A recent Reddit thread has woken up the Diablo 4 community! The post explores when Diablo might finally appear in the game. Players are speculating about the next expansions, story arcs, and Blizzard’s long-term plans for the franchise!
You can take a look at the Reddit thread here:
Mephisto’s Storyline and the Next Expansion
Many players agree that the next expansion will likely focus on Mephisto, whose storyline remains unresolved. Some speculate that Mephisto could even use Akarat’s body as a vessel, potentially setting up Diablo’s eventual return in a later expansion.
Timeline for Diablo’s Appearance
A lot of players want to face the Lord of Terror, but the consensus is that Diablo won’t appear until at least the third expansion, and this could only happen around 2028. Some suggest his role might first be a cliffhanger tease, before becoming the full antagonist in a later chapter.
Other Villains
Diablo is not the only villain from the franchise that players want to see:
- Baal and Azmodan are expected to feature in future expansions before or alongside Diablo.
- Some angels, like Imperius, could return as antagonists, hinting at a revived Heaven vs Hell conflict.
- Community opinions are split:
- Some players favor Mephisto as a more interesting villain.
- Others insist Diablo should remain the final boss, closing out the Prime Evil saga.
Expansion Pacing Concerns
Rod Fergusson had previously confirmed that Blizzard has a 10-12 year roadmap for Diablo, including multiple expansions. And Diablo itself will most likely be our final boss. So he will probably not appear too soon if Blizzard has a long term plan for the game.
However, with recent complaints, it is possible some plans have changed. Many players question if the roadmap is meant strictly for Diablo 4 or hints at a potential Diablo 5. Some even doubt Blizzard can sustain Diablo 4 for a full decade, expecting Diablo and Baal to appear sooner and potentially set the stage for the next game.
A lot of players also worry Blizzard may rush the storyline due to competition from Path of Exile 2 and Titan Quest II, or negative player feedback. The worst-case scenario would be fewer expansions than promised, and things being rushed just for the sake of releasing more content faster.
Possible Expansion Structure according to players:
- Expansion 2: Mephisto-focused, possibly with vessel storyline.
- Expansion 3: Introduction of Baal, higher level caps (80-90).
- Expansion 4 or 5: Diablo as the ultimate confrontation (level 100).
The exact timing of Diablo’s return remains a mystery, but the Reddit post is full of theories. Mephisto’s unresolved arc, Baal’s eventual introduction, and the possibility of Diablo appearing only in a later expansion all point to a carefully paced story, with players debating if Blizzard will stick to its roadmap or accelerate the timeline!
