Diablo IV’s Next Expansion Delayed Until 2026

According to remarks made by franchise general manager Rod Fergusson at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas, the next major expansion for Diablo IV is not expected to be released until 2026. This news is not unexpected, given that the first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, did not release until the game had been out for 17 months.

No Details on Next Expansion Announced

Fergusson announced that Blizzard will drop a 2025 roadmap just ahead of Season 8, but it won’t include any details on the next major expansion. He also did not provide any information on when the next expansion is likely to be released in 2026.

Changes in Expansion Frequency

Blizzard’s original plan was to release new expansions every year, similar to how Destiny 2 released new content in its early run. However, that idea has been put on hold due to the release of Vessel of Hatred, which missed its initial release window by nearly six months due to bugs and community feedback.

Prioritizing Polished Expansions

In light of this, it’s likely that the next expansion will be a polished effort rather than a rush to meet a yearly release quota. The next season of Diablo IV is currently scheduled to go live in April, and the 2025 roadmap will likely be revealed soon after.

Building Hype for the Next Expansion

The hype surrounding Vessel of Hatred has been building, with the first expansion introducing a new class and a new area to explore. Now, as we look forward to the next expansion, we can expect to see some teases later in the year.

A Review of Diablo IV

As mentioned in our official review, Diablo IV is "one of the best games" that Blizzard has released in a decade. The dungeon-crawling mechanics are almost perfect, but the world-building felt a little flat. Vessel of Hatred added a new class and a new area to explore, expanding on the game’s content and offering a fresh experience.

Video Trailer

Watch the official Diablo IV reveal trailer: