UNBELIEVABLE Change Coming to Diablo 4!

Intro (00:00:00)

The video, titled "UNBELIEVABLE Change Coming to Diablo 4?!", will discuss the potential change of Diablo 4's level cap from 100 to 60. The speaker, Rker, initially doubted this change but has become convinced by the evidence.

The video will also cover other gaming news, including a major update for Helldivers 2, the formation of video game unions within Microsoft, and the latest expansion for Path of Exile.

The video is sponsored by Boot.dev, an online programming course that uses an RPG format to teach coding. Boot.dev offers a free demo, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and free access to all content in guest mode. A paid membership unlocks interactive features and the game-like experience.

Diablo 4 Level Cap and Paragon Changes: The video discusses evidence suggesting a significant change to Diablo 4's level cap and Paragon system. The level cap will likely be reduced to 60, with Paragon levels tracked separately. This change is supported by observations in the Spirit Born gameplay, including the unlocking of Paragon points at level 60, the absence of Paragon point checkpoints on the XP bar after level 60, and the convergence of potion upgrades at level 60. This change could lead to a stat squish, which might be beneficial for game balance.

Paladin Class and Expansion Content: The video discusses the upcoming Paladin class and its potential inclusion in the second expansion. The game director has hinted that new classes will be integrated with the location of the expansion, making West March a likely location for the Paladin. The expansion will introduce a new region called Nantu, which is roughly the size of Scosglen but with more content. This expansion will likely conclude the exploration of the Eastern continent, suggesting that the Western continent will be the focus of the next expansion.

Diablo 4 Development Philosophy and Balance: The video discusses the Diablo 4 development team's evolving philosophy on game balance. They are embracing a more relaxed approach, allowing for more powerful builds and "broken" mechanics, as long as they don't cause server issues. This philosophy is driven by the desire to prioritize fun and player creativity.

Unionization at Blizzard: The video mentions the recent unionization efforts at Blizzard, with both the World of Warcraft and Diablo 4 development teams forming unions. This signifies a growing trend of unionization within the gaming industry.

The chapter discusses the recent formation of a union at Bethesda Game Studios, marking the first wall-to-wall union within Microsoft. This union, comprised of almost 250 staff members from various positions, signifies a growing movement towards unionization in the video game industry.

The formation of this union follows years of advocacy and awareness-raising efforts by individuals like Jason Schreier, who has highlighted the often-grueling working conditions and crunch culture prevalent in the AAA video game industry. Schreier has encouraged game developers to unionize to address these issues.

The speaker acknowledges that while some may view unions negatively, they ultimately believe that happy, healthy, and well-rested developers will produce better games. They emphasize the difference between developers pushing themselves and being pressured by corporate entities to meet deadlines and maximize profits, often at the expense of employee well-being. The speaker commends Microsoft for allowing these unions to form, contrasting this with other companies that actively try to suppress unionization efforts.

Humble Games, a publishing company known for titles like "Slay the Spire," laid off all 36 of its employees without notice.

While a union may not have prevented the layoffs, it could have provided employees with more advanced notice, preventing them from being caught off guard.

The future of Humble Games is uncertain, with some sources suggesting a complete shutdown while others claim it's a restructuring that will involve outsourcing work to a third party.

Helldivers 2's biggest update yet, "Escalation of Freedom," is launching on August 6th, bringing new game modes, objectives, enemies, and a new difficulty level called "Super Hell Dive."

The update introduces new enemies like Spore Chargers, new Brood Commanders, and a large automaton tank that fires rockets. It also brings back the Impaler from Helldivers 1 and introduces Scout Striders with rockets and armored cockpits.

The update features a new swamp biome, a new Acid Storm weather effect that reduces armor and increases damage, a new type of outpost called a "Massive Fortress," and a new objective involving retrieving a larvae that attracts enemies. It also includes a quality-of-life upgrade that allows players kicked from a game due to griefers to spawn into a new session with a copy of the previous session's loot.

Path of Exile's new expansion, "The Settlers," has launched and features a city-building mode. The speaker is excited about this new feature and hopes it will be well-received by players. They also mention that the expansion includes a new currency exchange system, which is essentially an auction house for currency. This system is designed to prevent bots and market manipulation, as players need to earn gold by playing the game to use it.

The currency exchange system is only available in the "Settlers" league for now. However, the developers will likely make it a permanent feature if it proves successful. The speaker believes this system is a positive change, as it encourages players to actually play the game instead of relying on market manipulation.

The expansion also includes new challenge rewards and a new league mechanic. The speaker is impressed with the challenge rewards, particularly the portal cosmetics. They also enjoyed the new league mechanic, finding it engaging and rewarding. They are particularly excited about the progression of building up their city and the loot they received from their first shipment.

Stardew Valley creator ConcernedApe has pledged to never charge for DLC or future updates. He has stated that he will never charge for DLC or updates for as long as he lives. This is a remarkable commitment, especially considering the game's immense success and the potential for significant revenue from paid content.

Fallout London, a fan-made expansion for Fallout 4, has been released. This expansion takes players to London, a location never before seen in the Fallout universe. Despite some criticisms of the voice acting, the expansion is considered a high-quality and immersive experience.

Baldur's Gate 3 continues to be incredibly popular, with over 100,000 daily concurrent players on Steam a year after its release. This is an extraordinary feat for a single-player, turn-based RPG. The game's depth, replayability, and sheer amount of content have contributed to its enduring popularity.