There might be a lot of hate aimed at Diablo Immortal right now, but one can't deny that people are still playing this game - and spending big money on it in the process.
diablo immortal
As reported by GameSpot, Activision Blizzard's free-to-play PC and mobile RPG managed to earn almost $50 million within the first month of its launch. But that's not all. Ever since the game released, it's also been revealed that revenues have never dropped below $1 million, once again proving that the pay-to-win system (while understandably viewed as sleazy and greedy) works.
The data was pulled from Appmagic, a service that tracks mobile app/game earnings and allows mobile software developers to see where market trends at. The data was then shared by MobileGamer.biz, whose analysis says that Immortal is perhaps THE biggest Diablo launch in Activision Blizzard's history due to its microtransaction revenue.
Diablo 3, the previous record holder (and a paid game at that), doesn't even come close to Immortal in terms of overall unit sales. Now, it might be troublesome to compare a paid game to a free-to-play one, but the numbers are still pretty interesting to behold.
Back in 2012, Diablo 3 sold 3.5 million copies in its first day. However, sales slowed down significantly and it wouldn't hit 10 million copies until one and a half months after it first launched. Diablo Immortal surpassed the 10 million mark in exactly a month, with total downloads peaking ten days after its initial release date.
Those ten days was able to net ActiBlizz a cool $2.4 million via Diablo Immortal's microtransactions. A week passed and the total was at $11.9 million, until it absolutely ballooned to the roughly $50 million figure a month later. And this isn't even considering how the game is not available worldwide yet - specifically in China, where the game's release has been delayed indefinitely (via Win.gg).
If Activision Blizzard sorts out the kinks in the Chinese market, then these revenues could soar even higher. Take note that China's mobile gaming revenue has already eclipsed $9 billion in Q1 2022 (via PocketGamer.biz), and it's only going to grow larger.
SHANGHAI , CHINA - OCTOBER 22: Players compete in an online mobile game 'Arena of Valor' during the 2021 G-Power e-sports competition at a shopping mall on October 22, 2021 in Shanghai, China.
Read also: Diablo Immortal Can't Be Played On Samsung Phones With Exynos Chips
Is The Issue With Diablo Immortal's Microtransactions Actually Overblown?
Now, it's painfully obvious that everyone knows how troublesome (some even call it predatory) the pay-to-win system in Immortal is. But if one does look beyond that, is there actually a good game under all the monetization problems?
A quick look at numerous official game reviews will reveal the answer. Marshall Honorof of Tom's Guide still considered the game "fun to play," praising the game for its implementation of "classic Diablo gameplay," its strong lore and immersive setting, and the multitude of character customization options. The cons, aside from the microtransactions, were just how excessively grindy the game can get - and how uninspired the overarching story was.
Here's another review from IGN, who rated the game an "Okay" 6 out of 10:
There has to be a reason why the game is still being played despite all the backlash against it. Right? Either way, Activision Blizzard is laughing on the way to the bank.
Related: Even Dedicated Diablo Immortal Streamers Are Quitting
