It’s no Auction House, but real money may be coming back to Diablo 3

By Will Fulton February 24, 2015

diablo 3 microtransactions patch iii beta wizard vs skeleton king 2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The next patch for Diablo III includes a number of features that point toward the addition of microtransactions to Blizzard’s action role-playing game, but not in a way that affects players in the Americas or Europe (yet, at least). The developer posted an update on the game’s forum to clarify the regional specificity of these new features, getting out ahead of the data miners that will inevitably pore over the patch code for details.

Among the pertinent features being added in patch 2.2.0 is a new in-game currency called Platinum, along with ways to spend it. It’s not quite a return to the controversial Auction House; Platinum can be used to buy timed experience boosts, an assortment of cosmetic items (wings, portraits, and non-combat pets), and the ability to purchase more stash space and more character slots.

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With Europe and the Americas out of the equation, that leaves Asia as the most likely candidate for Platinum’s test bed. Microtransaction-supported games have done well in Asia, particularly in China due to (recently lifted) restrictions on console sales driving gamer interest toward computers and online play. For the time being, Blizzard is insistent that there are no plans “anytime soon” to implement these features in Western regions.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Will Fulton is a New York-based writer and theater-maker. In 2011 he co-founded mythic theater company AntiMatter Collective…

Gaming

Best Diablo 4 Sorcerer builds: recommended skills, passives, and gear

Diablo 4

Each of the five classes in Diablo 4 plays to different strengths. All of them are viable for completing the game, whether you're going through the story alone or with a group of friends, but it is important to know what role each one serves best and how to optimize them to take advantage of those strengths. The skill trees for each character can be a bit overwhelming, especially if this is your first time venturing into the world of Sanctuary. If the Sorcerer has caught your eye as a fun character to begin with, then a little guidance on how to make a powerful build will go a long way. Here is a general overview of the Sorcerer class, plus some examples of builds you can work toward to melt all that oppose you with powerful magic in Diablo 4.
Sorcerer overview

The Sorcerer is a magic-focused class that focuses on three primary elemental magics: Fire, Ice, and Lightning. They tend to be something of a glass cannon, meaning they deal very high damage, but are not able to take many hits. There are ways to mitigate your more squishy nature, but this isn't a class you should pick if you want to get right up in your enemies' faces and beat them down. Sorcerers are best used at range, so they can keep moving and dishing out tons of damage and effects.
Lightning build

Gaming

Where to farm Crushed Beast Bones in Diablo 4

Diablo 4 characters facing off.

In Diablo 4, you'll need to collect a wide variety of items to increase your chance of survival, especially as you progress through the game. To acquire the Light Healing Potion -- which grants 141 life instantly and 35% of your max life over 3 seconds -- you'll first need to acquire 20 Gallowvines, 10 Biteberries, and five Crushed Beast Bones. However, finding Crushed Beast Bones can be tricky during the early stages of the game. In this guide, we'll show you exactly where to find Crushed Beast Bones in Diablo 4.
Where to find Crushed Beast Bones
There are actually multiple ways to earn Crushed Beast Bones, but most of them are luck-based. You can defeat Werecreatures, spiders, and other animals for a chance at acquiring the items you need, but the drop rate for Crushed Beast Bones is low. Specifically, you'll want to visit areas such as Fractured Peaks, Scosglen, and Dry Steppes.

The most consistent and easiest way to get Crushed Beast Bones is to visit the area in Scosglen marked on the map above. Head to that location and the Gaspar Stilbian enemy will appear.

Gaming

Is Diablo 4 cross-platform?

Diablo 4 Rogue

The demons have risen once again, and now it is up to you, and your friends, to stop them. The Diablo games have been some of the most fun co-op experiences ever since the third installment, and with Diablo 4, the multiplayer component is even more prominent. Unlike prior games, this one will feature a persistent, always-online world where you can interact with and see other players running and fighting across Sanctuary at any time. Another first for the series is that it will launch on both PCs and consoles simultaneously, meaning anyone who wants to slay some demonic beasts will get the chance. But what if you have friends on a different platform you want to partner up with? Before you dive into that dungeon solo, here's everything you need to know about Diablo 4 cross-platform support.
Is Diablo 4 cross-platform?

Regardless of whether or not you're playing on the PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, or PC, you can team up with anyone else on any of the other platforms with no issue. This is partially possible thanks to the game requiring a Battle.net system, which you should make sure you have before booting the game up if you don't already.