Blizzard has released a crucial hotfix for Diablo 4's Season 5 PTR, primarily focusing on the newly introduced Infernal Hordes mode and resolving key item management issues. This hotfix, deployed shortly after the initial PTR launch on June 25 for PC users, targets several issues reported by players. By addressing these early concerns, Blizzard aims to enhance the overall Diablo 4 experience before the launch of Season 5 on August 6, 2024.

Season 5 introduces the new Infernal Hordes endgame mode in Diablo 4, which is a roguelite gameplay experience offering unique boss encounters and over 50 new items meant for target farming. These new items enrich the gameplay for various classes—Barbarians, Rogues, Druids, Sorcerers, and Necromancers—with specific enhancements aimed at improving abilities and streamlining game mechanics, including boss summoning and material consolidation.

The Diablo 4 hotfix detailed on June 26 introduces significant changes: salvaging Infernal Hordes Compasses from tiers 1-3 now yields an Abyssal Scroll, with higher tiers granting additional scrolls. The update also ensures that completing activities such as Nightmare Dungeons, opening Helltide Chests, and Whisper Caches will now guarantee an Infernal Hordes Compass drop, enhancing player progression opportunities within this challenging mode. Abyssal Scrolls will no longer disappear from the inventory unless used, sold, or manually dropped, thanks to a bug fix.

Diablo 4 Players Respond Positively to New Content and Updates

The Diablo 4 Season 5 PTR has been well-received by the community, particularly the feature that allows players to resummon defeated bosses without having to repeat the entire activity. This simplifies the process of farming boss encounters and reflects Blizzard's ongoing efforts to refine gameplay based on direct player feedback. These changes not only improve the practical aspects of Diablo 4 but also boost player engagement by reducing repetitive gameplay elements.

With the Vessel of Hatred DLC on the horizon, which is set to introduce the dramatic transformation of the Diablo 4 character Neyrelle and the new Spiritborn class, these gameplay improvements are timely. The DLC promises a deeper narrative experience and, with the enhanced mechanics provided by the continuous fixes, should offer a more cohesive and immersive gameplay experience.

The introduction of the Spiritborn class in Diablo 4, rumored to feature nature-themed abilities, represents an expansion in gameplay dynamics and strategic options for players. This addition, along with the ongoing updates, serves to refresh the game’s content and appeal to a broad audience. The active engagement from the Diablo 4 community, evidenced by their positive response to the updates, also indicates a strong player base eager for new content.

Diablo 4 PTR Hotfix Notes - June 26
Game Updates
Salvaging a Tier 1-3 Infernal Hordes Compass will now grant an Abyssal Scroll. Salvaging Tier 4 Infernal Hordes Compasses will grant 1 extra Abyssal Scroll per Tier. (i.e. 6 Scrolls for Salvaging a Tier 8) Completing Nightmare Dungeons, opening Helltide Chests, and opening Whisper Caches now grant a guaranteed Infernal Hordes Compass.

Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue where Abyssal Scrolls could be lost. Abyssal Scrolls will now stay in your inventory unless you use, sell, or manually drop them.