14 DAY TRIAL // Diablo 3 is set to receive a big update when the upcoming expansion, Reaper of Souls, is released, and among the key features is a new smart drop loot system that ensures items found by players are tuned to their character, thus eliminating the reliance on the Auction House.
Diablo 3 came out last year on the PC and Mac platforms and just recently on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles.
While Blizzard was initially quite proud of the dungeon crawling RPG, it soon noticed that fewer and fewer players actually went through the game with gear they found in it, as many were just going to the Auction House to buy the items they wanted.
This reliance on the marketplace will be addressed with a future update that adds a better loot system, as well as a Loot Run generator that will create new, unique 20-minute dungeons that will be packed with great gear.
"It is fun to go buy something instantly, the instant gratification feel, that sugar high, however it’s not the core fantasy, it’s not the most fun and by the endgame, for a variety of reasons, they tend to check the auction house first and play the game second," Lead Content Designer Kevin Martens told PCGamer.
"That’s not what we intend, and we do want to address that, so the loot system and the enchanting and crafting systems are both intended to cut the legs out from the auction house; to make it unnecessary to go on it to some degree, where the most fun way to play the game becomes the best way to play the game."
While the reliance on the Auction House isn't a bad thing per se, Blizzard wants to decrease it and make playing the game a better alternative.
"Trading’s not invalid, it’s just that it's been skewed so if you’re a character who’s spending money maybe you’re getting 80% of your gear from the Auction House, and 20% in game. It should be the reverse at best. It’s more fun to kill monsters. It’s the same thing I said about Loot Runs. If you want the best gear, let’s put it in a place in-game where you’re killing monsters," Martens added.
As of yet, however, it's unclear when Diablo 3 will receive the new update or the Reaper of Souls expansion.