Diablo 4’s seasonal story content isn’t ‘a new campaign’, Battle Passes will take 80 hours to clear

Diablo 4’s seasons will consist of a Battle Pass that will take around 80 hours to clear, and story content that isn’t at the level of a fully fledged new campaign, it’s been confirmed.

The long-awaited fourth Diablo game, which releases on June 6, will include a number of ‘seasons’, which are each expected to last for three months and are similar to those in Diablo 3 in that each one has the player starting again with a new character at level 1.

Players will have to take on objectives over the course of the season to help level up their character, with the ultimate aim being to get them to level 100.

In an interview with PC Gamer, associate game director Joe Piepiora said each season’s Battle Pass would consist of around 80 hours of gameplay.

“Right now, the Battle Pass, when you’re figuring in completing the season journey alongside doing other content in the game, you’re looking at roughly 80 hours’ worth of time invested to complete the entirety of the Battle Pass,” Piepiora said.

“To level a character to level 100 could take a little longer than that based on how you play.”

In a separate interview in Game Informer magazine, Piepiora said each season would have story content, something franchise boss Rod Fergusson attempted to play down on Twitter.

In a tweet headed “managing expectations”, Fergusson said: “Going to talk about Seasons and Expansions a lot more later but I am seeing some people misinterpreting [the Game Informer] article.

“The story that [Piepiora] refers to in Seasons are new quest lines that help to provide context to new seasonal mechanics – not a new campaign.”

Fergusson then confirmed to a follower that the new quest lines would be available as part of the free path in each season, and wouldn’t require players to buy the Battle Pass to access it.

Further reading

Diablo 4 launch times have been revealed

Players who purchase the Deluxe or Ultimate editions will receive early access

Players who pre-order the Deluxe or Ultimate editions of Diablo 4 will receive early access to the game beginning on June 2.

Microsoft has announced an Xbox Series X bundle featuring the game. Priced at $559.99 / £489.99, it includes an Xbox Series X and wireless controller, Diablo 4 for Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, and the Light-Bearer Mount with Caparison of Faith Mount Armor for Diablo 4.

The game, which won’t be playable offline, features cross-play and cross-progression for all platforms. It also supports couch-co-op on consoles.