Blizzard lifts Diablo 3's Act 1 restriction for new digital buyers

Patch 1.0.3a for Diablo 3 fixes an issue that restricted unverified digital purchasers to playing only up to level 13 and only in Act 1. Blizzard previously listed the restriction as a feature of patch 1.0.3, and later said it was an "unintended consequence" that players were unable to progress past level 13 and the Skeleton King in Act 1.

Updating to the most recent patch will eliminate the Act 1 restrictions, but other limitations remain for digital purchasers, "in place to deter credit card fraud," Blizzard writes. These restrictions can last for up to 72 hours and remain as follows:

• No public game access for unverified digital purchasers

• No auction house access (real-money or gold) for unverified digital purchasers

• Unverified digital purchasers cannot trade items or drop items for other players to receive

• Unverified digital purchasers are not able to chat in any public or game channels

• Unverified digital purchasers cannot attach a custom message to friend requests, but they can send/accept friend requests, and play with their friends

• Global Play is not available for unverified digital purchasers