Diablo 4's Expansion Post-Vessel of Hatred Delayed to 2026

If you were eagerly anticipating a new Diablo 4 expansion in 2025, you'll need to temper your expectations a bit longer. According to Diablo's general manager, Rod Fergusson, the next major expansion for Diablo 4 is slated for release in 2026.

During his speech at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas, Fergusson elaborated on the team's strategy to enhance their connection with the community. Drawing inspiration from Diablo Immortal and World of Warcraft, they plan to introduce content roadmaps. Fergusson announced that a roadmap for Diablo 4's 2025 plans will be released soon, detailing the seasons and updates expected throughout the year.

However, he clarified that the upcoming expansion won't feature on this roadmap. "In 2025, or just before Season 8, we will have a 2025 roadmap for Diablo 4. Now, our second expansion won't be on that roadmap, because our second expansion is coming in 2026, but at least players will have the road ahead," he stated.

Fergusson didn't delve deeply into the reasons behind the delay of the second expansion, but he did provide some insights earlier in his talk. Initially, Blizzard had planned to release expansions annually, with Vessel of Hatred set for 2024 and another expansion expected in 2025. Yet, Vessel of Hatred ended up launching 18 months after Diablo 4's initial release, rather than the intended 12 months. Fergusson explained that this delay was due to the team's need to work a season or two ahead of the current release, while also responding to player feedback and making necessary adjustments to live content. These adjustments temporarily shifted resources away from Vessel of Hatred, causing a ripple effect that delayed all subsequent planned content.

Recently, Diablo 4 introduced its Season of Witchcraft, which includes new witchcraft powers, a fresh questline, and more. Our review of the base game awarded it a 9/10, praising it as "a stunning sequel with near perfect endgame and progression design that makes it absolutely excruciating to put down."

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