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

If you were eagerly anticipating a new expansion for Diablo 4 in 2025, you'll need to temper your expectations a bit. According to Rod Fergusson, the general manager of Diablo, the next major expansion for Diablo 4 won't be hitting the shelves until 2026.

During his speech at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas, Fergusson shared insights into the team's strategy to enhance their connection with the community. Drawing inspiration from both Diablo Immortal and World of Warcraft, they plan to release content roadmaps. He mentioned that a roadmap for Diablo 4's 2025 plans, detailing seasons and updates, will be available soon, giving players a clear view of what to expect throughout the year.

However, he clarified that the roadmap won't include the next expansion. "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 stated.

While Fergusson didn't delve deeply into the reasons behind the delay, he provided some context earlier in his talk. Initially, Blizzard had planned to release annual expansions, starting with Vessel of Hatred in 2024, followed by another in 2025. However, Vessel of Hatred ended up launching 18 months after the game's initial release, rather than the intended 12 months. Fergusson explained that this delay was due to the team's need to work a season or two ahead, while also responding to player feedback and making necessary adjustments to live content. These adjustments temporarily diverted resources from Vessel of Hatred, causing a slight internal delay and subsequently pushing back all other planned content.

Diablo 4 has recently introduced its Season of Witchcraft, which brings new witchcraft powers, a fresh questline, and more to the game. 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."