Auction House to be removed from Diablo 3

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When we initially designed and implemented the auction houses, the driving goal was to provide a convenient and secure system for trades. But as we've mentioned on different occasions, it became increasingly clear that despite the benefits of the AH system and the fact that many players around the world use it, it ultimately undermines Diablo's core game play: kill monsters to get cool loot. With that in mind, we want to let everyone know that we've decided to remove the gold and real-money auction house system from Diablo III.

 

...

 

Please note that the shutdown will occur on March 18, 2014.

 

http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/10974978/

 

I have to say I am really excited about this news, as well as 100% surprised it's actually happening. Now there is no reason why the game needs to be always online. Hopefully news of offline mode will come soon too. (there wasn't much of a reason before this news, but now there is nothing)

 

If I could get an offline, AH-less version of Diablo 3 with "loot 2.0" it will be the game I wanted back in May last year.

[_neutrino Veteran]

wow, glad they are finally getting rid of it, i think it will make playing with other people a bit better, since launch i have only sold 2 things on the auction house and never bought anything, and i keep forgetting it exists.

[Lord Method Man]

WOAH

[LaP]

Really good news.

[Lord Method Man]

Loot 2.0 + No AH + Expac = Can't wait

[trag3dy]

Sounds good. I'm actually really excited about all the stuff we're hearing about the expac.

[+Eternal Tempest MVC]

So could they implement single player without online requirement?

(Even if they have to separate single player and multiplayer character's from each other.) 

[LaP]

Loot 2.0 + No AH + Expac = Can't wait

 

Yup. Though I need to finish the original game before lol

 

If they could remove the stupid professions it would be fine with me too.

 

I don't really want an offline Diablo 3 cause i like to be able to talk to my Battle.net friends while playing and i don't really want to add all of them to my personal skype.

[Buttus]

maybe they'll make an option to play single player offline, and let you log on to group up with friends still?

[Nagisan]

Very interesting change, it's ashame the game overall didn't keep me interested as long as D2 did when it was released. But removing the AH will revive a ton of Diablo communities forcing people to trade or farm for their loot.

[+ir0nw0lf Subscriber²]

I would have been content with just the removal of the RMAH.  The in-game gold AH was OK to me.  I suppose it was just needed to axe them both.  Remove the online requirement for single-player and I'll be a very happy camper. :woot:

[HawkMan]

http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/10974978/

 

I have to say I am really excited about this news, as well as 100% surprised it's actually happening. Now there is no reason why the game needs to be always online. Hopefully news of offline mode will come soon too. (there wasn't much of a reason before this news, but now there is nothing)

 

If I could get an offline, AH-less version of Diablo 3 with "loot 2.0" it will be the game I wanted back in May last year.

To bad their whole design and loot system is designed around the auction house.

I hope their loot 2.0 actually means that you get the high level loot based on your level and class for the big bosses. Otherwise this grind game is just getting even more ridiculously grindy.

The fact thei loot and crafting system don't allow you to be fully equipped for your class and level at the end of the game/story is just ridiculous.

[Nagisan]

To bad their whole design and loot system is designed around the auction house.

I hope their loot 2.0 actually means that you get the high level loot based on your level and class for the big bosses. Otherwise this grind game is just getting even more ridiculously grindy.

The fact thei loot and crafting system don't allow you to be fully equipped for your class and level at the end of the game/story is just ridiculous.

IIRC part of loot 2.0 is drops will be weighted towards your characters class. The loot levels is already taken care of w/ their current designed (at least that's how it was last I played....with monster power the minimum level of item drops increased), so getting more drops for your class will increase the chance of getting a good drop you can actually use.

[madd-hatter]

:blink: (Y)

 

I bet March 18th turns into the expansion date as well...

 

I too am shocked. I think it will ultimately be a great decision.

 

This will greatly improve future ladders.

[Nagisan]

I bet March 18th turns into the expansion date as well...

That's my thinking too, the best time to remove the AH is when players can viably farm for their character, that will happen with the "Loot 2.0", and I'm pretty sure that Loot 2.0 is coming in a patch along side the expansion (though the Loot 2.0 patch will change the base game, it's not something changed by the expansion).

[compl3x]

Reading about this on various sites there seems to be no one who is disagreeing with the removal of the auction house. People must really have disliked it.

[trag3dy]

To bad their whole design and loot system is designed around the auction house.

I hope their loot 2.0 actually means that you get the high level loot based on your level and class for the big bosses. Otherwise this grind game is just getting even more ridiculously grindy.

The fact thei loot and crafting system don't allow you to be fully equipped for your class and level at the end of the game/story is just ridiculous.

 

[Tha Bloo Monkee]

... it became increasingly clear that despite the benefits of the AH system and the fact that many players around the world use it, it ultimately undermines Diablo's core game play: kill monsters to get cool loot

 

Everyone knew this from the start and it ruined the looting experience.  Glad the console version doesn't have this crap.  My guess is that they've already milked what they think they can from the AH and now it's time to rid of it because many people were turned off and not buying the game due to the AH.

 

the shutdown will occur on March 18, 2014.

7 months from now?  :s

[The Evil Overlord]

Not just that, but US gamers were actually making real money from it, Yet Blizzard originally never wanted this.

The post exists somewhere about gold farmers in WoW, I cannot find it right now.

Then came the U-turn for Diablo, now reversing the ruling again.......

[astropheed Veteran]

7 months from now?  :s

 

Not to belittle the duration, but it's actually 6 months.

September - March = June

June = 6

 

Edit: No, that's not how I actually did the Math. I was just bored. It's still 6 though.

[Tha Bloo Monkee]

Not to belittle the duration, but it's actually 6 months.

I stand corrected.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

No, that's not how I actually did the Math. I was just bored. It's still 6 though.

I was sat here really confused for a moment, I didn't understand how you got to the conclusion until I worked it out myself. :laugh:

September = 9th month

March = 3rd month

June = 6th month

September - March = June (9 - 3 = 6)

What a bizarre way to get there though. :laugh:

[amorphous14]

bloody hell! a great decision, *goes off to fire up D3*

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

will result in a much more rewarding game experience for our players

 

Yes, please. A legendary item should have legendary stats on it!

[trag3dy]

bloody hell! a great decision, *goes off to fire up D3*

 

It hasn't actually been removed yet..