"Diablo 4 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. According to Diablo's general manager, Rod Fergusson, the next major expansion for Diablo 4 is slated for release in 2026.

During his address at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas, Fergusson shared insights into the team's strategy to enhance their connection with the community. Drawing inspiration from both Diablo Immortal and World of Warcraft, they plan to introduce content roadmaps. He mentioned that players can look forward to a 2025 roadmap for Diablo 4 soon, which will detail the seasons and updates expected throughout the year.

However, Fergusson made it clear that the next expansion won't feature on this roadmap, as it's scheduled for 2026. He stated, "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."

While Fergusson didn't delve deeply into the reasons behind the delay of the second expansion, he did provide some context earlier in his talk. Originally, Blizzard had planned to release expansions annually, with Vessel of Hatred set for 2024 and another expansion expected in 2025. However, 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 occurred because the team, while typically working a season or two ahead, had to shift resources to address player feedback and make necessary adjustments to live content. This shift temporarily delayed Vessel of Hatred and subsequently pushed back all other planned content.

Diablo 4's latest addition, the Season of Witchcraft, brings new witchcraft powers, a fresh questline, and more to the game. 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."