“Inferno” Difficulty Level Confirmed
Posted 17 August 2011 by FluxJay Wilson has confirmed that Diablo III will have a complete fourth difficulty level called Inferno. Kotaku has more details, and here’s a quote:
Monsters will see an increase in health, damage, damage resistances and aggression in Inferno. They’ll also have access to a larger suite of powers in Inferno, making minions and boss monsters even tougher. Expect a tougher game across the board, with broader than ever challenges even for the most skilled demon hunters.
“The idea was that we wanted a difficulty mode where the entire game was viable,” Wilson says. “So you don’t have to pick and choose key areas [to replay].” Diablo III’s Inferno difficulty, he says, will be “very difficult, very challenging,” presenting a “flattened” difficulty experience that Blizzard hopes will provide a more balanced, but more challenging end game for Diablo diehards.
That “flattened” difficulty will mean, Blizzard hopes, that players revisit the entire world of Diablo III seeking bigger and bolder challenges, not just go on “Mephisto runs” or fight a specific breed of minion in search of experience points and sweet loot drops.
The developers have often said that D3′s 
end game is all about items, and they’re certainly taking that to heart with these plans for this Inferno. After all, characters will be at max level before they even begin this fourth difficulty level, with nothing to gain but better equipment (and achievements) by playing it. Some gear, including armor, weapons, and runestones, will only be found on Inferno, and all the best stuff will drop much more frequently there.
So what do you guys think? Is this a good end game PvE approach, opening up the entire game to replayability? Or would you have preferred special bonus content like D2′s Pandemonium Event? Do you think players will work through a wider variety of areas, or will we just wind up doing the D3 version of Pindleskin runs, once players find the easiest and most rewarding activities?
The most unoriginal, uninspired end game content imaginable.
Why don’t they just pee on us stright up instead of this virtual peeing on fans… :choler:
This is probably one of the biggest things players wanted in Diablo 2, and your saying its just them pissing on us?
Also, how can it be unoriginal and unispired when this is the ONLY game like this to even do a fourth difficulty?
What can I say, I guess I expected the end-game content to actually be something new and original. Not just playing through the EXACT same game for the 4th time…
If everybody’s so happy about it, why not make a 5th and 6th difficulty levels? (from the developers point of view it’s hardly any work to make those, as opposed to actually making new end-game content)
Hardly any work? The balancing of these monsters and their drops is NOT EASY.
Also, having a 5th and 6th difficulty is NOT what most players wanted. What players wanted is a reason to do ALL ACTS, and they’ve done it by making a flat difficulty where all monsters are just as difficult as one another and have the same chances for drops.
Did you play Diablo II?
You can say, i`ll wait and see. Before passing judgement. I mean we never had our hand on this game. In the later stages of the game, maybe there are bosses there in Inferno, that we will not see in Normal,Nightmare,Hell. We never can see what kind of depth it will have so hold your horses. And do not forget, time will always be going forward and not backward. So if you are still using the same imagination that you had when you played Diablo II. Then i guess you are the one that will pass judgement and make statements like this.
Knowing and playing the game will give you insight and not before!.
Cheers,
Ajay
“Not just playing through the EXACT same game for the 4th time…” Well, if by the “EXACT” same game you mean, DIFFERENT difficulty, DIFFERENT resistances, DIFFERENT powers, DIFFERENT aggression behavior, then yes, you will unfortunately be given EACTLY the same game. And if you’re looking forward to playing diablo, I’m wondering why you’d be disappointed that they are putting more diablo into your diablo? Thats what the game is about after all…
“Also, how can it be unoriginal and unispired when this is the ONLY game like this to even do a fourth difficulty?’
seriously ? lol
adding another difficulty to a game that already has 3 is not exactly coming up with something original
if there’s an expansion they should just add a 5th difficulty ?
would that be original and inspired ? “Also, how can it be unoriginal and unispired when this is the ONLY game like this to even do a fifth difficulty?’
It being another difficulty isn’t whats original about it.
Whats original is that its not a progession difficulty. You can go anywhere in any of the acts in this difficulty and not have to deal with the story, all monsters will be equal in difficulty and chances for loot. You will not be better off farming the bosses only or a small group of monsters in a later act. Its groundbreaking because it took over 10 years for this concept to finally be realised with Borderlands’ Playthrough 2.5, and now Blizzard is making that concept their own with Inferno difficulty.
I’m going to hold my judgement to when I play the game but as Chris Wilson stated in one of the last podcasts they had originally planned to do this for the last difficulty in path of exile. The reason they gave of not doing it was they found players would find the areas that held monsters that were most suited to their class or playstyle, then they would just play that area again and again, say a ranged class vs mostly slow moving melee monters or something. So the same problem of having players play the same content over again still materialised.
edit: Aargh flux beat me to the punch below
“Also, how can it be unoriginal and unispired when this is the ONLY game like this to even do a fourth difficulty?”
Apart from Sacred 1 & 2 (#1 was released in 2004).
Like most other creative people/companies, they recycle stuff (concepts, themes & content), doesn’t mean that the end result won’t be very polished.
If they do it how you say, then what’s the point of having official expansions later?
Instead of thumbs down I would appreciate it if people who object to my view would please enlighten me as to HOW the Inferno diffulty level is either original or inspired (as opposed to the plethora of creative end-game content ideas this community gave in the forums and podcasts).
I’m not a troll, and happen to like a lot of things about this game. But this 4th diffculty level thing is the easiest solution for Blizzard, who obviously could care less about the end-game being innovative and interesting…
A lot of players, myself included, wanted this. Or, at least, that is the impression I get. I relish the challenges that will await me in inferno difficulty. Also, because inferno is one of the features they have planned does not mean it is the only thing they have planned. They may add more as the game grows, or there may even be more than we currently know.
Is it the most innovate solution? Maybe not. But innovation doesn’t necessarily mean fun; and I’d rather something was fun. That isn’t to say there aren’t possible solutions which are innovative AND fun, but a) this doesn’t preclude them, and b) Blizzard is still a developer and has to balance how much time is spent on things, and c) it is entirely possible that they have considered some of those alternatives.
I am very happy with the news, but we’ll have to wait for it to actualised before any ossified judgements can be made.
I appreciate the answer. And I’m surprised (and happy for you guys) that obviously so many people wanted just this.
To me playing the game for the 4th time isn’t that much fun at all. I’ll probably do it, for lack of anything else to do, but like I said, a lot of people have already came up with a ton of new ideas for end game content which was both fun and innovative – here’s to hoping Blizz will add any of those in the future…
It’s funny, as Chris Wilson said on the recent PoE podcast, a 4th difficulty level is something they considered for their game way early in the process. But they decided it would just lead to people doing boss runs, so they’re working on a system with areas randomly-joined up, and lots of guest monsters. So you don’t know what you’re getting in the end game.
PoE definitely seems ahead of the curve.
Mutajon, looking at your comments it really seems like the arpg hack n’ slash genre really isnt your cup of tea. Its a genre that boasts replayability. The things you are complaining about are some of the exact same things that compel people to play these type of games in the first place.
I’m curious. Did you play d2? If so, did you complete hell? Did you attempt to optimize your character? Overall did you enjoy the game?
If playing the game for the fourth time isn’t much fun for you, then you’re probably playing the wrong game – I have no idea of how many times I’ve been doing the same areas over and over and over again in Diablo 2, with every single class, but it’s a lot. The magic about Diablo is that the next monster might just drop a great item and that’s what keeps people playing. I’m willing to bet a years income that if Blizz suddenly decided every mob in Cataclysm areas in WoW had a 0.00000012% chance to drop top tier loot, you wouldn’t be able to find a living mob in any of them – it’s not how big a chance that counts, it’s the fact that there ‘is’ a (perceived) chance. By having a reason to go through the game yet again, I’ll effectively be doing what I’d be doing anyway, and feel great about beating the toughest content at the same time
doublepost
Who decreed that it has to highly original and innovative? It’s original in the sense that the difficulty curve turns flat and you can experience every single act as a challenge to max level characters – which didn’t happen in Diablo 2 at all.
It’s a bit of a rehash, yes, but so is Diablo 3 to begin with. ARPGs aren’t even genres known for high originality in the first place, if you want exclusive end-game content that is quite differentiated from the rest of the playing experience while leveling up there are better games for that, such as, maybe, all the MMORPGs in the market.
Mutajon, I didn’t take your comments as trolling, that’s a valid opinion. I disagree with your opinion, because this adds a necessary challenge to the game. Do you remember how stale most of D2 became after you were at a higher level? You would just jump in and do one of a few different things in order to find the best loot. This mode allows players to play any part of the game and it be viable for gearing up and finding loot, not to mention offering them a challenge.
You really don’t see how having the entire game at a flat, very challenging level will provide a much better end game experience for the players, who will be doing run after run for loots?
“You really don’t see how having the entire game at a flat, very challenging level will provide a much better end game experience for the players, who will be doing run after run for loots?”
I don’t
how is it any different from doing The Mausoleum, The Crypt, The Pit, The Countess, Andariel, Ancient Tunnels, Pindleskin, Diablo and Ball over and over in Hell difficulty
with D2 you had a variety of areas, monsters and bosses to choose from
you could choose an area or monster type that best fit your skills and build
is this really any different ?
Now you aren’t limited to The Mausoleum, The Crypt, The Pit, The Countess, Andariel, Ancient Tunnels, Pindleskin, Diablo or Baal. You can do those areas if you like, but now the entire game is open for that. You get to pick and choose what areas you run without limitations…or do all of it.
The problem is, each of those areas had a different difficulty level and different loot level. This time around, Inferno will have a flat enemy and loot level, so you can play anywhere and have a shot at the same high end loot. I don’t understand why people don’t see a big difference here.
“What players wanted is a reason to do ALL ACTS, and they’ve done it by making a flat difficulty where all monsters are just as difficult as one another and have the same chances for drops.”
Precisely that.
Also, this one tidbit of info doesn’t necessarily encompass the everything they have in mind for end-game.
It sounds like they don’t really have much of anything in mind for the end game.
Like they’re trying to wait and see what we actually do in the game. But aren’t these the same folks who are so in-touch with their community that they can anticipate our wants and needs, even when we don’t want or need them?
Sure I’ll get downvoted for that and I really don’t care.
I like the sound of inferno, naturally, but this isn’t nearly enough to help with the problems from the first two games in the series. This isn’t end game. I wish they’d just share some of their thoughts or philosophies about it, they wouldn’t even have to go into specifics.
We don’t really know if this is the only end-game, if it is, then yeah, it would be bad.
But it mostly seem to be a way to fix some Diablo 2 problems
One word: expansions.
Yep thats what I was thinking. Even patches are able to change things up. Still a work in progress, inferno could have wacky quests and the like
Err isn’t this better than D2, while being the same as D2?
Describing an additional difficulty as an uninspired decision is perfectly fine. It further emphasizes the previous difficulties as time sinks / rush fests to get to the best one for the items. Recycling content gets boring after a while…
what would you like to see instead of this?
and what if inferno is something different than just replay on higher difficulty?
The fact that you want a constant stream of new original content and challenges *at release* is unoriginal, uninspired and unrealistic. Of course everyone loves new content, and that’s what patches and expansions provide. So what I’m hearing is you basically want an expansion included with the game release, and somehow that makes it an original and better idea? I say no to that, because I for one want to get the release game, wear myself out and then wait for the expansion with new content. Sounds better than waiting for an expansion’s worth of delay before the game ever gets released.
That Blizz included a feature which lots of players asked for, which adds a lot more replayablity to the core of the game, is a welcome feature indeed. And let’s not forget that at the very heart of the game is the formula, kill tougher monsters = get better loot. This feature fits that formula perfectly.
A new difficulty isn’t necessarily “new content”. It’s the same game, just with altered stats and drops.
Sounds good to me. I bet they will add tons of achievements for the inferno difficulty level. Even more bragging rights for HC players.
Better news than the always online requirement
Hah, this is true. Good perspective, sir.
Achievements, nay, Inferno yay!
Do i interpret this correctly, that you do not need to do the whole story line in inferno and can choose where you want to go?
I too would like to know this. When you finish Hell, and fire up (HAR HAR!) a new Inferno game, can you pick and choose any act right away, or do you have to beat the act one boss, then the act two boss, etc?
Not bad, at all…it sounds like a Valhalla for the alts.
and the elite gear in Inferno will have its very own, unique artwork? They got all my support.
I don’t see how this would stop people farming certain monsters ad nauseum, unless they plan on tweaking drop rates so every creature/boss/etc on Inferno difficulty has an equal chance to drop everything.
Even then, certain monsters will be quicker and easier to kill, meaning players will always farm those.
– Malignant
Remember, Inferno is being balanced differently than the other 3 difficulties. For all we know there might not be one single monster thats easier to kill than the others.
Also, it’ll be more beneficial to just clear all acts in one Inferno game as you’ll be killing a lot more than someone whos constantly killing monsters in one area, starting a new game, and running back to that area again.
Since they are normalizing diffculty, normalize drop rate is pretty much given.
If player find expose, well that is what patches are for.
I am personally not happy with it. I like the challenge to play the ladder like in the early day or now called classic. The Endgame was not so challenging like the inferno stuff, but with ladderclimbing you had a goal. Now, you get 60 and than you “beginn” to play, to search for best oder better stuff, not more.
All in all with this information the goal sounds for many players: Climb so fast as possible to 60, play inferno and sell the good, bestand better items in RMAH. Mhhh, i dont think, that is the right “spirit”of diablo, sound like the right spirit to make money
More and more i believe, that we are not get such times, like Diablo 2 in the earlier days…make me sad.
The “spirit” of Diablo is a hack-n-slash loot oriented game. They’ve kept that.
don’t think you got his point.
No I understood his point perfectly. He’s saying that CLvl 60 cap, RMAH, Online-Only, and Inferno all go against the spirit of a Diablo game.
I Kindly replied saying that the “spirit of a Diablo game” is the combat and loot, which is ruined by none of these features, nor did they simply just outright remove it.
he’s not trying to define what the spirit of diablo IS. he’s simply stating what how he feels the game will be degenerated by some of these features. or rather some players who really aren’t out to play the game, but search for shortcuts and exploits with the intention of pwning noobz. happens in every game.
then again, those people will do this with any system they are presented with.
There is no diablo without money my friend!
As they stated in many occasions diablo III will stay
A work in progress so they need it from somewhere!
It’s not like they will take over a bank.
Don’t forget we live in a world where money is the number 1 aspect of getting things done.
( that’s relitive stated )
And without no money no luxury and no luxury no fun
Cheers,
Ajay
I really like this idea. It will be nice to have a challenge once your characters reach max level. Also, you will be able to play through your favorite parts of the game and it should be beneficial. I’m very excited to see just how difficult they make this. Hopefully it will be really hard, so that it cannot be easily farmed without some massive upgrading of gear over time.
i like it
@melianor I understand that you will play the whole story line, but it will be so difficult, that no matters where you´re, the reward will be good as a specific raid, like baal´s in another difficult. Well, Im not a native english-speaker, so I may had interpreted all wrong