Can you play Diablo 4 offline? Answered

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✓ At a glance
  • No, Diablo 4 cannot be played offline. This is to ensure a seamless multiplayer experience with both friends and strangers.

Each game’s player base inevitably has players that prefer playing offline or solo and Diablo 4 is no different. I stick to emotes for strangers outside my solo adventures. Considering that the main campaign and most seasonal activities can be done without a squad, it’s understandable to expect an offline mode. Here’s what you need to know about the game’s offline support.

Is the game playable offline?

Unfortunately, Diablo 4 is not playable offline so you’ll need to be connected to the internet even if you only want to play it solo. This also means that the world you jump into will be shared with other players so don’t be surprised if you see other users running around from time to time. That goes for the upcoming Vessel of Hatred expansion too. You also earn more XP when you play with allies and can enhance this further with Elixirs and Incense.

Additionally, those on consoles need to be subscribed to their respective platform’s online service to play the game. This includes PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Gold (now Game Pass Core). PC users, on the other hand, will be happy to know that they only need to purchase the online game to start the campaign. It’s even on Game Pass now so you can lower the cost of entry into one of the best dungeon crawlers out there. Activision Blizzard has made the multiplayer gameplay seamless, letting strangers join in as you take on World Bosses or hordes of demons.

A player fights a Helltide boss with allies in Diablo 4.
Teammates let you melt boss health bars. Image captured by VideoGamer.

Can you hide other players in the game?

No, you cannot hide other players as you play through its content. Fortunately, dungeons and story content will usually let you play without any interference unless it involves social events. The always-online game encourages interactions between players (outside PvP zones) but not everyone wants to interact with strangers. Focus on dungeons and tougher content like Season 4’s Pit to steer clear of other players.

Will an offline mode arrive later?

Considering that the latest entry in the Diablo series has been built around online play, don’t expect an offline mode later down the line. Diablo 3 also focused on its multiplayer component. Community reaction was mixed at launch regarding the “always online” aspect of Diablo 4. Many received this news negatively as they prefer playing games by themselves. An iffy internet connection or server issues can even pull you out of the game, a nightmare for hardcore players who only have one life in-game. While newer Seasons trigger Scrolls of Escape in these situations, you can still run out of them. Conversely, others are more optimistic about this particular detail because it could deter hackers from spreading game-breaking mods and bugs in the ecosystem.

About the Author

Nico Vergara

Nico Vergara is a Trends Writer for VideoGamer.com. When not writing about or playing RPGs, he spends time playing basketball, watching the latest movies, and brooding about his favorite sports teams.

Diablo 4

  • Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
  • Genre(s): Action, Action RPG, RPG