Diablo IV Patch 2.2.2: Smoother Progression, Key Fixes & Accessibility Improvements

Blizzard Entertainment has deployed Patch 2.2.2 (Build #65349) for Diablo IV across all platforms. This update focuses on reducing friction in the endgame grind, addressing numerous bugs reported by the community—particularly in accessibility and the current Season of the Loom—and includes important stability fixes. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

I. Core Game Updates: Streamlining the Endgame

• Reduced Mastery Costs: Players striving to perfect their builds will welcome significant reductions in the resource costs for ranking up Mastery Levels 1 through 4. Crucially, the costs associated with resetting these Mastery ranks have also been lowered.
• Resource Focus Shift:All material costs for Mastery progression and resetting, except for Obducite and Gold, have been “noticeably reduced.” This strategic change targets a common player pain point.
  • Developer Insight: “Our goal is to ensure that material costs besides Obducite and Gold do not become a bottleneck restricting Mastery progression, especially for players who frequently experiment by resetting a large number of Mastery ranks. Obducite and Gold remain the primary currencies for this system.”
• DirectStorage Disabled (Temporarily): To address performance issues potentially linked to the DirectStorage API, it has been temporarily disabled by default.
  • Manual Re-enable Option: Players using supported NVMe drives who wish to retain the faster loading times DirectStorage offers can manually reactivate it:
    1. Open the Battle.net Launcher.
    2. Go to Diablo IV -> Click the Gear icon next to ‘Play’ -> Game Settings.
    3. Check the box for “Additional Command Line Arguments.”
    4. Add the argument: -enableds

II. Fixed Issues: Enhancing Stability and Playability

This patch tackles a wide array of bugs across multiple systems:

• Accessibility (Screen Reader):
  • Fixed an issue where the screen reader wouldn’t announce cosmetic item details in the Reliquary menu.
  • Fixed an issue where the screen reader incorrectly repeated supported classes for cosmetic Reliquary items.
  • Fixed an issue where the screen reader announced Season Journey objectives as “fractures.”
  • Fixed an issue preventing the screen reader from functioning correctly when viewing Steam friends.
• Season of the Loom (Belial’s Machinations):
  • Fixed a progression blocker in the quest “Buried Hope” occurring if players left the dungeon while the “Kill the Spirits” objective was active.
  • Fixed an issue preventing interaction with the Stronghold Shrine in Eriman’s Pyre if Duz’Agur was defeated using the Knockback Core Power (Knocker’s Explosive Ore).
  • Fixed an issue where Kirma’s Manifestation would stop attacking players if the boss was staggered during the midpoint of its leap attack animation.
  • Fixed an issue where the Jah Rune’s Teleport effect failed to function while the Duriel’s Lair Core Power was equipped.
• General Gameplay:
  • Fixed an exploit allowing players not involved in defeating the boss to open Grigoire’s Hoard chests.
  • Fixed an issue where Captain Willcocks, a rare monster in Hawezar, could become invincible if damaged too rapidly.
  • Fixed an issue where Obducite dropped by one player could be picked up by another player.
  • Fixed an issue preventing interaction with the Tree of Whispers raven after closing the reward selection window without choosing a reward.
  • Fixed an issue where interacting with Cellar Boss Chests could fail under certain circumstances.
• User Interface (UI) & User Experience (UX):
  • Fixed an erroneous Tree of Whispers icon appearing on the map for Ked Bardu.
  • Fixed Season Journey objectives completed before their parent chapter was unlocked not displaying as completed.
  • Fixed a game freeze occurring when double-clicking the “Create Character” button on the character selection screen.
  • Fixed the wave counter not updating correctly during Helltide events.
• Miscellaneous:
  • Fixed a bug preventing the “Devoted Champion” achievement from unlocking correctly in specific situations.
  • Fixed an issue causing group kick votes to time out and fail if a member left the group while the vote was active.
  • Implemented various improvements to graphics, performance, stability, UI, and audio.

Quality of Life and Polish

Patch 2.2.2 demonstrates Blizzard’s ongoing commitment to refining the Diablo IV experience. The targeted reductions in Mastery costs aim to make build experimentation and progression less resource-intensive outside of the core Obducite/Gold economy. The comprehensive list of bug fixes, especially those impacting accessibility and the current season’s quests and mechanics, addresses critical community feedback and resolves frustrating blockers or exploits. While the temporary disablement of DirectStorage requires manual intervention for some users seeking peak load times, it prioritizes overall stability for the wider player base. Adventurers across Sanctuary can expect a smoother, more polished journey as they confront the lingering threats within the Season of the Loom and the darker corners of the Eternal Realm.