Time: 2025-11-06
Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed plans to expand horizontal progression systems in Diablo 4, signaling a significant shift in how players will experience character development and build experimentation. In a recent discussion with content creator Raxxanterax, game developers Colin and Zaven highlighted the team's focus on making alternate character progression and build testing more rewarding - addressing one of the community's most persistent requests.
Understanding Horizontal vs. Vertical Progression in Diablo 4
Currently, Diablo 4 primarily emphasizes vertical progression - the continuous pursuit of higher stats through improved gear, additional Paragon points, and numerical upgrades. The proposed horizontal progression systems aim to complement this by providing more meaningful choices and reducing the friction associated with experimenting with different playstyles.
Horizontal progression focuses on:
Expanding build variety without necessarily increasing power
Reducing repetitive grinding for alternate characters
Enhancing player agency in character customization
Creating more diverse endgame experiences
Streamlining Build Experimentation
While quality-of-life improvements like the Armory feature and Aspect management enhancements have helped, build swapping remains unnecessarily cumbersome. The development team recognizes that rebuilding Paragon boards and skill configurations from scratch discourages players from testing new strategies, particularly during endgame activities.
Potential solutions include:
Direct import functionality for community-built Paragon and skill setups
Automated Aspect swapping tied to saved loadouts
Reduced resource costs for respecing established characters
Template systems for popular build archetypes
Revitalizing Alternate Character Progression
After multiple seasons, the process of leveling and gearing alternate characters has become repetitive for dedicated players. While not inherently difficult, the current system requires significant time investment even for basic legendary gear acquisition unless players meticulously prepare stash transfers.
Possible catch-up mechanisms could include:
Account-wide bonuses for players with max-level characters
Scaling experience gains based on seasonal progression
Legacy gear sharing systems with appropriate restrictions
Alt-specific buffs that reduce initial grinding requirements
The Future of Diablo 4 Gameplay
These proposed changes aim to shift player time allocation from repetitive tasks to engaging activities like theorycrafting, targeted farming, and meaningful progression. By implementing robust horizontal progression systems, Blizzard could significantly enhance long-term player retention and seasonal freshness.
The emphasis on horizontal progression represents Blizzard's commitment to addressing core gameplay experience issues rather than simply adding new content. As these systems develop, they promise to create a more flexible and player-friendly environment that celebrates diversity in playstyles and reduces unnecessary friction between players and the content they enjoy.