Diablo 4 Season 9 Preview: New PTR and Infernal Hordes Mode Incoming
Diablo 4 fans, get ready! Blizzard is already gearing up for Season 9, offering players a sneak peek through an upcoming Public Test Realm (PTR) and revealing details about the new Infernal Hordes mode. This is happening sooner than expected since the current Season 8 is still underway. But anticipation is high, and Blizzard is keen to gather player feedback.
Mark your calendars: a Campfire Chat is scheduled for May 22 at 11 a.m. PDT. During this livestream, the development team will delve into the upcoming 2.3.0 PTR, which will be accessible to PC Battle.net users. Expect a comprehensive overview of the features coming with Season 9, including the highly anticipated Dungeon Escalation activity and various balance updates.
Infernal Hordes: A Roguelike Survival Challenge
One of the most exciting additions is the Infernal Hordes game mode. This time-limited, Horde-based challenge plunges players into the depths of hell, where they'll face relentless waves of enemies. Think Vampire Survivors meets Diablo – players must strategically choose positive buffs that come with significant downsides, adding a Roguelike twist to the gameplay.
The Infernal Hordes become accessible as early as World Tier 3. Players will need to acquire Infernal Compasses, similar to Nightmare Dungeon Sigils, to unlock a dungeon and begin their horde run. Each run consists of time-limited waves, lasting 60 seconds each. After each wave, players are presented with three Infernal Offers, each bestowing a Boon and Bane – increasing the difficulty while also boosting rewards.
Burning Aether and the Fell Council
During the waves, monsters drop a new currency called Burning Aether. This currency can be spent after successfully completing all waves and defeating the final boss stage, where players will face the Fell Council.
The Fell Council, originally tasked with protecting against Mephisto, has since been corrupted into demons. Each member possesses unique abilities, ensuring varied and challenging encounters. Defeating them allows players to spend their hard-earned Burning Aether on various Spoils of Hell rewards.
PTR Details and Season 9 Speculations
The PTR for patch 2.3.0 will, once again, be exclusive to PC players via Battlenet. This provides an opportunity for players to test the new features and provide feedback before the official Season 9 launch.
Season 8, themed around Belial’s Return, debuted alongside patch 2.2.0. While Diablo 4 seasons typically run longer than those in other live service games, Season 8 appears to be shorter. The recently published Diablo 4 roadmap indicates that Season 9 will launch sometime between July and September.
With the release of the 2.3.0 PTR, Blizzard aims to shift player focus to the exciting upcoming content, mitigating concerns surrounding the current season.
Are you excited to experience the Infernal Hordes mode and test the changes coming in Season 9? What aspects of the new content are you most looking forward to? Share your thoughts and expectations in the comments below!
