Diablo 4's portal palette: Why a $30 price tag for cosmetic colours?

To add insult to injury, these portal recolours are class-locked, meaning players can only use certain colours based on their chosen class
The image shows Diablo 4 poster. — Blizzard Entertainment
The image shows Diablo 4 poster. — Blizzard Entertainment

Over the years, the gaming industry has witnessed an alarming trend of exorbitant microtransactions and DLCs, particularly in the realm of live-service games. From Capcom to Electronic Arts, many publishers have faced backlash over their sky-high prices for mere cosmetics. 

However, Activision Blizzard seems to have perfected the art of overpricing, as evidenced once again by their latest blunder with Diablo 4.

Highlighted by a vigilant Reddit user, Mwatki20, a recent cosmetic set on the PlayStation Store for Diablo 4 offers players the chance to purchase portal recolours, essentially changing the colour of their fast-travel portals, for a staggering $30. The sheer audacity of this price tag has left many players outraged, rightfully pointing out that it's nearly half the cost of the entire game itself.

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To add insult to injury, these portal recolours are class-locked, meaning players can only use certain colours based on their chosen class. This restrictive approach further exacerbates the frustration among players, as they're essentially paying a premium price for a limited selection.

While this predatory pricing strategy may not come as a surprise to seasoned Activision Blizzard fans, it's nonetheless disheartening to see Diablo 4 following in the footsteps of its predecessors like Overwatch 2 and Call of Duty. 

What's even more concerning is the possibility that Activision Blizzard may push the boundaries even further, considering reports from last year suggesting they were gauging player interest in $100 expansions with exclusive early-access content. This blatant disregard for consumer value sets a dangerous precedent for the future of gaming monetisation.