Diablo 4 DLC: Everything we know about new story updates and content

❘ Published: 2023-12-13T15:15:00

Diablo 4 players refuse to buy expansion for an "unfinished" game

Blizzard Entertainment

Diablo 4’s first expansion could bring back Mercenaries for hire.

Diablo 4 DLC and expansion packs are coming our way, here’s everything we know about our return to Sanctuary after the end of Diablo 4.

Unlike the seasonal content, Diablo 4 DLC won’t just be minor add-ons or a new questline, it will be a major expansion just like Diablo 2: The Lord of Destruction, or the Reaper of Souls from Diablo 3. These expansion packs usually extend the story, offer a new Act to play, and even add new character classes.

With many players reaching the end of the game, and seeing that ending, the question of Diablo 4 DLC will be fresh on a lot of people’s minds. Here’s what we know about future content in Diablo 4, including the first major expansion pack, Vessel of Hatred, and beyond.

There will also be spoilers lurking below for the ending of Diablo 4.

Is Diablo 4 DLC on the way?

Yes, the first major expansion pack or Diablo 4 DLC will be Vessel of Hatred which is coming in 2024. The expansion will take place after Lilith’s defeat and see Neyrelle bring Mephisto’s Soulstone to Sanctuary in an effort to rid the world of the Prime Evils. However, the title of the DLC implies Mephisto is just using Neyrelle and is planning his own invasion, using her as a conduit or “vessel.”

Long-time fans of Diablo 2 and Diablo 3 will already be familiar with Blizzard’s style when it comes to Diablo DLC. After Diablo 3’s release, Reaper of Souls arrived later down the line and progressed the story in a very significant way. This was then followed by the release of the Crusader and Necromancer character classes. Diablo 2’s The Lord of Destruction did something similar.

During Gamescom, Rod Fergusson mentioned the concept of annual updates, suggesting that Diablo 4 could have an expansion pack once a year, on top of multiple seasons.

He said, “If 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. 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.”

Mephisto will likely be the main villain of the first Diablo 4 DLC.

What could Diablo 4 DLC involve?

Spoilers for the ending of Diablo 4 inbound!

After defeating Lilith, the dying demon princess gives the player a chilling warning about the Prime Evils, who without her to stop them, could once again invade Sanctuary. The player then sees a vision of Diablo suggesting that the Lord of Terror’s return could be imminent.

Nyrelle then steals Mephisto’s Soulstone and boards a ship to take it somewhere far away, her intentions unknown. She writes to the player character and asks them not to follow her and to trust that she knows what she’s doing. In a final scene, the wolf aspect of Mephisto is seen stalking Nyrelle, hinting that he may be the first of the Prime Evils we’ll need to face in future DLC. Data miners have discovered evidence that supports this.

The trailer for Vessel of Hatred also seemingly confirms that Mephisto is heading back to Kurast, the location he pillaged in Diablo 2:

While Lilith served as the primary antagonist of the base game, Diablo, Baal, and Mephisto are the main villains of the series, so it was always likely that the game would feature or foreshadow their return in some form. Diablo especially was conspicuous by his absence in Diablo 4.

Now that his brother Mephisto is back in Sanctuary, he may begin to corrupt Nyrelle, while Diablo and Baal likely have their own plans to return. Could this have been the Prime Evil’s plan all along? After all, Lilith was the greatest threat the Lords of Hell had ever known, and with her out of the way, their path to domination in Hell, Heaven, and Sanctuary may be clear.

If this hasn’t satiated your hunger for Diablo 4, we’ve got many other Diablo 4 guides for you to check out and enhance your experience: