During Blizzard’s BlizzCon 2023, Diablo IV unveiled its first expansion named “Vessel of Hatred” to be released in 2024.
At the 2023 BlizzCon, one of the many huge announcements from Blizzard was Diablo IV’s first expansion titled “Vessel of Hatred,” which received a trailer on YouTube. The expansion is slated for release in late 2024. The trailer included Mephisto’s narration, a shot of a jungle and a temple at the end. Blizzard also said it will be set in the Nahantu Jungles and feature an original class. This report also comes mere weeks after the beginning of the new season of Diablo IV, titled “Season of Blood.”
What to Expect from Vessel of Hatred
As the name suggests, the expansion will focus on Mephisto, whose title is the Lord of Hatred. Mephisto himself is a major player in the world of Sanctuary and the father of Lilith, the mascot for Diablo IV, so his return is inevitable. The expansion is also said to return to the Nahantu region featured in Diablo II, meaning there will likely be numerous callbacks to the 2000 game. Additionally, Blizzard teased that this expansion would include a class entirely new to the Diablo franchise.
With the previous game’s main expansion pack, Diablo III: Reaper of Souls, players were not only introduced to a new area but were also given a key chapter within the Diablo saga. As for the other class and gameplay elements introduced, they will probably shake up the Sanctuary’s status quo.
How the Expansion Impacts Diablo IV Going Forward
With the coming expansion to the Diablo IV, Blizzard very clearly has a lot of stock put into this game. During a recent interview with Rod Fergusson and Chris Wilson from the development team, they said they care deeply about listening to fan feedback and criticism. This means that the expansion would likely be influenced by fan reactions.
This DLC would also come not long after Microsoft’s purchase of Activision-Blizzard. The purchase itself cost $69 billion dollars and made waves through the gaming industry. This expansion could show that Blizzard’s iconic franchises can survive this new management.
Diablo IV is available for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
Source: YouTube
