Diablo 4's Next Expansion Delayed to 2026

If you were eagerly anticipating a new Diablo 4 expansion in 2025, you'll need to exercise a bit more patience. According to Rod Fergusson, the general manager of Diablo, the next major expansion for Diablo 4 is scheduled for release in 2026.

During his recent talk at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas, Fergusson shared insights on the team's strategy to enhance their community engagement. Drawing inspiration from both Diablo Immortal and World of Warcraft, they plan to release content roadmaps. He announced that a content roadmap for Diablo 4's 2025 plans, detailing seasons and updates, will be available soon.

However, he clarified that the upcoming expansion won't feature on this roadmap. "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.

Fergusson didn't delve deeply into the reasons behind the delay of the second expansion, but he did provide some context earlier in his presentation. Initially, Blizzard had planned to release expansions annually, with Vessel of Hatred slated for 2024 and another expansion expected in 2025. However, Vessel of Hatred was released 18 months after the game's launch, rather than the planned 12 months. Fergusson explained that the team, while typically working a season or two ahead, had to shift resources to address player feedback and adjust live content, which slightly delayed Vessel of Hatred and consequently pushed back all other planned content.

Diablo 4 recently introduced its Season of Witchcraft, which brings new witchcraft powers, a fresh questline, and additional content. We rated the base game of Diablo 4 a 9/10, praising it as "a stunning sequel with near perfect endgame and progression design that makes it absolutely excruciating to put down."