The release of patch 2.5.0 gave "Diablo 3" several useful features, including an Armory and Crafting Mat Storage. It also introduced the new Primal Ancient Items drop system to the game.

Admittedly, the latter was met with less straightforward reception, given that most players found the Primal Ancient setup to be too random, and left too much to chance. Blizzard has responded to the bulk of feedback regarding Primal Ancients and has promised to implement new changes to the items in an upcoming PTR patch.

Primal Ancients: "Power Creep Incarnate"

Forbes contributor Paul Tassi writes that Primal Ancient Items have added more randomization into the current "Diablo 3" drop system. According to his article, the Primal Ancients are "a way of artificially extending playtime without actually adding anything new or valuable," and declares them the textbook definition of a power creep.

Judging from the Diablo 3 community forums, many players agree with the sentiment. Some complain about the additional grind time needed just to get the right weapons to drop. Others are concerned that the Primal Ancient Items render Ancient Gear useless. Forum user TheDutchMan writes "...item grind with ZERO guarantee of ever finding the item you want is not good game design."

Blizzard's Response: Perfect Ancient-Level Stats Tailored to Specific Classes

Community Manager Tyvalir responds to the feedback by revealing plans for the upcoming PTR patch. His post here gives a general overview of their fix for the supposed "flaw" in the Primal Ancient Items drop/generation system:

"Rather than increase the power they give you beyond Ancient items, Primal Ancients will now instead roll perfect Ancient-level stats tailored to the character class you're playing when the item first drops," he said.

Evidently, these items will also be rarer than they currently are. A new parameter has also been set in place, with items only dropping after a character on a player's account has completed Greater Rift 70 solo. Further changes mentioned include salvaging Ancient and Primal Ancient items. With the upcoming patch, Ancient Items will salvage into 3 Forgotten Souls, and Primal Ancients will salvage into 15 Forgotten Souls.

The current patch 2.5.0 notes have been modified to reflect this. The heading now reads PTR Patch 2.5.0-v2.5.0.43687.

Again, this update for the latest "Diablo 3" patch has been met with mixed reactions. Some are content with the extra level of RNG removed, while others say this update will do virtually nothing to fix the current issues at hand. Blizzard has yet to reveal when these changes will go live in the PTR.