10 Incredible Video Games That Were Awful At Launch
5. Diablo III
EA overstepped the mark in 2017 with its pervasive microtransactions in Star Wars Battlefront II, but it's far from the first to try such manoeuvres. Whether Blizzard's original attempt at continual monetization of Diablo III was worse than what's come after, that's for you to decide, but one constant remains, and that's the stink kicked up by fans of the action RPG that wanted none of what the sequel's auction house had to offer.
To make matters worse, Blizzard's aggressive use of DRM not only peddled the universally hated always-online requirement for multiplayer but solo play, too, denying anyone without a solid connection the ability to play, regardless of their intentions.
Six years later, the latter controversy still persists, but Blizzard at least reneged on its stance of trading items for real-world currency, closing the auction house's doors for good two years later. If the always-online requirement remains a dealbreaker barring entry from the enjoyment of Diablo III's devilishly addictive loot grind, look no further than the console versions.
Take heed, publishers, invalidating progression by way of allowing real financial investment never ends well.