Blizzard exploring Diablo 3 microtransactions, but not in the Americas

An upcoming patch for Diablo 3 will add a number of new features related to microtransactions for Blizzard's popular action role-playing game. Blizzard got out ahead of the new features coming in version 2.2.0 to detail what's coming and explain that the new microtransactions are for players outside the Americas for now.

Anticipating that some of Diablo 3's new features might be exposed through data mining the soon to be player-tested patch, the developer notes that the new microtransactions are for certain regions only.

Here's what's coming in Diablo 3's 2.2.0 update, according to a post on the Battle.net forums:

• A new currency called "Platinum"
• Timed experience boosts
• New cosmetic items including wings, non-combat pets, and character portraits
• References to stash space and character slot expansions
• A new UI interface that references the above information

The additions sound pretty typical of microtransactions that appear in other games, particularly free-to-play titles, but it's not yet clear what Diablo 3's pricing model will be for players outside the Americas.

"We recognize that many players have expressed an interest in microtransactions being added to Diablo 3," Blizzard community manager Stephanie "Lylirra" Johnson wrote on the forums. "While we may explore this model in some regions, we have no immediate plans to implement such purchases or the aforementioned features anytime soon for the Americas region."

Blizzard recently detailed some of the other changes coming to the game's next patch, which includes three new sets of Legendary armor, new Legendary item powers, new Rift layouts and bounties for adventure mode, three additional types of treasure goblins and more.