Diablo 5 Timing: Blizzard's Rod Fergusson on Diablo 4's Longevity

At the DICE Summit 2025, Rod Fergusson, the general manager of the Diablo series, opened his talk with a candid reflection not on the franchise's successes, but on one of its most notable failures: Error 37. This infamous error plagued the launch of Diablo 3, preventing countless players from accessing the game due to an overwhelming number of simultaneous logins. The issue led to widespread criticism and even became a meme within the gaming community. Blizzard eventually resolved the problem, and Diablo 3 went on to become a success, but the experience left a lasting impact on the team's approach to game launches.

As Diablo evolves into a more complex live service model, with Diablo 4 at the forefront, Fergusson and Blizzard are determined to prevent a repeat of such launch failures. Diablo 4 is designed to be a persistent live service game, with frequent updates, ongoing seasons, and regular expansions, making it more ambitious than any previous installment in the series. A repeat of Error 37 could be disastrous, especially with the goal of maintaining player engagement beyond major content releases.

Diablo, Immortal

During the DICE Summit 2025 in Las Vegas, I had the opportunity to speak with Fergusson following his presentation titled "Evolving Sanctuary: Building a Resilient Live-Service Game in Diablo IV." In his talk, Fergusson outlined four crucial elements for ensuring the resilience of Diablo 4: scaling the game effectively, maintaining a steady flow of content, being flexible with design purity, and keeping players informed about future updates, even at the cost of spoiling surprises.

Fergusson emphasized the importance of keeping players engaged over the long term, highlighting the team's commitment to detailed content roadmaps and planning for multiple seasons ahead. This approach marks a significant shift from the traditional model of numbered releases every few years to a more dynamic live service model, similar to other major AAA titles that aim for longevity and continuous evolution.

When asked about the future of Diablo 4, Fergusson clarified that while the game is not intended to be eternal, it is designed to last for many years. He referenced Destiny's attempt to brand itself as a "ten-year game," noting that Diablo 4 aims to respect players' time and commitment by providing a clear vision of its future. Fergusson joined Blizzard in 2020, bringing his experience from leading the Gears franchise, and he advocates for a balanced approach to planning, avoiding overly ambitious predictions.

Fergusson also revealed that the second expansion for Diablo 4, Vessel of Hatred, would not be released until 2026. Originally planned for an annual release, the timeline was extended due to the need for immediate updates to the live game and adjustments following the first season's launch. When asked if 18 months would become the standard interval for expansions, Fergusson was cautious, indicating that the team prefers to wait until they are confident in their plans before making public commitments.

Ruining the Surprise…on Purpose

Transparency is a key aspect of Blizzard's strategy for Diablo 4. Fergusson discussed the use of content roadmaps and Public Test Realms (PTRs), where players can test upcoming patches before they go live. Initially, the team was hesitant about spoiling surprises, but Fergusson has come to realize that it's better to "ruin the surprise for 10,000 people so that millions of people have a great season." He acknowledges that even if a PTR goes poorly, it's preferable to a prolonged recovery from an unexpected issue in the live game.

Fergusson also expressed interest in expanding the PTR to console players, currently limited to PC users due to certification challenges. He highlighted the support from parent company Xbox as a crucial factor in this endeavor. Additionally, he discussed the benefits of Diablo 4's presence on Game Pass, which lowers the entry barrier for new players and helps sustain a growing player base, unlike the free-to-play model of Diablo Immortal.

All Hours Diablo

In our conversation, I inquired about Fergusson's recent gaming experiences, particularly whether he had played Path of Exile 2 and his thoughts on comparisons with Diablo 4. He dismissed the comparisons, noting that the two games are fundamentally different. However, he acknowledged the desire of players to enjoy both games without conflicting season schedules, a sentiment he understands as a fellow gamer.

Fergusson shared his top three games played in 2024 by playtime: third place went to NHL 24, second to Destiny 2, and first, unsurprisingly, to Diablo 4. With 650 hours on his home retail account alone, Fergusson's dedication to the game is clear. He currently enjoys playing as a Companion Druid and has recently started a Dance of Knives Rogue. His passion for Diablo, which led him to join Blizzard five years ago, remains as strong as ever, driving him to play the game for hours even after work.