In what can be explained only as another attempt to prove how the always-online DRM screwed Diablo 3’s gameplay experience, Blizzard has decided that from now on new purchasers of the game won’t have access to its full content for 3 days after the purchase.
During the probation period, the new players will be limited to the content available in the game’s free starter edition. This means that they are limited to playing Act 1 only, with a level cap of 13, without global play and without access to the auction house.
The new policy only affects purchasers of the digital download version of the game. "Digital purchases do require a review period before they kick over from Starter to Full editions," the company explained on its support page. "We apologize for the inconvenience, but it is a necessary step to combat fraud and other malicious activities that can weaken everyone's play experience."
"The delay is no longer than three days, and is often much quicker than that."
As far as we know, no other online game has ever implemented such a waiting period; not even Blizzard’s own World of WarCraft. We don’t really see why this approval period is required in a game that should’ve been offline in the first place.