The upcoming weekend stress test for Diablo 4 will be the last taste that fans get until the game releases in earnest, but its abbreviated nature relative to previous betas has its downsides. With a lowered level cap, core systems and class skills will be absent from the May 12-14 Server Slam, which may impact Blizzard's ability to collect data on how those aspects of Diablo 4 will affect its infrastructure.
After a decade since its last mainline entry, Diablo 4 will at long-last launch on June 6, with players who preorder able to get into the game on June 2. Fans of the franchise and the ARPG genre remain cautiously optimistic, with many presumptive fears put to bed with Diablo 4's open betas, which showcased the new game's breathtaking fidelity and impressive open world. Branching out of its comfort zone while remaining faithful to its roots, Diablo 4 has enormous potential, and if Blizzard can take the lessons learned from its other franchise's live-service models, it will thrive for years to come. Still, that does not make the server slam a bit of a missed opportunity.
Diablo 4's Server Slam is Different From its Previous Betas
On May 12, when Blizzard temporarily opens the floodgates to ensure the studio's servers are up to snuff for Diablo 4's launch, players will be able to pick the class of their choice and grind to level 20. The weekend event will incentivize fans with cosmetic rewards that will carry over to the actual game. Like the previous betas, it will include a small self-contained portion of the game, this time with a cap of five levels under the beta's. This decision by Blizzard will prioritize server stability in the early game, simulating the strain its June 6 launch will put on servers, hopefully in order to avoid a fiasco akin to the Diablo 3 launch.
A lowered level cap for the Diablo 4 Server Slam will hone the focus on getting its servers in shape, though there are criticisms surrounding the decision. Class Ultimates and the game's Occultist NPC both unlock at 25, and the previous betas allowed players a glimpse into those features, teasing the full potential of each class. Capped at 20, the Server Slam will omit both features, which was a deliberate choice by Blizzard, but one that could cause the studio to miss out on valuable feedback ahead of launch. Bugs are inherent with any game, and for a title with such scale and intertwining mechanics as Diablo 4, the odds of either mechanic causing a snag at launch are less than zero.
Blizzard Might be Missing the Mark on the Lowered Level Cap
For its intended purpose, the Server Slam would benefit from any incentive to keep players engaged for as long as possible over the course of the weekend. While reeling in the level that players can grind to will shine a brighter spotlight on the early game, it may also impact the ability of Blizzard to put its servers through the wringer, getting a truly accurate gauge of what to expect on June 6. Since millions already had the opportunity to get to level 25 in the previous betas, more than a couple will opt to skip the Server Slam's lessened experience, especially as it contends with the launch weekend of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
The bright side of this double-edged sword for Diablo 4's Server Slam is that Blizzard has committed to long-term support for the game. Whatever key feedback might have been gleaned from allowing players to level 25 can be swiftly addressed post-launch as the studio plans to release a steady stream of seasonal content for Diablo 4. While the studio gears up to release what might be a dark horse contender for game of the year, fans are hopeful that all the effort put into having a seamless launch will pay dividends on June 6.
Diablo 4 will be available June 6 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.