[spoiler]

> I've seen similar comments by several game devs, but at least some of them said that they make most of their money from the kids of the ultra-wealthy.

This seems like naïve speculation to me. Think about the number/scaling of this. It would give them a few months worth of income at best?

The sadder truth is that they're exploiting escapism and maladaptive coping (addiction, gambling) in people who also use escapism to cope/relax. Often times, those same people in desperate need of escapism are there because they struggle in real life, often financially too.

So, the little reprieve they get from gaming negative impacts their physical lives.

Diablo Immortal is a caricature of the depravity most games have become. A few games like Overwatch are not P2W, but even they have lootbox mechanics for cosmetic skins (you get boxes for leveling up and challenges, as you play, though). Blizzard literally can't help themselves.

[kuang_eleven]

The interesting thing is that you would think Blizzard would have known this. Literally the last game in the same Diablo series launched with a much-hated Real Money Auction House, which was eventually removed.