Diablo 4’s Reliquary System: A Monetization Maze That Misses the Mark

Season 8 of Diablo 4 promised change, and it certainly delivered-though not in the way fans had hoped. At the center of this controversy is the new Reliquary system, Blizzard’s replacement for Diablo IV Gold the traditional seasonal battle pass. While it was pitched as a more personalized and flexible experience, players are discovering that it’s less a refinement and more a frustrating maze of microtransactions and confusing reward paths.

Gone is the predictable, linear structure of the original battle pass. Instead, players are greeted with Reliquaries-separate categories of unlockable rewards tied to Favor Tokens, a new in-game currency. Favor Tokens can be earned through gameplay, offering what should be a free path to progress. However, the system’s implementation suggests a strong tilt toward paid progression, a shift that has left much of the player base deeply unhappy.

Reddit user Loika was one of the first to shine a spotlight on the flaws, prompting an avalanche of responses from frustrated players and a detailed breakdown by sites like Wowhead. Loika’s screenshots show how every item that can be unlocked with Favor Tokens can also be instantly purchased using Platinum, Diablo’s premium currency. In fact, the game seems to encourage this-prominently featuring the Platinum purchase button over the free claim option.

The example that drew the most attention was an armor set available for either 15 Favor Tokens or 750 Platinum (around $7.50). The layout of the interface puts the Platinum button front and center. There is no secondary confirmation screen to prevent accidental purchases. One careless click and your real money is gone.

The interface confusion is even worse for console players. One user noted that while browsing the reward screen with a controller, the face button used for claiming a reward can suddenly change function mid-process. Initially, it’s set to “Claim,” but in the next menu, the same button executes a Platinum purchase, while the free Favor Token option is reassigned to Diablo IV Gold for sale a different input. The risk of accidental purchases skyrockets under these conditions, and many believe this isn’t an oversight-it’s a design flaw that benefits the publisher.