Diablo 4 Reveals Expansion Timeline for Post-Vessel of Hatred

Diablo 4 fans anticipating a new expansion in 2025 will need to adjust their expectations. Diablo general manager Rod Fergusson recently announced at the DICE Summit that the next major expansion won't arrive until 2026.

Fergusson highlighted the studio's commitment to improved community engagement, mirroring the strategies of Diablo Immortal and World of Warcraft by implementing content roadmaps. A roadmap detailing Diablo 4's 2025 plans, including seasonal updates, is expected soon. However, the 2026 expansion will not be included in this roadmap. He stated, "In 2025, or just before Season 8, we will have a 2025 roadmap for Diablo 4. Our second expansion won't be on that roadmap, because our second expansion is coming in 2026."

While Fergusson didn't elaborate extensively on the reasons for the delay, he offered insights. Blizzard's initial plan was for annual expansions, with Vessel of Hatred in 2024 and a subsequent expansion in 2025. However, Vessel of Hatred's release was pushed back to 18 months post-launch, instead of the planned 12. This delay, according to Fergusson, stemmed from the team's responsiveness to player feedback and adjustments to live content, temporarily diverting resources from Vessel of Hatred's development. This subsequently impacted the timeline for all future content.

Diablo 4 recently launched its Season of Witchcraft, featuring new witchcraft abilities, a fresh questline, and more. The base game received a 9/10 rating from us, praised for its exceptional endgame and progression systems.

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