Since Diablo 4 dropped, players have been pretty frustrated with how much loot keeps piling up, especially in Endgame.
Finding powerful gear is one of the best parts of the game, but all the unwanted junk can quickly turn into a never-ending cycle of sorting, salvaging, and selling.
This has prompted many players to call for a loot filter, a tool that would let players choose which items are visible on the ground according to their requirements.
Although it's a popular community request, Blizzard has yet to act on it. However, according to recent statements from the developers, the idea isn't a top priority, but it's still something they might consider.
During a recent Q&A, Blizzard Game Designer Aislyn Hall shared why a loot filter hasn't made it into the game yet, even with the community asking for it. According to Hall, the team's philosophy is that every piece of loot should have value, even if players don't immediately see a use for it.
"The way that we think about loot in Diablo 4 right now is that we want you to basically use every part of the animal… When you find loot, when you find Legendaries, even if you don't plan to use them, we want you to be able to salvage them and for that to flow into the economy."
Blizzard wants players to get hands-on with crafting and trading, with every item playing a role in the economy. Even equipment that appears useless at first can be repurposed for materials, enchanted for better stats, or sold to vendors. The devs are concerned that a loot filter could mess up the cycle, with players ignoring tons of loot and throwing the economy off balance.
Hall didn't completely dismiss the chance of a loot filter being introduced down the line. However, she clarified that "Blizzard won't ever say never to a loot filter wholesale," though no promises were made.
Blizzard isn't on the loot filter train right now, but they could be if enough players chime in. Blizzard's reasoning makes sense from a design perspective, but many Diablo 4 players, especially those in endgame content, find it frustrating. Early on, salvaging and reusing things is just how you get by, but as you level up, the loot you pick up far outstrips what you actually need.
For example, players farming Torment-tier content or grinding for the perfect affixes often end up with hundreds of thousands of crafting materials and more gold than they can spend.
At this point, they're no longer concerned with saving every Legendary and are focused on finding high-quality items that will actually enhance their build. This is why the loot filter talk isn't going anywhere.
Until then, players will have to keep sifting through loot manually unless Blizzard decides the community has had enough.