During a group interview with GamesRadar+, Joe Piepiora, the associate game director, confirmed that in Diablo 4, the Nightmare dungeons will continue to increase in difficulty beyond level 100. However, there is a limit to the game's difficulty as it is not intended to be played interminably.
Eventually, players will face a "pinnacle boss encounter" that will put even the best level 100 builds to the test.
According to Joe Piepiora, the associate game director, Diablo 4's Nightmare dungeons will continue to scale in difficulty even beyond level 100. However, he clarifies that the game is not intended to be played endlessly, and players will eventually face a "pinnacle boss encounter" that serves as a character's capstone.
Piepiora suggests that this encounter will challenge even the best level 100 builds, and players will have to try several times to beat it. Once a player has reached the maximum power of gear, they can then reroll and respec their character to optimize their build before taking on the final boss.
The boss has been balanced to be extremely challenging and is expected to take several attempts. Players would need to understand their class, optimize their build and master the encounter to have a chance of beating the boss.
Piepiora emphasizes that players who have maximized their builds and faced the boss will eventually achieve their character's capstone.
The unnamed pinnacle boss encounter in Diablo 4 is not intended to provide players with powerful loot or Diablo 4 Gold, but to give them a sense of accomplishment. It's designed to test the limits of players' builds and provide a challenge even to those who already have the best gear.
While the game is not intended to be played endlessly, there will be content updates for many years to come, so players can continue to improve their characters. Once players have beaten the boss, it proves that they have built a pretty badass character and showcases their accomplishment.
Joe Piepiora explains that defeating the pinnacle boss encounter in Diablo 4 isn't about getting more powerful gear, even though there are cosmetic rewards for doing so.
Instead, it's a means for players to prove to themselves that they have created an impressive character build, and achieve their capstone goals, in a specific period after reaching level 100. The aspiration to build a powerful character and ultimately defeat the boss encounter is the driving force that Blizzard wants players to chase in the game.
Also Read: Diablo IV: Which Beta Class You Can Play?
While gear is important, it is only a tool to help players in their quest to defeat this boss.
Diablo 4 Isn't Coming to Game Pass
Blizzard has confirmed that they currently have no plans to release Diablo 4 on Xbox Game Pass.
With the ongoing Xbox Activision Blizzard deal, it is unlikely that we will see any changes regarding Diablo 4's availability on Game Pass soon. However, if the acquisition finalizes this summer, there is a possibility that Diablo 4 will join the full list of Xbox Game Pass titles shortly after.
Diablo 4 Classes
Upon release, Diablo 4 will have five classes, which allow players to tune into their preferred playstyle, be it ranged, melee, or support, among others. There will be a greater degree of customization available, allowing players to alter their character's appearance, gear, and armor, and granting freedom to shape their combat strategy as they advance.
Diablo 4 classes are a mere starting point, with much room for progression and refinement.
Diablo 4 Open World
Diablo 4 will mark a departure from the previous instanced zones to the open world structure.
The world of Sanctuary consists of five regions, which players can explore in any order they prefer- Matt McDaid, the lead environment artist, tantalizingly hints at players' creative choices in traversing this vast game space. Blizzard previewed the five regions of Sanctuary, showcasing redesigned enemy types. Notably, early gameplay experiences of Diablo 4 have underscored the game's open world framework as a standout feature.
