Diablo Immortal streamer destroys $16K gem in protest, deletes game live
What you need to know
- Diablo Immortal came out on mobile earlier this year.
- Its heavy monetization has made some headlines in its opening weeks.
- A streamer has destroyed a gem that cost him $16,000 live on Twitch, before deleting the game in protest.
A New Zealand Diablo Immortal streamer who spent nearly $16,000 trying to get a rare 5-star gem immediately destroyed it live on Twitch before deleting the game from his PC in protest.
As reported by VGC, Quin69 had been trying to get a 5-star gem in Diablo Immortal since the game was released on June 2, spending over $25,000 NZD (15,997 USD) in the process:
I can't believe I just looted my first 5/5⭐ gem and it only cost me $25,165.57 NZD
Thanks @Blizzard_Ent @DiabloImmortal for this authentic diablo experience. pic.twitter.com/jqf5AevZ7wI can't believe I just looted my first 5/5⭐ gem and it only cost me $25,165.57 NZD
Thanks @Blizzard_Ent @DiabloImmortal for this authentic diablo experience. pic.twitter.com/jqf5AevZ7w— Quin (@quinrex) June 18, 2022June 18, 2022
The stream went south quickly after Quin69 finally acquired the gem, stating "It's over" and immediately uninstalling the game. After remembering he hadn't taken a screenshot he reinstalled the game, in the meantime deciding he was going to destroy the gem in protest. Sure enough, he used the 5-star gem to power up a useless 1-star item, left his clan, deleted his hero, and then uninstalled the game live on stream. He told his viewers "F##k you, f#####g Blizzard."
As noted, Diablo Immortal's microtransactions have drawn some pretty staunch criticism since its release, Jez Corden and our friends at Windows Central noting this week how the game and its microtransactions almost feel like they are designed to induce spending:
It emerged shortly after launch that you can max out your character in the game to the tune of $110,000, making the best Diablo Immortal builds unreachable for most users.
The ongoing storyline continues to be a stain on an otherwise extremely promising mobile experience that boasts great gameplay, monsters, loot, accessibility, and strong performance on many of Apple's best iPhones and iPads.
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Diablo Immortal has been designed as the most accessible entry in the series yet. With the right builds, you'll enjoy your stay in Sanctuary.
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Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design. Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9