The pre-order bonus for Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred has sparked serious backlash among the most dedicated fans of the ARPG series. Pre-purchasing the new expansion grants free access to the first DLC, Vessel of Hatred, while players who already paid for that content receive no benefits.

A new controversy has emerged around Diablo IV. Blizzard’s action RPG was featured prominently during The Game Awards 2025, where the long-awaited Lord of Hatred expansion was officially revealed. The DLC aims to conclude the great war against Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred, and is scheduled to launch on April 28, 2026. The announcement also confirmed early access to the highly requested Paladin class.

Excitement quickly gave way to frustration once details of the pre-order bonuses became clear. Pre-ordering Lord of Hatred – priced at €39.99 for the Standard Edition – includes the first DLC, Vessel of Hatred, at no extra cost. This has angered players who previously purchased that content, as they receive no discount or compensation.

Blizzard has confirmed that pre-purchasers will receive Vessel of Hatred, an additional stash tab, two extra character creation slots, and early access to the Paladin class. However, much of the online discussion has focused on the belief that Blizzard has ignored players who invested their money in Vessel of Hatred after its release in 2024.

“The price of Lord of Hatred makes no sense”, writes Ok_Willingness_3894 on Reddit. “Explain this to me… If you already own the base game and the first expansion, you pay €39.99 for the DLC. If you only own the base game, you still pay €39.99, but you also get the first expansion. Where is the logic?” While the deal is ideal for players without any Diablo IV expansions, those who already bought Vessel of Hatred feel they deserve some form of recognition.

Adding to the frustration, many players purchased the first DLC only recently, some just days before this announcement.

Blizzard Previously Offered Up to a 60 Percent Discount on Vessel of Hatred

User Dakhanu highlights another key detail. In the weeks leading up to the reveal of Lord of Hatred and the opening of pre-orders, Blizzard offered substantial discounts on Vessel of Hatred. “Over the last one to two months, Blizzard has activated massive discounts of up to 60 percent. You could get the base game and Vessel of Hatred for around $35, and the deal was still active a week ago”, he explains.

This information is also reflected in SteamDB records. “Now Blizzard announces this: €39.99 for Lord of Hatred, and if you own the base game, you get both expansions for the same price. If players had known this was coming, they would have waited”, he continues. While early adopters enjoyed months of gameplay, those who bought the DLC during recent sales barely had time to play before realizing they could have saved money and gained more content.

According to these players, Blizzard should reconsider its pricing strategy and offer a discount to those who already own Vessel of Hatred. So far, the company has not commented on the situation, and it remains unclear whether any additional benefits will be offered.

Source: GameStar