Diablo 4 Expansion Delayed Until 2026

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

Fergusson concluded his presentation by highlighting Blizzard's commitment to improved community engagement, mirroring the strategies employed by Diablo Immortal and World of Warcraft through the release of content roadmaps. He announced an upcoming roadmap detailing Diablo 4's 2025 plans, including seasonal content and updates. However, he explicitly stated that the second expansion will not be included in this roadmap, confirming its 2026 release date. He reassured players, stating, "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."

While Fergusson didn't elaborate on the reasons for the delay, he offered insights earlier in his talk. Blizzard's initial plan was for annual expansions, with "Vessel of Hatred" in 2024 and a subsequent expansion in 2025. However, "Vessel of Hatred" experienced a delay, launching 18 months after the game's release instead of the planned 12. This was attributed to the team's responsiveness to player feedback and adjustments to live content, which temporarily diverted resources from the expansion's development. This delay consequently pushed back subsequent content, including the next expansion.

Diablo 4 recently launched its Season of Witchcraft, introducing new witchcraft abilities, a fresh questline, and more. The base game received a 9/10 rating from [Source Name], praised for its "stunning sequel with near perfect endgame and progression design that makes it absolutely excruciating to put down."

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