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What was revealed at The Game Awards 2025?
Blizzard announced Lord of Hatred at The Game Awards on December 11, 2025. At the reveal, the Paladin was the only new class named: Blizzard said it would be playable immediately with pre-purchase, while a second class would arrive at launch but kept its identity secret. The expansion was announced for Battle.net, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and Steam, with an April 28, 2026 release date in the Xbox Wire recap. Blizzard’s Xbox Wire announcement records what was known at the time; the later launch overview confirms the second class is Warlock.
Which two classes does the expansion add?
Paladin
The Paladin is a sword-and-shield defender empowered by the Light. It was the class revealed at The Game Awards and was available to play with pre-purchase, according to the announcement-era coverage.
Warlock
The Warlock commands hell’s minions. Blizzard identified it as the expansion’s second class in its launch overview, after keeping that class secret during the reveal. Blizzard described the pair as “Two classes burn into Sanctuary, opposite counterparts of light and dark – yet stand with a shared purpose in the fight against this Prime Evil.” Blizzard’s expansion overview gives the current class descriptions.
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- LORD OF HATRED EXPANSION — Includes Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred Standard Edition and Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred. The Diablo IV base game is required to play.
- IN-GAME EXTRAS — Get 1 Extra Stash Tab, 2 Additional Character Slots, and 3 Decor Items in World of Warcraft.
- NEW CLASSES AND REGION — Master two new classes and explore the ancient region of Skovos in the Lord of Hatred expansion.
- ACTION RPG ADVENTURE — Slay demons, master abilities, explore nightmarish dungeons, and find legendary loot in a dark open world.
- NEW CAMPAIGN AGAINST MEPHISTO — Make your stand against the Prime Evil Mephisto in a rich new story featuring new enemies, regions, and narrative twists.
What is the campaign and where does it take place?
The story follows the events of Vessel of Hatred and brings players to Skovos for a final confrontation with Mephisto, whose followers threaten Sanctuary. Temis, a major city in Skovos, becomes a streamlined endgame hub after the campaign. Blizzard’s launch overview outlines the setting and campaign premise.
What features does Lord of Hatred include?
Expansion features
- War Plans: Configure a chain of endgame activities to shape a route through repeatable challenges.
- Echoing Hatred: A high-challenge encounter for players seeking a more demanding fight.
- Fishing: A new activity in Sanctuary.
- Horadric Cube: A crafting system for combining and transforming items.
- Talisman: An equipment system that grants set bonuses.
Updates for the wider game
Blizzard separately lists permanent updates available across the full game, including skill updates, a Loot Filter, a map overlay and pathfinding. These are distinct from the expansion’s own features; the launch overview does not say that players must buy Lord of Hatred to access those game-wide updates. The official overview separates the expansion content from permanent updates.
Rank #2
- DELUXE EDITION CONTENT — Includes Vessel of Hatred Standard Edition, Lord of Hatred, the High Heavensguard Paladin Cosmetic Bundle, Skartaran Basilisk Mount Bundle, Mini Chimera Pet, and Premium Battle Pass Bundle.
- LORD OF HATRED EXPANSION — Includes Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred Standard Edition and Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred. The Diablo IV base game is required to play.
- IN-GAME EXTRAS — Get 1 Extra Stash Tab, 2 Additional Character Slots, and 3 Decor Items in World of Warcraft.
- NEW CLASSES AND REGION — Master two new classes and explore the ancient region of Skovos in the Lord of Hatred expansion.
- ACTION RPG ADVENTURE — Slay demons, master abilities, explore nightmarish dungeons, and find legendary loot in a dark open world.
When did it launch, and on what platforms?
Lord of Hatred launched globally on April 27, 2026, at 4 p.m. PDT, according to Blizzard’s launch overview. The earlier Xbox Wire announcement listed April 28, 2026 as the release date across Battle.net, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and Steam. Those dates describe the same rollout in different time zones: 4 p.m. PDT on April 27 was April 28 in many other regions. Check the relevant platform storefront for current regional availability.
What do you need to play it?
Blizzard says Lord of Hatred requires the Diablo IV base game; it also specifies internet access and a Battle.net account. Blizzard’s purchase article says the expansion package includes Vessel of Hatred. Confirm the contents and availability shown for your region and platform before buying, particularly if you already own that earlier expansion. Blizzard’s pre-purchase article covers the package and prerequisites.
Rank #3
- ULTIMATE EDITION CONTENT — Includes Vessel of Hatred Standard Edition, Lord of Hatred, Ultimate Edition cosmetic bundles, a Premium Battle Pass Bundle, and 3,000 Platinum.
- LORD OF HATRED EXPANSION — Includes Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred Standard Edition and Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred. The Diablo IV base game is required to play.
- IN-GAME EXTRAS — Get 1 Extra Stash Tab, 2 Additional Character Slots, and 3 Decor Items in World of Warcraft.
- NEW CLASSES AND REGION — Master two new classes and explore the ancient region of Skovos in the Lord of Hatred expansion.
- ACTION RPG ADVENTURE — Slay demons, master abilities, explore nightmarish dungeons, and find legendary loot in a dark open world.
Which edition should you choose?
Edition contents and prices can differ by storefront, region and time. At the time of the Xbox Wire Microsoft Store listing cited here, the three editions were listed at the prices below. These are observed Microsoft Store prices, not guaranteed current or worldwide prices; check your own platform’s store before purchase.
| Edition | Listed price | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $39.99 on the cited Microsoft Store listing | Choose it if you want the expansion package without the additional cosmetic and in-game extras listed for the higher tiers. |
| Deluxe | $59.99 on the cited Microsoft Store listing | Includes additional cosmetic and in-game bonuses; review the live listing to see the exact contents. |
| Ultimate | $89.99 on the cited Microsoft Store listing | Includes a larger set of cosmetic and in-game bonuses; verify the current contents in your storefront. |
The Xbox Wire announcement describes the editions’ extras as differing cosmetic bundles and in-game bonuses, but the cited information does not provide a complete item-by-item inventory. If you do not own Diablo IV, account for the required base game as a separate purchase and match its platform and format to your setup. The announcement and store listing provide the cited edition context.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
