Diablo 4's Next Expansion After Vessel of Hatred Won't Come Until 2026

Diablo 4 fans anticipating a new expansion in 2025 will need to adjust their expectations. Diablo general manager Rod Fergusson announced at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas 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 seasonal content and updates is forthcoming, likely before Season 8. 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. 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 elaborate extensively on the reasons for the delay, he offered context earlier in his presentation. Blizzard's initial plan called for annual expansions, with Vessel of Hatred in 2024 and a subsequent expansion in 2025. However, Vessel of Hatred's release was pushed back, launching 18 months post-game release instead of the intended 12. This delay, Fergusson explained, stemmed from the team's responsiveness to player feedback and adjustments to live content. These demands temporarily diverted resources from Vessel of Hatred, causing internal delays that subsequently impacted the timeline for all future planned content.

Diablo 4 recently launched its Season of Witchcraft, introducing significant new witchcraft abilities, a fresh questline, and additional features. The base game itself received a glowing 9/10 rating, praised for its "stunning sequel with near-perfect endgame and progression design."

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