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 recently announced at the DICE Summit that the next major expansion won't arrive until 2026.

Fergusson highlighted Blizzard's commitment to improved community engagement, mirroring the strategies of Diablo Immortal and World of Warcraft by introducing content roadmaps. A roadmap detailing Diablo 4's 2025 plans, including seasons and 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 context. Blizzard's initial plan involved 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 months. This delay, Fergusson explained, stemmed from the team's responsiveness to player feedback and adjustments to live content. These adjustments temporarily diverted resources from Vessel of Hatred, causing a ripple effect that delayed subsequent content.

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

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