Confirmed: no offline mode
The official pre-order page for Diablo 4 [1] made it official: the game has no offline mode, and players must be logged into Battle.net 100% of the time to play:
" Internet connection, Battle.net Account and desktop app required to play."Blizzard Entertainment ·
·
This isn't surprising, because, for years, Blizzard has said online play is vital for Diablo 4's open world nature [1]:
"There's a seamless, large, connected, shared space in the world, going into dungeons, being able to party with friends, trading, and PvP. The best way to experience that is in a world that's online."
Will this affect the solo experience?
No, nothing about the lack of an offline mode will affect Diablo 4's solo play experience. Players wanting to solo the storyline (e.g., dungeons and quests) can still do so:
"We're not going to support offline mode, but nothing in Diablo IV requires partying up. You can play solo. Dungeons are private. Campaign quest areas are also private."·
What are the reasons against offline mode?
Previously, Blizzard has stated multiple reasons for moving their games to an online-only model:
- Ensuring players' games are up to date
- Offering a better multiplayer experience
- Reducing piracy
- Thwarting exploits
- Tracking game balance and play usage statistics
Xiphoid has been playing Diablo since the original's release in 1997. He made one of the largest Age of Empires sites in the late-'90s and early-'00s. Now, he runs MythicDrop.com, a premier Diablo 4 fansite.
Sources
| Article | Source | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Diablo IV pre-order page on Battle.net | Blizzard | |
| 2. | 2019 BlizzCon: Diablo IV Systems and Features | Blizzard |
Changelog
| Ver | Change | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Beta | Added confirmation of no offline mode | |
 |
Alpha | Published original |
