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 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 context. Blizzard's initial plan was for annual expansions, with Vessel of Hatred (released in 2024) followed by another in 2025. However, the development of Vessel of Hatred experienced unforeseen delays, extending its release to 18 months post-launch instead of the planned 12. This was attributed to the team's responsiveness to player feedback and necessary adjustments to live content, which temporarily diverted resources from the expansion's development. This delay subsequently impacted the timeline for all subsequent planned content.

Diablo 4 recently launched its Season of Witchcraft, introducing significant new witchcraft abilities, a fresh questline, and more. The base game received a 9/10 rating from [Source omitted, presumed to be a game review site], praising its "stunning sequel with near-perfect endgame and progression design."

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