duration, so sessionLength is null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Players often enjoy the opening or new class at first, but the DLC’s story and campaign quickly become tedious or boring for many, so enjoyment tends to fade.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Weak and slow story pacing; Campaign becomes tedious; Forced co-op Dark Citadel; Glacial progression and RNG grind; Paywalled progression systems; Boring open world and reused content
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: Enjoyment of the new class or opening gameplay; Tolerance for story-heavy fetch quests; Playing Dark Citadel co-op with friends; Interest in late-game grinding; Acceptance of RNG-based progression
- Player Archetypes:
  - Story-Seeking Casual Completionist (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Experience the continuation of the campaign and complete zone content rather than optimize endgame systems.
    - Playstyle: Plays solo through the campaign, side quests, statues, dungeons, and waypoints while avoiding heavy endgame grinding.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: casual player
    - Reference games: Diablo 2; Titan Quest
  - Disillusioned Diablo Veteran (no buy)
    - Motivation: Continue long-term Diablo progression and collection value while receiving fair treatment as an early supporter.
    - Playstyle: Tracks paragon and skill-point gains, buys multiple Diablo releases, and evaluates expansion value through long-term account progression.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: veterans; old players
    - Reference games: Diablo 2
  - Build-Driven Endgame Optimizer (buy)
    - Motivation: Unlock stronger builds and endgame power through the new class, runes, paragon, and expansion mechanics.
    - Playstyle: Follows build guides, compares meta options, farms endgame content, and values mechanical power gains over narrative.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: hardcore Diablo fans
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Solo-Focused ARPG Purist (no buy)
    - Motivation: Play Diablo IV as a self-contained solo ARPG without mandatory group coordination.
    - Playstyle: Avoids co-op dungeons, prefers solo progression, and values uninterrupted action and movement over group mechanics.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: solo
    - Reference games: Soulstone Survivors


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Spiritborn class highly praised (weight 0.29): The Spiritborn class is consistently described as fun, powerful, and well-crafted, with many players calling it a highlight of the expansion. It offers varied playstyles and remains enjoyable once a strong build is assembled.
- Visuals and audio impressive (weight 0.15): The game's graphics, environments, and aesthetic are widely praised as beautiful, while voice acting, music, and sound design are consistently rated exceptional.
- Campaign well-received (weight 0.13): The campaign is described as enjoyable, coherent, and well-paced, with an engaging story and high-quality cutscenes. Many players appreciate the continuation of the narrative.
- Game is fun overall (weight 0.1): Many reviewers simply state that the game remains fun and entertaining, with the new class and campaign contributing to the enjoyment.
- Expansion generally enjoyable (weight 0.09): Players find the expansion entertaining and solid overall, with new content and updates that add value to the base game. Many consider it a worthy addition.
- Mercenaries are useful addition (weight 0.09): The mercenary companions are seen as a valuable mechanic, providing good utility in combat and synergizing well with certain builds. Players appreciate their inclusion and leveling them.
- New endgame content appreciated (weight 0.06): The expansion introduces interesting new endgame activities and systems that give players more to do after the main story. This additional content is seen as a positive addition.
- New mechanics and systems welcome (weight 0.06): Several new mechanics, such as the mercenary hiring system and revamped leveling and paragon systems, are introduced and generally well-received by players.
- Story adds new content (weight 0.04): The expansion expands the storyline with new characters and dungeons, providing extra narrative content that sets up future developments. This is seen as a positive for those interested in the lore.
- New class is the main draw (weight 0.03): Some players feel the new class is the only significant addition of value, suggesting the expansion's other content may not justify the purchase for everyone.
- New map and area praised (weight 0.03): The expansion's new map and environments are considered beautiful and well-designed, adding to the overall visual appeal.
- Content quality is decent (weight 0.03): Some players find the new content to be nice and not awful, indicating a moderate level of satisfaction without strong enthusiasm.

Common complaints:
- No discount for existing DLC owners (weight 0.46): Players who already own the previous expansion receive no discount when purchasing the new DLC that includes it. This forces loyal customers to pay full price again for content they already own.
- Poor story quality (weight 0.29): Many players find the story terrible, bland, or poorly written, with weak characterization and no satisfying conclusion. The narrative is consistently criticized as a major weakness.
- Overpriced for content amount (weight 0.29): The DLC is considered too expensive relative to the amount of content offered, with many stating it is not worth the price. This sentiment is widespread across multiple clusters.
- Previous DLC given free without compensation (weight 0.23): The old expansion is now bundled for free with the new DLC, but players who bought it earlier receive no compensation or discount. This devalues prior purchases and feels unfair to early adopters.
- Little content for the price (weight 0.2): The DLC offers very little content, such as a short campaign, for its high price. Many players feel the price is unjustified given the limited hours of gameplay.

Gameplay feedback:
- New campaign and story (weight 0.18): The expansion continues the main story with a new campaign, side quests, cutscenes, and story content involving Mephisto and Akarat's corpse.
- Spiritborn class added (weight 0.16): The expansion introduces the Spiritborn class, a new playable character with multiple viable builds and attacks based on four different spirits.
- Mercenaries system included (weight 0.16): The DLC adds a mercenary system with hireable companions, selectable skills, classes, a skill tree, a shop, and relationship progression.
- New class and character builds (weight 0.13): A new playable class is added, along with new character build options and detailed character progression.
- New endgame activities (weight 0.13): The expansion adds endgame content including the Dark Citadel (a co-op raid requiring at least 2 players) and Kurast Undercity (a multi-stage time-attack dungeon).
- Nahantu jungle region added (weight 0.12): A new region called Nahantu is introduced, featuring a jungle theme with dense enemy groups and new enemy types.
- New locations and dungeons (weight 0.1): The expansion adds new zones, dungeons, and regions including additional quests and Paragon points.
- Rune system introduced (weight 0.07): The DLC adds a new rune system for socketing, providing additional character customization.
- Seasons and seasonal content (weight 0.06): The game features seasons with gameplay improvements and an eternal server, but new season content requires the DLC.
- Grinding and endgame loop (weight 0.05): The game includes an endgame grinding loop with farming content, and grind is a significant part of the experience.
- Open world and base classes (weight 0.05): The game has an open world shared by players and originally featured six playable classes.
- New mechanics and skills (weight 0.05): The expansion introduces new mechanics, extra skill points, and extra potions, enhancing gameplay depth.
- Achievements and treasures (weight 0.03): New achievements and treasures are added, providing additional goals for players.
- Main story length (weight 0.03): The main story objective takes about 6 hours to complete.

Performance notes:
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.17): Many players report the game crashes regularly, including during boss fights, fast travel, and specific quests. Crashes persist even after disabling features like DirectStorage and DLAA.
- Lag and stuttering issues (weight 0.09): Players experience frequent lag, delays, stuttering, and frame drops, especially in multiplayer. The game can feel like a slideshow and has hitching and rubberbanding.
- Poor optimization and performance (weight 0.08): Optimization is extremely poor, with hardware not sufficiently handling the game. Performance is iffy on medium-low end machines and consumes excessive RAM and VRAM.
- General bugs and technical issues (weight 0.06): The game is described as buggy with numerous technical issues affecting playability. Some report the game does not function at all.
- Server and connection problems (weight 0.05): Server lag, downtime, and connection issues occur, particularly during launch, ruining fights and gameplay.
- Large frequent patches (weight 0.04): Players face multiple large patches (50-80GB) per week, leading to long download and patch times, especially on Steam Deck.
- Positive performance experiences (weight 0.03): Some players report great performance and smooth gameplay, contrasting with the majority of negative reports.
- Streaming performance problems (weight 0.02): The game cannot be streamed due to performance issues, limiting content creation and sharing.

Recommendations:
- Wait for a sale (weight 0.16): Many reviewers recommend waiting for a sale before purchasing. They find the expansion too expensive at full price and suggest buying only at a discount.
- Not worth the price (weight 0.15): Several reviewers state the DLC is not worth the money, even at a discount. They feel the content does not justify the cost.
- Worth it for Diablo fans (weight 0.12): Reviewers who enjoy Diablo 4 or the genre find the expansion worthwhile. It is recommended for fans who want more content.
- Do not buy DLC (weight 0.08): Multiple reviewers explicitly advise against buying the DLC at all. Some suggest getting it for free instead.
- No future expansion purchases (weight 0.07): Some reviewers refuse to buy future expansions unless a complete edition is released or reviews are overwhelmingly positive. They also avoid pre-ordering.
- Wait for final DLC bundle (weight 0.04): Reviewers suggest waiting until all DLCs are released and then buying a bundle or the final expansion that includes previous ones. They believe this ensures a complete experience at a lower price.
- Avoid Blizzard games (weight 0.04): A few reviewers express intent to avoid Blizzard games in the future. They are not recommending the game and say goodbye to Blizzard.
- Play Path of Exile 2 instead (weight 0.03): Some reviewers recommend playing Path of Exile 2 instead, claiming it is much better.
- Never recommend to anyone (weight 0.02): A couple of reviewers state they would never recommend the expansion to anyone.

Other player notes:
- Bundling causes repurchase for owners (weight 0.52): Many reviewers note that the new expansion bundles the previous DLC, forcing owners of the previous DLC to repurchase it to get the new content. This is seen as unfair to loyal customers.
- Previous DLC no longer sold separately (weight 0.4): The previous DLC (Vessel of Hatred) is no longer available as a standalone purchase and is now only included with the new expansion (Lord of Hatred). This change limits purchasing options for players.
- High price point criticized (weight 0.21): The expansion is priced at around $40, which many reviewers find too high for the amount of content offered. Some compare it unfavorably to the price of full games like Baldur's Gate 3.
- Free DLC with new purchase (weight 0.2): Some reviewers note that the previous DLC is now included for free when purchasing the new expansion, which is beneficial for new buyers but unfair to existing owners.
- DLC content is too short (weight 0.1): Multiple reviews mention that the DLC has a short story and provides little content, with some calling it the shortest Diablo DLC they have played. This contributes to the perception of poor value.
- Microtransactions present in game (weight 0.04): The game includes microtransactions, such as skins and bundles, which some reviewers feel is excessive given the already high price of the expansion.
- Compared unfavorably to past expansions (weight 0.04): Reviewers compare this expansion negatively to earlier Diablo expansions like Lord of Destruction and Reaper of Souls, stating it does not meet the same standards.
- Multiple editions available (weight 0.04): The game is sold in multiple editions, including Ultimate and Deluxe versions, which offer additional cosmetics and a battlepass token at a higher price.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.23): Players are disappointed by a short, poorly written campaign that ends on a cliffhanger without resolving the story or delivering a satisfying Mephisto confrontation. The expansion feels overpriced for its limited content, and many are frustrated that the DLC only sets up future paid content rather than standing alone.
- Frustration (weight 0.22): Frustration centers on the DLC bundling and pricing structure, where existing owners must pay full price again for content they already own without any discount or compensation. Technical issues such as crashes, bugs, server delays, and performance problems further compound the annoyance.
- Anger (weight 0.13): Anger is driven by perceived greed and unfair treatment of loyal customers who bought the first expansion only to see it bundled for free with the second without a discount. Players feel scammed by the repurchase requirement and predatory pricing, compounded by poor DLC quality and forced multiplayer features.
- Boredom (weight 0.04): Boredom stems from repetitive dungeon farming, drawn-out dialogue, and a tedious campaign that lacks engaging activities. The endgame loop and story fail to sustain interest, leading players to skip cutscenes or lose the desire to continue.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.04): Satisfaction comes from the enjoyable Spiritborn class, new mercenary and rune systems, and well-designed environments that expand the game meaningfully. The expansion delivers enough content and complexity for fans to feel it was worth the purchase.
- Disgust (weight 0.03): Disgust is triggered by the greedy bundling practices and the mistreatment of existing customers who are forced into undiscounted bundles. The cringeworthy writing, overly sweet story tone, and artificial playtime stretching also contribute to this reaction.
- Annoyance (weight 0.03): Annoyance arises from having to chase after Neyrelle and sit through unskippable cutscenes, as well as technical issues like crashes and frame drops. The forced group raid, inventory clutter from runewords, and spoiler-filled recap without warning add to the irritation.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.02): Enjoyment is primarily derived from the fun and dynamic Spiritborn class, with varied playstyles and satisfying gameplay. The new region, mercenary additions, and engaging campaign continuation also contribute to a positive experience.
- Dissatisfaction (weight 0.02): Dissatisfaction stems from a poor story that lacks emotion and ends abruptly, combined with an overpriced, short expansion that offers little interesting content. Players also feel let down by the lack of compensation when the DLC was later bundled for free.
- Excitement (weight 0.01): Excitement is generated by the new Spiritborn class, new builds, and the rich culture of the Nahantu region. The rune system, returning mercenaries, and a unique quest perspective add freshness and anticipation for future content.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Players are disappointed that the campaign is very short, fails to conclude the story, and feels like a filler episode with few activities. The new region is boring, and the overall DLC is seen as a shoddy job that insults players.
- Distrust (weight 0.01): Distrust is fueled by pricing and bundling behavior perceived as despicable and a bait-and-switch, with earlier buyers appearing penalized. The DLC system is seen as a scheme to extract money and split the story to sell future content.
- Frustrated (weight 0.01): Frustration is caused by being fleeced on DLC pricing without discounts for prior purchases, and the massive experience grind for paragon points. Spoiler-filled intro videos, lost DLC access, and low damage after stat squish also contribute.
- Betrayal (weight 0.01): Betrayal is felt by loyal customers who paid full price for a DLC that later became free in a bundle, and who receive no discount on the new DLC that includes it. The pricing feels like a spit in the face to long-time supporters.
- Liking (weight 0.01): Liking is expressed for the new character from the expansion, the story, the atmosphere, and the new class. Side quests and the new character also contribute to a positive reception.
- Angry (weight 0.01): Anger stems from early buyers being treated as fools when the DLC they paid for is given away free with the second expansion without compensation. Tiered DLC and pressure to spend more real money after paying for the expansion add to the fury.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Sadness is felt over the state of ARPGs and the lazy design of Diablo 4 and Vessel of Hatred, with bad narrative wasting the artists' work. Players expected more from the expansion and some refuse to play the game anymore.
- Nostalgia (weight 0): Nostalgia is evoked by introducing characters from 30 years ago and keeping the lore original, appealing to Diablo 2 veterans. Returning to halls where Mephisto was farmed in Diablo 2 brings back fond memories.
- Cynicism (weight 0): Cynicism arises from the perception that DLC purchases lose value when they become free later, and that the game exists mainly to sell cosmetics. Consumers keep buying despite repeated bugs, reinforcing the cynical view.
- Disillusionment (weight 0): Disillusionment is caused by greedy sales policies that turn the reviewer against Blizzard, contrasting with nostalgia for when Blizzard made games by gamers for gamers. A pattern of decisions treating player trust as a renewable resource deepens the feeling.}