Diablo 4 fans got some bad news recently, when Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reported on his Bluesky account that the next expansion for the action RPG may not arrive until next year in 2026. Originally released back in the summer of 2023, Diablo 4 promised fans stronger ongoing content, especially when it comes to DLC expansions.
Last year, the game finally received its first DLC with Vessel of Hatred. The arrival of the DLC was exciting, as it introduced the region of Nahantu alongside a brand-new class, the Spiritborn. Fresh content was thrilling, but Vessel of Hatred also left a lot to be desired in some aspects. If Jason Schreier’s claims are true, then having no DLC to look forward to this year could be disappointing. However, there is the possibility that Blizzard breaking its promised expansion release schedule might actually be more positive news than it sounds.
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Diablo 4 adds non-combat pet bundles to the in-game shop as part of the latest update, with two pets featured alongside their own cosmetics.
A Long Wait For the Next Diablo 4 DLC Hopefully Makes Way For an Even Better Expansion
Blizzard is Reportedly Skipping Over 2025
On February 12, Jason Schreier attended DICE in Las Vegas where he observed a Blizzard panel. Diablo General Manager Rod Fergusson apparently confirmed at the panel that the next DLC wouldn’t be coming until an unspecified date in 2026. This is unfortunate, as Blizzard had previously promised players that expansions would be announced more frequently.
A few months after the game launched, Rod Fergusson claimed that Diablo 4 would receive annual expansions and quarterly seasonal updates to keep its post-launch momentum going. While the game has continued to receive its seasonal updates, the apparent lack of a 2025 DLC unfortunately means that Blizzard is pedaling back on its original plans, which could frustrate a lot of players who were expecting consistent content. No DLC this year could really rock the boat in the Diablo 4 community. Even worse, it also runs the risk of causing players to lose interest, and regaining their attention may be hard to accomplish after such a long hiatus between DLCs. On the bright side, though, Blizzard may be doing this in order to ensure that whatever its next expansion happens to be is a step up from Vessel of Hatred.
Diablo 4 is Blizzard’s fastest-selling game of all time, making over $650 million in just five days.
Improving Upon Vessel of Hatred’s Strong Start
From a gameplay standpoint, Vessel of Hatred was a great addition to the base game. The Spiritborn class proved to be a hit, but the expansion’s story felt as if it was just scratching the surface of something larger. Furthermore, the lack of a new World Boss and controversy surrounding Dark Citadel’s co-op only approach were also low points. Despite the few downsides, Vessel of Hatred was a solid DLC, and if Blizzard is given even more time with its next expansion, a longer wait will hopefully be justified.
Diablo 4 is currently in Season 7, titled Season of Witchcraft.
Diablo 4 Season 7 Features
- New witchcraft powers, like Eldritch, Psyche, and Growth & Decay
- New demons called the Headrotten
- A raven pet named Dorian
- Armory
Diablo 4 Faces Big Competition in 2025
Even if Diablo 4‘s walk-back on its expansion plans proves to be worth it, a fresh DLC will have to come out swinging. Since its launch in December of last year, Path of Exile 2 has made waves as a worthy competitor, and Diablo 4 side-stepping extra content that could keep players invested in 2025 is risky. Although Schreier’s report seems legit, Blizzard has yet to make a full-blown announcement itself, so plans could always change. This remains to be seen, but if Diablo 4 foregoes a DLC launch this year, 2026 hopefully brings players content worth waiting for.
Diablo® IV is the ultimate action RPG experience with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot. Embark on the campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through beautifully dark settings and a gripping story, or explore an expansive end game and shared world where players can meet in towns to trade, team up to battle world bosses, or descend into PVP zones to test their skills against other players – no lobbies necessary – with cross-play, cross-progression, and couch co-op on Xbox.
This is only the beginning for Diablo® IV, with new events, stories, seasons, rewards, and more looming on the horizon.
Action RPG
Hack and Slash
- Released
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June 6, 2023
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language