Looks like Diablo 4 is headed for the annual expansions model, with seasonal releases in between. The info came via a new interview with Diablo GM Rod Fergusson, who confirmed Blizzard’s plans for its latest big release.
With the seasonal model, there is new content and themed stuff to collect, in addition to feature changes and other tweaks. Yet, with something as fast-paced and intentionally replayable as Diablo, your community is always going to want more. Seasonal content will continue, but the Diablo team is shaping years of support for Diablo 4, and that means go bigger.
Fergusson confirmed that “quarterly seasons” and “annual expansions” are their plans for long term support.
“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. 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.”
With a recent short story series that ties into some familiar characters, the team has already shown some exploration outside the seasons and the game has only been out for a couple of months.
Fergusson also cites the 11-year gap between Diablo 3 and Diablo 4 as one thing that’s also inspiring their plans. “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,” he says.
It’s fair to make a comparison between these plans and what Bungie was doing with Destiny 2, which is dropping its seasonal model soon. Diablo 4 is headed towards its next season, the Season of Blood, in October, but it seems like we should expect the troubles and conflict at home in Sanctuary to continue in new ways for quite some time.