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. Rod Fergusson, the general manager of Diablo, announced at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas that the next major expansion for Diablo 4 won't be released until 2026.

During his talk, Fergusson emphasized Blizzard's commitment to enhancing their relationship with the community by adopting strategies similar to those used for Diablo Immortal and World of Warcraft. This includes the release of content roadmaps. He mentioned that a roadmap for Diablo 4's 2025 plans, which will detail seasons and updates throughout the year, will be made available soon. However, he clarified that the upcoming expansion will not be part of this roadmap, as it is scheduled for a 2026 release.

"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," Fergusson stated.

Fergusson didn't delve deeply into the reasons behind the delay of the second expansion, but he did provide some insight earlier in his talk. Initially, Blizzard had planned to release annual expansions, starting with Vessel of Hatred in 2024, followed by another expansion in 2025. However, Vessel of Hatred was released 18 months after the game's initial launch, rather than the intended 12 months. This delay occurred because the development team, which typically works one or two seasons ahead, had to redirect resources to address player feedback and make necessary adjustments to live content. This shift in focus not only delayed Vessel of Hatred but also pushed back other planned content.

Recently, Diablo 4 launched its Season of Witchcraft, introducing new witchcraft powers, a fresh questline, and more. Our review of the base game gave 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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