Diablo 4's maiden season is upon us, which explains why plenty are starting to wonder if the introduction of a new season requires the creation of a new character.

A curious adventurer, Forbes' Paul Tassi, braved through the waves of speculation and went directly to the game's GM, Rod Fergusson, to confirm the answer to this question.

Unfortunately, as per Fergusson, the answer is a resounding "Yes."

Hey Paul, yes to take part in the seasonal questline, mechanics, season journey and battle pass, you will need to create a new seasonal character. Playing campaign with seasonal character (if you so desire or need to finish) will also progress the season journey and battle pass.

— Rod Fergusson (@RodFergusson) June 19, 2023

Diablo 4, the much-praised return to form for the franchise, is Blizzard's first foray into the live-service genre after dipping its toes into it with Diablo 3. Previously, the third entry in the Diablo franchise had seasons but no regular content drops. On the other hand, Diablo 4 will bring with it new progression systems, questlines and other content. But, as per Fergusson, "to take part in the seasonal questline, mechanics, season journey, and battle pass, you will need to create a new seasonal character."

Subsequently, when the current season reaches its end, these characters will migrate to what's known as the Eternal Realm. This space is a snapshot of the base game that remains untinged by the developments of the latest season, serving as the resting place for "preseason" and past seasons' characters.

Once the season concludes, characters will be shifted to the Eternal Realm, and the creation of a new character will become necessary once more for the next season. Diablo 4's new cyclical nature has, unsurprisingly, generated mixed reactions among gamers. While the prospect of re-experiencing the Diablo 4 grind with each season enthuses some, others express concerns about the lengthy grind and the slower leveling pace, especially when compared to Diablo 3. This problem will only grow "worse" after Blizzard confirmed that it's actively looking for ways to avoid having a Destiny Loot Cave problem in Diablo 4.

If it's any consolation, Diablo 4 will at least let players skip through the campaign on alternate characters after completing it once. This allows quicker access to activities with high XP rewards such as dungeons, side quests, and Tree of Whispers missions.

For those who choose to embark on the campaign in a Seasonal Realm, they can look forward to progressing Battle Passes and Season Journey challenges.

Despite these incentives, the seasonal character model is sparking discussion within the Diablo 4 community. The hardcore players are celebrating the return to a system that has been an ARPG staple for decades. They argue the satisfaction from re-leveling their characters far outweighs the burden of starting from scratch every season.

However, the announcement has left a significant portion of the player base disconcerted, notably those who have invested many hours into the development of their current characters. For them, the idea of their beloved characters not interacting with the new seasonal content, even if they pay for it, feels unjust.

Many are now advocating for Blizzard to make adjustments to the ARPG model, allowing Eternal characters to contribute to seasonal content. However, in the world of ARPGs, this cyclical model is not only familiar but also vital to their allure. As the characters approach perfection, the hunt for upgrades becomes increasingly laborious and eventually untenable. The reset affords the excitement of re-imagining characters, exploring new combinations, and a revived sense of progression.

To further enrich the experience, Fergusson clarified that the Seasonal Realm is not entirely separated from the base game. The activities and features added with each season will be made available to all players, regardless of whether they own the season's battle pass or have a seasonal character. "Not all of the features and activities we plan to deliver in a season will require a Seasonal character or the battle pass," he said.

At the end of the day, the decision to start fresh each season or continue with an existing character will depend on each player's preferences.

Despite the controversies, the anticipation for Diablo 4's inaugural season remains high. With the promise of new content, challenges, and mechanics to discover, players are preparing to delve once more into the world of Sanctuary. Only time will tell how the seasonal structure will impact the long-term appeal and success of Diablo 4.