‘Diablo Immortal’ Turns $24 Million Profit from Microtransactions

The controversial game has made millions in just two weeks.

The controversial game has made millions in just two weeks.

Even before the release of Diablo Immortal, a mobile compatible, free-to-play interquel to Activision Blizzard’s Diablo series, the game was marred with controversy. Its initial announcement at BlizzCon in 2018 drew more frustration and confusion than excitement, and Activision Blizzard’s current state of perpetual controversy due to its hostile work conditions has not endeared players to the concept any further. This is on top of many claims immediately following the game’s release that it relies heavily on a pay-to-win structure, requiring players to pay real money to make tangible progress.

In spite of all of these controversies, however, Diablo Immortal is still making millions thanks to its microtransactions. According to app usage tracker AppMagic, the game has already made Activision Blizzard $24 million in in-game payments in just two weeks since its release. Based on AppMagic’s metrics, the majority of in-game purchases seem to be coming from users in the United States and South Korea.

However, while $24 million is a lot of money in a vacuum, compared to other mobile game success stories like Genshin Impact, it’s actually not that much. This shows that while the controversies have not been enough to break the game entirely, they have likely made a very tangible effect on both its userbase and commercial success.

June 20, 2022

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