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

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

Fergusson's announcement concluded a discussion about improving community engagement through content roadmaps, mirroring the strategies of Diablo Immortal and World of Warcraft. He revealed that a roadmap detailing Diablo 4's 2025 plans, including seasons and updates, will be released 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 on the reasons for the delay, he offered hints earlier in his presentation. Blizzard's initial plan was to release annual expansions, with "Vessel of Hatred" in 2024 and a subsequent expansion in 2025. However, "Vessel of Hatred" launched later than anticipated—18 months post-launch instead of 12—due to resource reallocation. This shift, driven by player feedback and live content adjustments, pushed back the timeline for all subsequent content.

Diablo 4 recently launched its Season of Witchcraft, featuring new witchcraft powers, a questline, and more. The base game received a 9/10 rating from us, praised for its "stunning sequel with near-perfect endgame and progression design."

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