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

At the DICE Summit 2025, Rod Fergusson, the general manager of the Diablo series, kicked off his presentation by discussing one of the franchise's most infamous setbacks: Error 37. This error, which plagued the launch of Diablo 3, prevented countless players from accessing the game due to overwhelming server demand. The resulting backlash and subsequent memes put Blizzard under intense scrutiny. Despite this rocky start, Blizzard managed to rectify the issue, and Diablo 3 eventually became a success story, albeit after significant effort and time.

Learning from past mistakes, Fergusson and his team at Blizzard are determined to prevent any similar mishaps, particularly as Diablo evolves into a more intricate live service model. With Diablo 4, the focus has shifted towards maintaining a robust live service, complete with frequent updates, ongoing seasons, and regular expansions. A repeat of Error 37 could be disastrous, especially if Blizzard aims to keep Diablo 4 thriving beyond its major content releases.

Diablo, Immortal

During the DICE Summit 2025 in Las Vegas, I had the opportunity to speak with Fergusson after his talk titled "Evolving Sanctuary: Building a Resilient Live-Service Game in Diablo IV." In his presentation, he 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 upcoming updates, even at the cost of losing some surprise.

Fergusson emphasized the importance of keeping players engaged consistently over the long term. His vision for Diablo 4 includes detailed content roadmaps and planning for future seasons, a departure from the more sporadic update cycles of previous Diablo titles. This shift aligns with the broader trend in the gaming industry towards live service models, where games evolve rapidly and remain active for extended periods, rather than relying on new releases every few years.

When asked about the longevity of Diablo 4, Fergusson expressed a desire for it to last for many years, though he stopped short of calling it eternal. He drew comparisons to Destiny, which initially aimed for a ten-year lifespan but did not achieve it. Fergusson stressed the importance of showing players a clear roadmap, acknowledging the significant time investment they make in playing Diablo games.

Reflecting on the development timeline, Fergusson mentioned that the second expansion for Diablo 4, Vessel of Hatred, was delayed until 2026. Originally planned for annual releases, the timeline shifted as resources were redirected to support the live game and its first season. Fergusson is cautious about setting firm deadlines for future expansions, having learned the dangers of overcommitting too early.

Ruining the Surprise…on Purpose

Fergusson's approach to transparency is a key aspect of Diablo 4's strategy. He discussed the use of content roadmaps and the Public Test Realm (PTR), where a select group of players can test upcoming patches before they go live. Initially, the team was hesitant about spoiling surprises, but Fergusson believes it's better to "ruin the surprise for 10,000 people so that millions of people have a great season." This philosophy extends to handling data leaks, where he acknowledges that the impact is minimal compared to the overall player base.

One of the challenges Fergusson faces is expanding the PTR to console players, currently limited to PC due to certification issues. However, he sees potential with the support of Blizzard's parent company, Xbox, particularly through Diablo 4's inclusion in Game Pass. This move, similar to the decision to release Diablo 4 on Steam, aims to reach a broader audience by reducing entry barriers, unlike the free-to-play model of Diablo Immortal.

All Hours Diablo

In our conversation, I also asked Fergusson about his personal gaming habits. He dismissed comparisons between Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2, noting that they are "very different games." However, he recognizes the need to cater to players who enjoy both, suggesting staggered season releases to allow players to enjoy each game without overlap.

Fergusson's top three games by playtime in 2024 are NHL 24, Destiny 2, and, unsurprisingly, Diablo 4. He has logged an impressive 650 hours on his home account alone, not including work time. Currently, he's playing a Companion Druid and a Dance of Knives Rogue, reflecting his deep passion for the game that brought him to Blizzard in the first place.

Fergusson's dedication to Diablo is evident in his daily gaming routine, which includes playing NHL 24 for card packs and Destiny 2 with his brother. Despite being halfway through other non-service games like Cyberpunk and Witcher 3, his love for Diablo remains a constant, driving him to play for hours on end even after work.