Blizzard revealed Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred at The Game Awards 2025, confirming a major expansion that adds new classes, a new region, and sweeping gameplay changes. Blizzard set the release date for April 28, 2026.
Release date and platforms
Lord of Hatred launches on April 28, 2026 for PC and PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Blizzard confirmed availability across modern and last-gen systems, keeping Diablo IV’s multi-platform rollout intact.
Story focus and new region
The expansion continues Diablo IV’s storyline by putting Mephisto back at the center of the conflict. Blizzard also confirmed a new region, Skovos, as the main setting for the expansion’s next chapter.
New playable classes confirmed
Blizzard confirmed two new playable classes in Lord of Hatred. The studio revealed one of them now and continues teasing the other.
The Paladin returns
The headline class is the Paladin, a holy warrior that blends close-range combat with defensive tools like shields and supportive powers. Blizzard positioned the Paladin as a classic, armor-forward class built for aggressive frontline play and team utility.
Blizzard also introduced a new Oath mechanic tied to the Paladin, letting players lean into different combat paths, including defensive builds and more offensive holy-damage setups.
A second new class remains unannounced
Blizzard confirmed a second new class for the expansion, but it has not shared the name, theme, or abilities yet. Expect more details closer to launch.
Early Paladin access with pre-purchase
Blizzard says players who pre-purchase Lord of Hatred can play the Paladin immediately before the full expansion arrives. Blizzard also states that pre-purchase includes access to Vessel of Hatred, letting new players jump into earlier expansion content right away.
Major gameplay and system upgrades
Lord of Hatred also targets Diablo IV’s long-term progression systems with several notable upgrades Blizzard has already confirmed.
- Reworked skill trees for deeper builds across classes
- A loot filter to make item drops easier to manage
- The return of the Horadric Cube for expanded crafting options
- New endgame systems, including War Plans and high-level challenges such as Echoing Hatred
Editions and bonuses
Blizzard lists multiple editions for Lord of Hatred (including higher tiers beyond the base release). These editions focus on bonus extras such as cosmetics and other add-ons, while the core expansion content arrives for all owners at launch.
What’s next
Blizzard plans to reveal more about the mystery class and additional expansion systems over time. For now, the biggest confirmed headlines stay clear: Paladin returns, Mephisto drives the story, Skovos expands the map, and major changes aim to refresh Diablo IV’s builds and endgame.
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