Diablo 4 boss would push for patches to have more fun stuff to balance out unpopular but necessary nerfs: "Lots of medicine, don't see much sugar"

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Those early Diablo 4 balance patches could've been even more controversial

Diablo 4
(Image credit: Blizzard)

Diablo general manager Rod Fergusson says he would often push back on Diablo 4 patches that he felt didn't have enough fun stuff offsetting the balance changes that so often stirred up - and still do stir up - controversy in the community.

Blizzard's approach to Diablo 4 nerfs has been a journey of growth and discovery. In the early days after lunch, broken builds were patched swiftly and indiscriminately, which is a big reason for the widespread backlash to Season 1 that just about defined my summer 2023 as a games journo. Keen to course correct, Blizzard decided it was going to embrace the chill stepdad persona and just let players have fun with busted builds for a while. It largely seems to hold that position today, although it'll still take prompt action against the most egregious exploits.

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Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.