Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred | Developer Launch Address

0:00 -[roars] -[demonic screeching] [energy crackling] [eerie music] Hey, everyone.

0:09 Over the last 30 years of Diablo, we have watched this amazing genre evolve,

0:14 branch out, and forge passionate communities across the globe.

0:17 All of us on the team love that no matter how you connect with Diablo,

0:22 whether you grew up with the classics,

0:24 lose yourself in Sanctuary chasing the perfect build,

0:27 or you're just starting to share your journey as a creator,

0:31 we're all united by the same passion- being a part of this community.

0:35 It's that sense of shared passion that guides our purpose.

0:39 Trust the team, listen to the players,

0:43 and build this world of Diablo IV together.

0:45 Today, we're celebrating that journey with Lord of Hatred,

0:49 our newest expansion for Diablo IV, that honors the legacy of the universe,

0:55 while pushing it forward in ways that matter to you.

0:58 And now, it's yours to play.

1:00 Let's start with the heart of Lord of Hatred- the story.

1:04 We wanted to create a story that feels earned,

1:07 one that reflects where Diablo IV has been and where we are going.

1:11 In the wake of Vessel of Hatred, tensions have been building,

1:15 and now Mephisto's influence spreads through Skovos

1:19 in a way that twists deception into devotion.

1:23 The legacy of Sanctuary has always been tied to the importance

1:27 of the Soulstone and the inevitable fate of those who carry its burden.

1:31 Rather than simply escalating the threat,

1:33 we explore what hatred does to people and what

1:36 it asks of those who stand against it.

1:38 This story is the culmination of everything

1:40 Sanctuary has been building towards to this point,

1:43 not only in lore, but also in how you experience consequence and choice.

1:49 Every piece connects as you fight for the soul of Sanctuary,

1:52 and we've poured ourselves into making sure

1:54 that this story resonates as strongly as the gameplay.

1:57 Today, you can take on the journey with our two new classes,

2:01 the Paladin and the Warlock.

2:04 These icons represent the duality between Heaven and Hell.

2:08 Born with opposing ideals, yet united by purpose,

2:12 each walking a different path towards the same ultimate fate.

2:16 The class you choose to main is

2:18 the cornerstone of every Diablo player's identity,

2:22 and the never-ending debates around these classes

2:24 and their builds are the soul of our game.

2:26 The team has chosen to stoke those flames of debate once more.

2:30 Available today, no matter which class you love,

2:33 the way you played yesterday may no longer be the way you play today.

2:37 In this update, we're increasing the level cap to level 70,

2:41 and every class will receive more

2:44 variety and customization options across the board.

2:48 Now let's talk about what shapes the core Diablo experience- systems.

2:53 It's always risky to touch something as fundamental as the skill trees,

2:57 but we knew it mattered to you, so we committed to getting it right.

3:00 The result is a system that offers more clarity,

3:04 stronger class identity, and greater flexibility.

3:08 Every skill now has new customization options,

3:11 letting you refine the build that is most fun for you.

3:14 And for Lord of Hatred owners,

3:16 we've added even more skill variants to experiment with.

3:20 I'm proud of how the team has reworked

3:22 the skill trees across all of the classes.

3:25 And thanks to you, we've pushed ourselves to make

3:28 something that's even healthier for the game long-term.

3:30 Endgame has also seen a massive evolution.

3:34 At the end of the campaign,

3:35 you'll meet a familiar face that will help you plan your post-campaign journey.

3:40 With our new endgame playlist system, War Plans,

3:43 you can gain experience and earn points to spend on activity trees,

3:48 altering gameplay and giving you new ways to play,

3:51 putting the decision back where it belongs- in your hands.

3:56 With every journey you make, we know your time matters.

3:59 Every system, every story beat,

4:02 every quality-of-life improvement is built with that in mind.

4:05 Like the Horadric Cube, making its debut to help you in your item chase.

4:11 And updating Torment tiers to continue

4:13 to smooth out the journey and add difficulty.

4:17 Sets are coming with the Talisman to round out your builds.

4:22 And you know what?

4:23 We've even added map overlays back into the game

4:26 to help you optimize your next dungeon run.

4:29 And then there's Echoing Hatred, a hyper-rare event where you'll face

4:34 infinite waves of enemies and escalating difficulty.

4:36 The deeper you go, the better the loot.

4:38 It's adrenaline-fueled chaos at its finest.

4:42 We have always rewarded the brave and the curious,

4:44 and there are so many great features and secrets

4:47 for you to find on the newly fishable shores of Sanctuary.

4:51 Lord of Hatred is the continuation of this legendary dark tale of good and evil,

4:56 but it's also a massive drop of new systems, reworks, and updates.

5:01 It's a perfect reminder that Diablo is

5:04 at its best when we shape our future together.

5:07 So, here's to you, the players who keep the fires of Sanctuary burning.

5:11 Thank you for being a part of this journey.

5:13 Thank you for pushing us to do better.

5:15 And thank you for making Diablo IV what it is today.

5:18 The reckoning is here.

5:20 Lord of Hatred and the new Warlock class is available now.

5:23 Jump in, make your mark, and as always, we'll see you in Sanctuary.

5:28 [eerie music]