Diablo 4’s ending left fans wanting for more, and we’re talking about this in a narrative sense. After beating Lilith to end her bid to wage war on both Heaven and Hell, players are treated to a cliffhanger ending. Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred and one of the three Prime Evils as well as the father of Lilith, is implied to have corrupted Nyrelle to board a ship to go somewhere far away, presumably to find a way to free himself and, possibly, his two brothers, Diablo and Baal, from the Soulstone. We haven’t really heard much from Blizzard since then. Instead, the development team has hunkered down and focused on improving the gameplay first. Now that Diablo 4 is in a much better place, it appears Blizzard is preparing for the first of many expansions coming to Diablo 4.
As fans eagerly anticipate the continuation of the, it seems the game’s first major expansion might center around one of the three Prime Evils.
This rumor comes from a datamined technical alpha build of Diablo 4 version 2.0, said to be an early build of the game that Blizzard is testing ahead of its release at some point next year.
As previously mentioned, Lord of Hatred is the epithet of Mephisto. In addition to his involvement in the events of the game, both directly and indirectly, the oldest of the Prime Evils appeared in a “secret” post-credits ending as well. When you consider how he pretty much orchestrated the downfall of his own daughter, it’s clear Mephisto, with help from an unknown few, will serve as the primary antagonist of this DLC.
Accompanying this revelation, the leaks also hint at the introduction of a new player class: the Spiritborn. Described as a nature-driven warrior adept with a glaive, the Spiritborn appears to be a synthesis of Barbarian and Druid traits, which is hinting at a dynamic and powerful gameplay experience for players. This incoming class not only wields nature but also, based on extracted files, might possess the capability of flight, signifying a potentially angelic or celestial origin.
Moreover, the expansion is set to reincorporate the beloved locale of Kurast from Diablo 2. Before Mephisto’s arrival, it was considered the “greatest city in the world” before eventually becoming “a boil on the face of Sanctuary.” It serves as a nod to long-standing fans, indicating that the forthcoming content remains deeply rooted in the franchise’s history.
When you put two and two together though, it’s possible that the new player class is an off-shoot of the Templar Order, itself was born from the disciples of the Light. We learned in Diablo 3 and Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls that its leader, the Grand Maester, had led them astray. But, it’s possible that one member chose not to follow blindly and thread his own path, similar to Kormac in Diablo 3.
Delving further into the potential features of the upcoming expansion, the Mercenary system might make its return. This system allows players to recruit and customize NPCs, a feature reminiscent of Diablo 2. Different from the Diablo 3 and its character-based companion approach, these mercenaries might offer varied class-like characteristics, enabling them to adapt and complement varying player strategies.
Finally, another anticipated addition is the game’s first raid, the Tomb of Akarat. This challenging endeavor is believed to consist of five distinct wings for players to navigate, potentially serving as a significant endgame attraction.
Despite the enticing details and the broader context suggesting these leaks might be genuine, caution is advised. Leaks are inherently unofficial, and while the Russian YouTuber YbuBaKa has presented these details, the accuracy of past leaks remains uncertain.
With Blizzard’s BlizzCon event looming on November 3, many are hopeful that the company will offer clarity or even an announcement regarding the game’s first expansion.
Blizzard has been open about its aspirations to release yearly expansions for Diablo 4, especially given the game’s live-service structure supported by multiple development teams. Given the June release of the main game, the end of the currently ongoing “Season of Blood” could align with the unveiling of the first expansion, should Blizzard continue with its established rhythm.
The dedicated fanbase of the Diablo series eagerly awaits any official word on these rumored developments. While the leaks have historically provided early insights, only time and official announcements will solidify the actual path forward.
For now though, interested fans on PC can check out Diablo 4 for free on Battle.net.
