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

Rod Fergusson, the general manager of the Diablo series, opened his talk at the DICE Summit 2025 with a candid reflection not on triumphs, but on a notable stumble: Error 37. This error, which famously plagued the launch of Diablo 3, left countless players unable to log in due to overwhelming server demand. The incident sparked significant backlash and even became a meme, yet Blizzard eventually overcame these challenges, turning Diablo 3 into a success story. However, the memory of Error 37 looms large, pushing Blizzard to ensure that such a debacle does not recur, especially as Diablo evolves into a more sophisticated live service model with Diablo 4.

Diablo 4 represents a shift towards a continuous live service, with regular updates, seasons, and expansions planned to keep the game vibrant and engaging. Fergusson emphasized the importance of avoiding another Error 37, as it would be detrimental to the game's longevity and its aspirations to become a dominant live service title.

Diablo, Immortal

Following his keynote at the DICE Summit 2025 in Las Vegas, I had the chance to discuss with Fergusson his vision for Diablo 4's future. His talk, titled "Evolving Sanctuary: Building a Resilient Live-Service Game in Diablo IV," highlighted four key strategies for ensuring the game's resilience: scaling effectively, maintaining a steady flow of content, being flexible with design purity, and keeping players informed about upcoming updates.

Fergusson stressed the importance of retaining players over the long term, contrasting the current approach with the more sporadic update schedule of previous Diablo titles. The shift towards a live service model signifies a commitment to keeping Diablo 4 alive and evolving, rather than relying solely on new releases every few years.

When asked about the longevity of Diablo 4, Fergusson expressed a desire for the game to last for years, though he stopped short of declaring it eternal. He referenced Destiny's initial ten-year plan, which didn't pan out as expected, and emphasized the need for players to trust that their time investment in Diablo 4 will be respected and rewarded.

Fergusson also discussed the extended timeline for Diablo 4's second expansion, Vessel of Hatred, which was pushed back to 2026. This delay was necessitated by the need to focus on immediate live game updates and the first season's launch. He's cautious about setting concrete timelines for future expansions, learning from past experiences not to overpromise.

Ruining the Surprise…on Purpose

Transparency is a cornerstone of Fergusson's strategy for Diablo 4. He plans to reveal a content roadmap in April and use the Public Test Realm (PTR) to let players test upcoming patches before they go live. Initially, there were concerns about spoiling surprises, but Fergusson believes that it's better to "ruin the surprise for 10,000 people so that millions of people have a great season." He's willing to accept a week of negative feedback from PTR testers if it prevents months of recovery from a flawed live update.

Expanding PTR access to consoles is another goal, though it's currently limited to PC due to certification challenges. Fergusson sees potential in leveraging Xbox's support to overcome these hurdles, enhancing the game's reach and player engagement.

The inclusion of Diablo 4 on Game Pass is another strategic move to lower entry barriers and attract more players, similar to the decision to release the game on Steam alongside Battle.net. This approach contrasts with the free-to-play model of Diablo Immortal, which faces fewer entry barriers but also different monetization challenges.

All Hours Diablo

In our conversation, Fergusson shared his recent gaming experiences, emphasizing his dedication to Diablo 4. Despite playing other games like NHL 24 and Destiny 2, his top-played game remains Diablo 4, with over 650 hours on his personal account. He's currently enjoying the Companion Druid and Dance of Knives Rogue classes, reflecting his deep personal connection to the game.

Fergusson's commitment to Diablo is evident in both his professional and personal life. He values the habit-forming nature of live service games, which keeps him returning to Diablo 4 even amidst a busy gaming schedule. His vision for Diablo 4 is clear: to create a resilient, engaging, and long-lasting live service game that respects and rewards the time players invest in it.