Diablo 4's third year needs to be more impactful than the second

Modified Jan 03, 2025 17:12 IST

While I love Diablo 4, this past year hasn’t been as impactful as I’d like it to be. Ye s, I’m one of the many players who pushed Blizzard’s game aside so I could play Path of Exile 2, but that doesn’t change that I love the grimdarkness of the world of Sanctuary. No matter how much I enjoy D4 though, this past year wasn’t always a big success. There were some definite lows to try and avoid here in 2025.

Even the successful Vessel of Hatred expansion had some players up in arms, given the cliffhanger it ended on. From overpowered classes to mediocre Seasons, if Blizzard wants to keep up, it’s going to take some work. It’s important for this year of Diablo 4 content to be seriously impressive.

Note: This article is subjective and solely based on the author's opinion.

This coming year of Diablo 4 content needs to make a serious impact

Just because Path of Exile 2 is what everyone’s talking about doesn’t mean Diablo 4 has vanished, either. It’s not doing as well numbers-wise on Steam, but that’s hardly the only platform the game is on; for example, most people I know who play use the Blizzard client, or play on console. The majority of D4 players in my life were already Battle.net users — whether for WoW, Overwatch, or Diablo 2 and 3.

Season of Loot Reborn was definitely this year's peak for me (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

While 2024 was mostly a year of successes for Blizzard, there were some pretty serious lows, too. For example, the best Season of content dropped for Diablo 4 in 2024 - Season of Loot Reborn. However, it was only so popular because it made essentially every class overpowered and fixed some ongoing in-game problems.

So yes, it was an incredible season because the developers listened to the fans, and gave them what they wanted. At least it was a high, a noteworthy moment in the game’s life. Then you have what could possibly be the worst season in D4’s history, or at least the most boring. Season 6 didn’t hook me at all, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. The theme of “chase down big evil thing in the wilderness” was so tedious.

Most of the time, I would try and do one of these runs; nobody else was out there too, so I had to solo. It just wasn’t very interesting. The storyline that went with it was good, but the actual gameplay was mediocre at best. Season of Hatred Rising wasn’t the only mediocre season this year, either.

If Loot Reborn was the high, then Construct was the low (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

Season of the Construct kicked the year off, and instead of starting with a bang, it was more a wet, dull thud. The little construct was neat, but grinding to make it more powerful was not, nor was the story/content around it. It’s one of the weaker seasons in the game’s history.

Vessel of Hatred did well, though, and it added more story, a new zone, and a fun new class - many players were frustrated it was locked behind an expansion, but that’s not exactly a new thing. What actually frustrated some players was how ludicrously powerful Spiritborn was. There was almost no point to playing anything else, because the most overpowered thing in the game was the new hotness.

What can Blizzard do to help assuage their population? Perhaps the most important thing is to show the fans that huge, impactful changes and fun content is coming this year. Blizzard keeps most of D4 content a mystery; we have to wait and see, and hope that things are going to be good.

The fans need to know that they're heard, and that great things are on the way (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

Whether a 2025 Diablo 4 roadmap, a hint of things to come. Blizzard also needs to listen to the playerbase more often. I’m not saying we need a new expansion, or a new class in 2025 — though I wouldn’t say no to Diablo Immortal’s Blood Knight — fans need to know they’re being heard. There’s real competition knocking at Blizzard’s door right now.

The fact of the matter is, that Diablo 4 will make money no matter what. It's doing quite well for Blizzard, fiscally speaking. I don't think Blizzard needs to copy what Path of Exile 2 is doing either as they're two very different MMOs/ARPGs. The developers need to actually take the time to listen to their fanbase and communicate more. Do more of what made Diablo 4 such a hit in the first place.

Check out our other Diablo 4 guides and features

Edited by Angad Sharma