It’s because Immortal is the same game Diablo 4 Gold in a new context that the opinions of different constituencies of its audience can vary so widely. Existing Diablo fans hate the way their favorite game has been monetized in its new free-to-play incarnation, while mobile game players, who are more accustomed to this business model, are impressed with the polish, depth, and scope that Immortal has inherited from its predecessors. Neither group is wrong, so should we just chalk this up to different strokes and move on? Unfortunately not, because Diablo Immortal isn’t just at the center of a video game culture war. It’s also at war with itself.

You wouldn’t know it when you start playing the game. At first, Diablo Immortal is as fun to play as it sounds: a lightweight, portable, social, and quick-fire version of Diablo 3. It is also more generous and open in its design than many of its free-to-play peers. There is no energy-style mechanic restricting the amount of time you can play without paying, and none of its activities reside behind any kind of paywall. The campaign is long, luxurious, and largely free of grind.

On the few occasions when you are required to level up to progress, you will find a plethora of activities away from the main quest — including bounties, replayable dungeons, and randomized “rifts” — to help you bridge the gap. In-game guides, achievements, and activity trackers shower you in rewards while helping you tour the game’s bewildering array of systems. There are even innovations here that mainline Diablo games would do well to copy, like the build guide that suggests loadouts of skills and equipment for you to work toward.

It is only if you are deeply familiar with Diablo, and its all-consuming item game in particular, that you will notice that something is up. It becomes apparent that the loot — the equippable items that can transform your character’s buy Diablo 4 Gold power, even to the point of altering how skills work — has been subtly shifted off center stage.