In an interview with Dexerto, Diablo General Manager Rod Fergusson confirmed Diablo 4 would be receiving annual expansions alongside its quarterly seasons. This isn’t exactly shocking news, as before Diablo 4 had even released Fergusson revealed two expansions were already in the works.
However, it is interesting to note that Blizzard is plans to keep a specific schedule for Diablo 4 content releases. This essentially means we’ll get three seasonal-specific updates and an expansion with a new season release each year.
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This has become a pretty popular cadence for other Live service games. Destiny 2 follows a pretty similar content schedule, for example. Competitor action-RPG Path of Exile also releases quarterly seasons. Although PoE doesn’t do expansions, it usually releases a bigger seasonal update once a year.
“When you look at the launch of the game and this first season, we see that as building a foundation on which we can build for the future,” Fergusson told Dexerto in an interview. “So, as we look at our quarterly seasons, and we look at our annual expansions, those are the things that we’re really focused on for our live service. We’ve got plans, we have storylines that go well into the future. We’ve got plans. We’re always leapfrogging our seasons, and leapfrogging our expansions, so it’s something we are going to do for a long time. We’re excited. When you look back and realise that there were 11 years between D3 and D4, that feels like we didn’t live up to our players, our community, and what they deserve. That’s something we are rectifying in D4 with our seasons and our expansions.”
Diablo 4 released on June 5, meaning we can expect the first expansion pack in the summer of 2024. By then several seasons will have concluded. Season One hasn’t been too popular for Diablo 4 gamers, but those who played Diablo 3 probably expected that. It may take a few seasons for D4 to really find its footing. If so, the first expansion may be a great time to jump back in and see all the changes.
Diablo 4 is currently in its first season, Season of the Malignant. It’s second season, Season of Blood, releases on all platforms on October 17.
