Hot new video game 'Diablo: Immortal' sparks controversy over its business model

Diablo fans have battled demonic legions and plundered rare treasures since the original game hit shelves in 1996. But now, many are rallying against the latest title, Diablo: Immortal.

The Netherlands and Belgium have gone so far as to ban the newest iteration of the game entirely, released earlier this month, for allegedly exploiting players to keep them hooked and spending money. Though the game can be downloaded for free, users can pay to improve their odds of scoring valuable loot. One streamer spent more than $15,000 in an effort to obtain just one of the game’s most desirable items.

“Even the original creators of Diablo have compared the game to a slot machine,” says Polygon senior games editor Maddy Myers. “But when you add micro-transactions to the equation, you get that slot machine effect in a much more literal way. That's the piece of it that I think may have upset some officials in the Netherlands and Belgium.”