Blizzard isn’t rushing to release Diablo 5 anytime soon. Instead, the developers are committed to keeping Diablo 4 alive for years with expansions, seasons, and ongoing updates.

In the fast-paced world of gaming, it’s common for franchises to churn out sequels at breakneck speed. But Blizzard is taking a different approach with Diablo 4. Rather than jumping to a new installment, the studio is investing in long-term support, ensuring the game remains fresh with regular content updates, seasonal events, and major expansions. Speaking at the DICE Summit 2025, Blizzard executive Rod Fergusson shared their vision for the future of the franchise.

“We want it to last for years,” Fergusson, the former head of Gears of War, told IGN. The vision is so ambitious that Blizzard hasn’t even considered setting a timeline for when they might start thinking about Diablo 5. “I don’t know if it’s eternal. I think Destiny once tried that approach, saying ‘This is a ten-year game,’ and then immediately backtracked.”

The Challenge of Expanding Diablo 4

The game’s first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, launched last year, paving the way for future storylines. However, Fergusson admitted that turning Diablo 4 into a proper live-service game hasn’t been easy. The original plan was to release the first expansion just 12 months after the base game’s debut, but it ultimately took 18 months. The next expansion? As of now, Blizzard is aiming for 2026, though they’re avoiding setting strict deadlines.

“I’ve learned my lesson about making promises too early,” Fergusson said. “Right now, all I can say is that people can relax for the next 11 months.”

“It’s Better to Spoil the Surprise for 10,000 People Than to Ruin a Whole Season”

Blizzard is also adopting a more transparent approach to upcoming content. In April, they plan to offer a detailed roadmap of what’s next for Diablo 4. Additionally, they will begin utilizing Public Test Realms (PTRs), a system commonly seen in MMORPGs but rarely used in traditional action RPGs.

Though the decision was debated internally, Blizzard ultimately agreed that early testing would be beneficial. “We realized that it’s better to spoil the surprise for 10,000 people than to ruin an entire season for millions,” Fergusson explained at the DICE Summit 2025.

“Even if something goes wrong on the PTR—if a mechanic is unbalanced—it’s better to have a bad week of testing than three months of damage control after launching a broken feature.”

Blizzard’s commitment to long-term content ensures that Diablo 4 remains a major player in the RPG world. With new expansions, fresh storylines, and constant updates, the game isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Let’s not forget that a full decade passed between Diablo 2 and Diablo 3, and the same happened between the third and fourth games. But this time around, Blizzard promises that players won’t have to wait another 10 years for their next demonic adventure.

Source: 3djuegos