Diablo 4 Season 8 Stumbles: Fans Slam Belial’s Return

Almost two years since its acclaimed debut, Diablo 4 finds itself in choppy waters. Season 8, Le retour de Bélial, was meant to rekindle the spark—yet all it’s done is stoke frustration across the hack-and-slash faithful. Is this Blizzard’s most challenging chapter yet for their iconic ARPG?

Diablo 4 Season 8 – Belial’s Underwhelming Comeback

• Launched April 30, Season 8 is drawing criticism for meager rewards and monotonous gameplay.
• Players and critics alike say the new Belial Incursions miss the mark, calling them dull and repetitive.
• Lootboxes behind paywalls have sparked outrage, as top-tier prizes require real cash to unlock.
• Now, all eyes are on Season 9, Sins of the Horadrim, coming in July, to turn things around.

The Diablo community is used to heated debates, but Season 8 has stirred an unusual level of disappointment. Forums and Reddit threads are ablaze with players calling Le retour de Bélial “a letdown” and “the lowest point yet.” The main culprit? Belial Incursions—a set of mini-boss events intended to liven up endgame play—are widely panned as uninspired busywork.

While Diablo 4 has never been shy about mixing up its seasonal recipe, many feel the latest concoction has fallen flat. Windows Central’s Jez Corden captured the community’s mood: “With every season, Diablo 4 seems to advance, then lose ground.” He described the Belial Incursions as “arbitrary chores,” lacking the thrill of classic loot hunts. The loudest gripes target the paywalled lootboxes, which stash the best rewards behind a credit card paygate—leaving even diehard fans wondering if the grind is worth it.

For longtime players, it’s a bitter pill. Diablo’s magic has always been its rewarding loot loop and meaningful progression. Yet Season 8 feels short on new ideas, heavy on repetition, and a bit too eager to dip into players’ wallets. Compared to earlier seasons that at least tried something bold—new mechanics, storylines, or gameplay twists—Le retour de Bélial is coming off as both stale and more monetized than ever before.

Still, there’s a glimmer of hope. Blizzard promises big changes with Season 9, Sins of the Horadrim, slated for July, including new content and a sharper focus on community feedback. With Season 10 and a major expansion looming—plus the long-awaited arrival of leaderboards—the big question is whether Blizzard can win back its disenchanted audience before they log off for good.

TL;DR: Diablo 4’s Season 8, Le retour de Bélial, is under fire for bland events and paywalled loot. With the July season on the horizon, the community is waiting to see if Blizzard can rescue the franchise’s reputation.

Source: Blizzard Entertainment via GamesPress