Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred is almost here, and it feels like Blizzard has finally received the memo on creating an endgame structure that can keep players engaged. Announced back at The Game Awards 2025, this second major expansion promises a much-needed evolution for the ARPG.

New Classes and the Return of Mephisto

The expansion introduces the brand-new region of Skovos and brings two new classes to Sanctuary. While the Paladin was unlocked immediately upon the expansion's announcement, players will have to wait until April 28 for the Warlock class to go live. All eyes are on the fight to take down Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred himself.

The expansion is already receiving critical acclaim for its impact on the game's longevity. In an 8/10 review from IGN, it was noted: "Lord of Hatred gives Diablo 4 an extremely satisfying conclusion, excellent changes to build crafting, and an endgame that could potentially go the distance."

Release Date and Pre-load Information

Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred is scheduled to launch on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox on April 27. If you want to jump in immediately, you can pre-load the expansion right now by downloading the 3.0.0 Patch.

Be prepared for a significant download, as the patch is a hefty 90GB. Make sure you have cleared enough space on your hard drive before the launch date arrives.

Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred Global Release Times

Depending on your location, the expansion is set to go live at the following times:

Monday, April 27, 2026:

  • PDT (San Francisco): 4pm
  • CST (Mexico City): 5pm
  • CDT (Chicago): 6pm
  • EDT (New York): 7pm

Tuesday, April 28, 2026:

  • BST (London): 12am midnight
  • CEST (Paris): 1am
  • CST (Beijing): 7am
  • JST (Tokyo): 8am
  • AEST (Sydney): 9am
  • NZST (Wellington): 11am

Behind the Voice of Mephisto

Capturing the essence of a character as dark as Mephisto requires immense skill. In a recent discussion with IGN, legendary voice actor Steve Blum shared his creative process. He discussed what makes the voice of the Lord of Hatred unique and provided insight into the experience of recording in the voiceover booth for such a pivotal character.