Diablo 4 has hit an all-time low since its June 2023 launch. This week, the title plummeted seven spots to land at 37th. Even more concerning is the fact that it has been outclassed not just by Diablo 2, but by Diablo 3 as well. Thanks to a new season kicking off on the 12th, Diablo 3 clawed its way back to 31st. While the Diablo series often sees ranking fluctuations based on seasonal schedules, Diablo 2 only slipped three spots, and its direct rival, Path of Exile, dropped by just one. It seems only Diablo 4 took a direct hit.

Blizzard has positioned Diablo 4 as a long-term service title. However, the game wobbled significantly right out of the gate, forcing the studio to pour everything into damage control. It was only after the launch of Season 4, a year post-release, that some stability was finally reported. While the expansion pack last October provided a brief spark, a sharp decline began in December. This year, the game has even fallen behind Diablo 2 depending on the seasonal cycle. The looming arrival of Path of Exile 2 has certainly added to the pressure on Diablo 4.

While Season 4 did provide a lifeline last June, the repetitive nature of the seasonal content has left players feeling exhausted and bored. Critics have long pointed out that even with a new season, the experience feels stale. Specifically, the introduction of shield effects on major bosses like Duriel and Andariel has been met with backlash, as players feel it undermines the fast-paced farming loop that is the heart of the Diablo experience.

Diablo 4 is in dire need of a radical shake-up. Blizzard is set to introduce the revamped Infernal Hordes and new 'Armor of Chaos' gear in the upcoming season starting on the 24th. Furthermore, John Yang—a veteran developer with over a decade of experience at Blizzard, notably on the Diablo 3 expansion 'Reaper of Souls'—has joined the Diablo 4 team. It remains to be seen whether these changes can restore the game to its former glory.

Aion 2, currently slated for a November 19 release, climbed eight spots to 42nd. Looking at the key metrics, search volume has surged significantly. The developer broadcast on the 11th, which revealed the release schedule and core details, clearly piqued interest and directly impacted the rankings. While high visibility is usually positive, there is a palpable sense of anxiety as the public sentiment remains far from enthusiastic.

The broadcast's main talking point was the core monetization strategy. The official line is that the team plans to move away from performance-based items, focusing instead on memberships and cosmetic items. The market remains skeptical. Given the broken promises regarding monetization in Lineage W and Blade & Soul 2, many are hesitant to believe the claims. However, others suggest that since Throne and Liberty launched with minimal monetization, Aion 2 deserves a wait-and-see approach. How the game actually plays out post-launch remains the key question.

In the mid-tier, Genshin Impact climbed 18 spots to 28th. Boosted by the new 'Songs of the Moon' update that went live on the 10th, the game finally halted a four-week downward trend. Celebrating its 5th anniversary, Genshin Impact has bolstered its ranks with a level cap increase to 100 and new UGC tools. The challenge now is whether it can leverage these updates to regain the momentum it enjoyed during its prime as the undisputed king of subculture games.

In the lower tier, Mabinogi dropped 15 spots to 43rd. PC bang usage metrics show a sharp decline compared to last week. Mabinogi saw a massive surge from July to August after revamping growth systems and introducing two new Arcanas. However, as the events accompanying those updates wound down in September, the game seems to have lost its steam rapidly.