Blizzard has shared how long it will take to complete Diablo 4's battle passes, which will be released seasonally following launch. Battle passes have become widespread throughout AAA online game releases, and Diablo 4 is already confirmed to feature the live service content. Players will progress through a track of battle pass tiers, unlocking a variety of free rewards, as well as premium rewards if they spend an additional $10. But it won't be a simple thing to complete a Diablo 4 battle pass.
Most games each have their own take regarding battle pass progression, but for the most part, they are all structured simply. The more someone plays a game, the more progress they make in the battle pass. Sometimes players get battle pass experience bonuses for playing in a team, sometimes for fulfilling a specific role, and other times experience is only earned through the completion of challenges. Almost all of them are still built around a core experience grind that rewards time spent playing.
Diablo 4 is also, generally, built around an experience grind for its seasonal battle passes. With that in mind, Blizzard confirmed in a recent interview with PC Gamer how long it will take for Diablo 4 players to complete a full battle pass. According to the developer, it will take "roughly" 80 hours worth of time to complete each battle pass in its entirety.
Progression in Diablo 4's battle pass won't be strictly associated with playtime, though. Blizzard also notes that Diablo 4 features a seasonal journey like Diablo 3 that will earn players progression. Further, the battle pass will include XP boosts players can use to boost their progression, which could speed things up if used efficiently.
While 80 hours may seem like a lot, Blizzard says that there will be plenty of content to keep players busy along the way. 80 hours, according to Blizzard, may not even be enough time for Diablo 4 players to reach the game's max level. Blizzard says that reaching level 100 could take "a little longer" than 80 hours, depending on how Diablo 4 players play.
Blizzard will also be going out of its way to ensure that each season of Diablo 4 feels different from the ones prior to keep players engaged. Each season will introduce new exclusive seasonal mechanics, disappearing once the season ends. Those playing seasonally will also experience resets, so they'll have to progress from level 1 to 100 all over again. Diablo 4's seasonal battle passes will hopefully feel like they're completing themselves as players push to reach endgame. Of course, perhaps the battle pass rewards will drive Diablo 4 players on their own.
Diablo 4 releases June 6 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: PC Gamer
