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

If you were eagerly anticipating a new Diablo 4 expansion in 2025, you'll need to exercise a bit more patience. According to Diablo's general manager, Rod Fergusson, the next major expansion for Diablo 4 is slated for release in 2026.

During his talk at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas, Fergusson shared insights into the team's strategy to enhance its relationship with the community. He mentioned that the team plans to adopt a content roadmap approach, similar to what has been successfully implemented in Diablo Immortal and World of Warcraft. This roadmap will outline the seasons and updates planned for Diablo 4 throughout 2025.

However, Fergusson clarified that the upcoming expansion will not be included in the 2025 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."

Fergusson touched briefly on the reasons behind the delay of the second expansion. Initially, Blizzard had planned to release expansions annually, starting with Vessel of Hatred in 2024, followed by another in 2025. However, Vessel of Hatred was released 18 months after the game's launch instead of the intended 12 months. Fergusson explained that the team's need to work a season or two ahead, coupled with the necessity to respond to player feedback and make adjustments to live content, led to resources being temporarily diverted from Vessel of Hatred. This delay had a ripple effect, pushing back all other planned content.

Diablo 4 has recently introduced its Season of Witchcraft, which includes new witchcraft powers, an engaging new questline, and additional content. 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."