Blizzard's loot-driven RPG, Diablo 4, is currently available to play for free on Steam until September 21. This limited-time offer coincides with a significant sale, with the base version of the game discounted by 75% on both Steam and the Blizzard Store, bringing its price down to $12.49.
This free-to-play period comes with certain restrictions. Players will be limited to a maximum character level of 30. Diablo 4 is also free to try on Battle.net, where players can access the Spiritborn expansion class up to level 25.
Diablo 4, released on October 17, 2023, has experienced a mixed reception. While its art direction and combat were praised by critics, the game's always-online requirement proved unpopular with some players. The base game holds a 73% positive user review rating on Steam, though recent reviews have dipped to 62%. This decline appears linked to player dissatisfaction with how Blizzard has handled downloadable content, particularly the "Lord of Hatred" DLC, which locks many character abilities behind a paywall comparable to the full game's price. A bundle including the base game and both DLCs is priced at $69.99, with no discount offered for existing base game owners.
Despite the controversy surrounding Diablo 4's post-launch content, Blizzard has maintained a strong financial position. An internal email from Blizzard President Johanna Faries indicated that the company was the "top performing" studio at Xbox over the past year. This fiscal year, ending July 2026, marked Blizzard's third-highest for top-line revenue in its history and the first time the company achieved consecutive quarters of growth since Overwatch's launch in 2016. "Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred" and "Overwatch" were highlighted as key drivers of this performance, with Overwatch seeing its strongest quarter since 2022.
Blizzard also used BlizzCon to announce future titles, including Diablo 5, slated for Spring 2029, and a StarCraft shooter planned for 2030. These developments occur as Microsoft, which acquired Activision Blizzard in 2022, undergoes significant layoffs affecting 3,200 employees and parting ways with studios like Double Fine and Ninja Theory. The acquisition followed accusations of a toxic work environment at Blizzard, which led to a $55 million discrimination lawsuit settlement.