Diablo 4 achieved remarkable success upon its release in June 2023, showcasing exceptional sales figures and attracting over 12 million players. However, for those who completed the game’s campaign and ventured into its endgame content—the real essence of an ARPG like Diablo—there was an unmistakable flaw.
Character progression was tedious and often felt burdensome. There were limited endgame activities and little incentive to engage in them. Seasonal updates introduced fresh mechanics and minor adjustments but failed to address the fundamental issues players encountered with the latest installment in Blizzard’s iconic loot-chasing saga. Reminiscent of Diablo 3’s 2012 launch, when players soon became frustrated with its endgame loop (and its real-money auction house), one had to wonder: was Blizzard making the same error again?
What a difference a year can make. While it took nearly two years for Diablo 3 to become enjoyable with the release of its Reaper of Souls expansion, Diablo 4 today is vastly superior to what it was last year or even just seven months ago. Though I initially lost interest in Diablo 4’s endgame loot grind on release, I am now fully engaged thanks to free updates that revamped itemization and redesigned its difficulty. Diablo 4’s endgame loop is now incredibly satisfying, and I continue to chase these smaller upgrades and highly sought-after Mythic Rare items that can enhance my character just a bit more—something that felt like a futile effort a year ago.
Many of the most thrilling changes arrived with Diablo 4’s aptly titled Loot Reborn update in May. Items now have fewer modifiers, but those that remain are more impactful, making it easier to determine at a glance whether an item might be useful. Legendary Aspects, once a hassle to find and replace, became nearly automatic, as salvaged Legendary items would automatically have their Aspects added to the in-game codex for easy imprinting on future items.
The introduction of two new itemization systems, Masterworking and Tempering, truly elevated Diablo 4’s items and its endgame experience. Tempering enabled players to add specific modifiers to equipment to craft the ideal weapon or piece of armor, while Masterworking encouraged players to upgrade a Tempered item to its ultimate form.
Loot Reborn turned out to be transformative, not only for the empowerment it offered players in gearing up but also for providing reasons to delve deeper into Diablo 4’s endgame. The inclusion of The Pit, a brand new timed endgame dungeon where materials needed to Masterwork items could be found, further equipped players with additional objectives.
As effective as these systems were in revitalizing Diablo 4’s items and endgame, the game’s 2.0 update, released alongside its first expansion in October, took things even further. Blizzard simplified the game’s complex World Tier difficulty system and replaced it with a model reminiscent of Diablo 3. It restructured the endgame to create a smoother progression loop, with Masterworking materials now available in Nightmare dungeons, and Glyph XP relocated to The Pit. A new roguelite endgame feature introduced in Diablo 4 Season 5, Infernal Hordes, became a permanent element in the update 2.0, giving players more options for how to spend their endgame time.
These modifications don’t even account for the expansions included in the paid Vessel of Hatred expansion pack. It introduced a new area to explore, continued the game’s narrative, added an additional endgame feature in the Kurast Undercity, introduced recruitable Mercenaries, incorporated Runewords into the character-customizing mix, and added a brand-new (and significantly overpowered) class: the Spiritborn.
Now, as players navigate the endgame, they have choices to make. Should I invest more in Masterworking my gear? I can run Nightmare dungeons or Infernal Hordes. Perhaps I want to enhance my Glyphs, so I might explore The Pit for a while. If I’m looking for runes, a specific type of item, or crafting materials, I will embark on an Undercity Tribute run with that aim in mind. Or if I’m after a specific Rare or Mythic Rare item, I’ll farm one of the endgame bosses for a better chance of finding what I seek. Diablo 4’s endgame now allows me to work toward whatever goals I genuinely have for my character and provides options for accomplishing those goals.
Many of these endgame activities are interconnected. Completing runs in The Pit will give me tributes usable in the Undercity. Participating in the Undercity can yield boss-summoning materials. Defeating these bosses rewards me with Infernal Horde keys, which I can use to acquire Masterworking materials. Everything is interconnected in a rewarding endgame loop that keeps me engaged, battling, and upgrading—something that was certainly not the case when Diablo 4 launched.
This is not to imply there isn’t room for improvement. Despite there being now far more to accomplish in Diablo 4’s endgame, there are still few genuine challenges or motivations to keep pushing beyond a certain level. Most dedicated players can easily complete higher stages of The Pit or defeat the game’s Torment bosses at the highest difficulty, after which equipment upgrades merely allow players to clear these activities slightly faster.