Blizzard’s latest Diablo 4 crossover event with the legendary manga Berserk has stirred major controversy, not for its content, but for its eye-watering $150 price tag tied to the cosmetic bundles.
Players were excited when Blizzard began teasing the Berserk event, hoping for a meaningful tribute to Kentaro Miura’s dark fantasy masterpiece. However, enthusiasm quickly turned to outrage when players discovered that unlocking all of the Berserk-themed cosmetics would cost them $150—all for non-essential, aesthetic items.
Despite being promoted as part of a free update, the new cosmetic items are locked behind Diablo 4’s premium currency, Platinum. Individual bundles range from 2,500 to 2,800 Platinum, but the full set costs a whopping 16,500 Platinum. Worse yet, due to Blizzard’s currency pack system, players would have to buy 18,500 Platinum to cover the total cost—equivalent to roughly $150 USD.
Reddit user HilltopHood shared a breakdown of the costs, and the post quickly gained traction, prompting hundreds of players to chime in with frustration and disbelief.
PSA: Obtaining all Berserk sets will run you 16,500 platinum (18,500 platinum costs $149.99)
byu/HilltopHood indiablo4
The backlash points to a growing discontent within the Diablo community over Blizzard’s aggressive monetization tactics, which many feel are becoming increasingly exploitative. While cosmetics are technically optional, the placement of this premium-only content during a long-hyped update has many players feeling misled.
This isn’t the first time Blizzard has been in hot water over pricing. Past controversies surrounding Diablo 3’s real-money auction house and Diablo 4’s previous premium bundles have made fans wary. The Berserk crossover—meant to be a moment of celebration—has instead become a flashpoint for criticism.
As of now, Blizzard has not issued any statement in response to the backlash. Whether the developer will reconsider pricing or double down remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: players are no longer staying silent about what they feel is predatory monetization.