In a recent announcement on the Diablo 4 forums, community manager PezRadar confirmed that trading has been disabled once again due to a duplication bug. This marks the third time within a single year that Blizzard Entertainment has taken such measures, albeit just barely within the year. The announcement was made on August 15, 2024, exactly a year after a similar suspension was implemented.
The Duplication Issue
As reported, the duping bug was first highlighted by YouTuber Sliver of Time and gained significant attention on the streaming platform Bilibili, thanks to coverage by GamesRadar. The exploit appears to use the player stash and cooperative gameplay to duplicate in-game items. However, players are warned that engaging in such activities is against the End User License Agreement (EULA), which explicitly prohibits creating, using, or transacting in duplicated in-game items.
Impact on Game Economy
The occurrence of such duplication bugs poses considerable risks to the economy of live service games like Diablo 4. Any loophole that permits real money trading (RMT) websites to exploit the game can lead to inflated prices for in-game items. Similar issues have been observed in other MMOs, such as Star Wars: The Old Republic, where low-level gear was being sold for exorbitant prices. Blizzard’s decision to disable trading aims to protect the game’s economy until developers can investigate and resolve the issue.
Community Reaction
While some players express frustration over the recurring issue, noting that trading suspensions have become almost routine, others understand the necessity of such measures. A user on the game’s subreddit commented that the only certainties in life are “death, taxes, and trading disabled in Diablo 4.” Despite this setback, many players, including PC Gamer’s Tyler Colp, have noted that this season has otherwise been quite successful.
