Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred is ready to release on April 28, 2026. Ahead of that date, Blizzard had a lot to share for this expansion including the debut of the game's opening cinematic, a new developer deep dive stream, the availability of the pre-download, a new original song by KoRn for this expansion, and a partnership with a guitar company. In addition, I'll also share a review roundup for Lord of Hatred.
First up, Blizzard shared the opening cinematic for Lord of Hatred earlier this week. I will say flatly that there are spoilers in the opening cinematic. Spoilers that are so major that reviewers were told not to share or talk about a very important story beat that happens in said opening cinematic. That said, here is the opening cinematic for Lord of Hatred.
Next up, Blizzard's Diablo 4 team talked about "everything you need to know ahead of Lord of Hatred's release." This new livestream covers new expansion features, a Community Helm challenge, and more. You can check out that livestream in either video format (below) or in a text version by way of a new article on Blizzard's website.
Blizzard also shared the official Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred launch trailer. They also shared a teaser that spoils another plot point in the expansion. Both the launch trailer and that teaser contain some massive spoilers. View them at your own risk if you want to go in totally blind.
Anyway, next up is KoRn! Apparently KoRn teamed up with Blizzard to create an original track, "Reward the Scars," for Lord of Hatred. The song is currently available now on all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Tidal, and YouTube Music. A music video for Reward the Scars will debut on April 27 at 10 AM PT. This is the band's first new song release in four years.
Keeping with the music theme, Blizzard partnered with Jackson Guitars to create a "premium electric guitar featuring Mephisto-inspired artwork and high-performance Jackson hardware." The guitar is the X Series Limited Edition Diablo IV Kelly HT and is supposedly available for pre-order right now. At the time of writing, it looks like either pre-orders have been delayed or they have already sold out completely. If they become available again, one of these unique guitars will set you back at least $1,299.99.
The pre-download period for Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred is now live across Battle.net, Xbox, and PlayStation. The pre-download period started just a few hours ago. Those playing on Steam will have to wait until the expansion and update are out.
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred will be a global rollout that begins on April 27 at 4 PM PT. This means that those on the East Coast of the States will be able to begin playing at 7PM ET on the 27th. On the flip side, those in places such as Auckland, New Zealand won't get to play until 11 AM NZST on the 28th.
Finally, most media reviews are live now for Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred. You can check out a summary of these reviews below courtesy of OpenCritic. You should also go check out our review of Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred if you have not yet already done so.
Game Information
Game Title: Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred
Platforms:
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 84 average - 90% recommended
Critic Reviews
Atarita - Alparslan Gürlek - Turkish - 83 / 100
CGMagazine - Philip Watson - 9 / 10
COGconnected - Mark Steighner - 82 / 100
Console Creatures - David Pietrangelo - 9 / 10
DayOne - Jesse Norris - 8.5 / 10
Digitale Anime - Raouf Belhamra - Arabic - 9 / 10
Everyeye.it - Italian - 7.5 / 10
Fextralife - 9 / 10
GRYOnline.pl - Paweł Woźniak - Polish - 7.5 / 10
Game Sandwich - John Hansen - 8 / 10
GamePro - Stephan Zielke - German - 83 / 100
GameRant - Drew Swanson - 9 / 10
GameSpew - Richard Seagrave - 9 / 10
Gameblog - French - 8 / 10
Gamer Guides - Nathan Garvin - 83 / 100
Gamer Social Club - Fraser Billington - 9 / 10
Hobby Consolas - Spanish - 85 / 100
IGN - Travis Northup - 8 / 10
INVEN - Jaihoon Jeong - Korean - 8.7 / 10
Loot Level Chill - Mick Fraser - 8.5 / 10
MMORPG.com - Lucas White - 8 / 10
Merlin'in Kazanı - Murat Oktay - Turkish - 89 / 100
Niche Gamer - Jonathan White - 8 / 10
Output Lag - Steven Mills - 9 / 10
PC Gamer - Tyler Colp - 90 / 100
PCGamesN - Lauren Bergin - 8 / 10
PCMag - 5 / 5
PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 9 / 10
Polygon - Oli Welsh - Unscored
SavePoint Gaming - Jake Su - 8.5 / 10
Seasoned Gaming - Ainsley Bowden - 8.5 / 10
Stevivor - Hamish Lindsay - 6.5 / 10
The Games Machine - Alessandro Alosi - Italian - 8 / 10
The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 10 / 10
TheGamer - Allyson Cochran - 4 / 5
Total Gaming Network - Shawn Zipay - 5 / 5
Twisted Voxel - Muhammad Ali Bari - 8 / 10
VG247 - Sherif Saed - 4 / 5
Video Chums - A.J. Maciejewski - 8.7 / 10
WellPlayed - Ash Wayling - 8.5 / 10
ZTGD - Augusto A. - 6.5 / 10
Game Title: Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred
Platforms:
- Xbox Series X/S (Apr 28, 2026)
- PlayStation 5 (Apr 28, 2026)
- PlayStation 4 (Apr 28, 2026)
- Xbox One (Apr 28, 2026)
- PC (Apr 28, 2026)
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 84 average - 90% recommended
Critic Reviews
Atarita - Alparslan Gürlek - Turkish - 83 / 100
Lord of Hatred adds some lovely touches to the main game, whilst also doing a brilliant job of telling its fantastic story. Is the new map Skovos? You’re going to love it.
CGMagazine - Philip Watson - 9 / 10
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred brings Mephisto back, along with a staggering amount of new content, a must play for RPG and Diablo fans alike.
COGconnected - Mark Steighner - 82 / 100
As with all expansions, playing the base game’s campaign first is recommended, but it’s also possible to jump almost directly into Lord of Hatred and enjoy the new classes. For anyone invested in the continuing saga of Lilith and Mephisto, Lord of Hatred is a rewarding new chapter.
Console Creatures - David Pietrangelo - 9 / 10
It's undeniable that Diablo 4 has grown into a far bigger and better game. The Lord of Hatred expansion is a massive step forward in end game content, new and exciting classes, and a dark and bloody campaign.
DayOne - Jesse Norris - 8.5 / 10
Lord of Hatred is an excellent expansion, bringing Diablo IV ever closer to that 'Reaper of Souls' moment that fans have been waiting for.
An emotionally heavy story, new endgame systems, and two solid new classes should have fans of the series enthralled.
An emotionally heavy story, new endgame systems, and two solid new classes should have fans of the series enthralled.
Digitale Anime - Raouf Belhamra - Arabic - 9 / 10
"A Bold Rebuild of Diablo's Systems"
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred represents a radical shift in the Diablo IV philosophy by restructuring its gameplay systems rather than simply adding content. The experience is deeper and more fluid in terms of character development and system interaction, with a marked improvement in overall design, visual identity, and sound. However, the endgame content and narrative still need further refinement. The result is a powerful expansion that redefines the core gameplay and sets it on a more mature path.
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred represents a radical shift in the Diablo IV philosophy by restructuring its gameplay systems rather than simply adding content. The experience is deeper and more fluid in terms of character development and system interaction, with a marked improvement in overall design, visual identity, and sound. However, the endgame content and narrative still need further refinement. The result is a powerful expansion that redefines the core gameplay and sets it on a more mature path.
Everyeye.it - Italian - 7.5 / 10
We recommend it without hesitation only to the most ardent fans of the series—those who have been with the game since launch and who will find in these new mechanics the fuel for hundreds more hours in the bowels of Sanctuary.
Fextralife - 9 / 10
While not the content powerhouse some may have expected in terms of landmass, Diablo 4 is such a massive game that finally giving player creativity free reign via loot refinement systems makes it well worth playing.
GRYOnline.pl - Paweł Woźniak - Polish - 7.5 / 10
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred was a lot of fun; new systems are deeper and more interesting than those in Vessel of Hatred, the Warlock is a fantastic class, and the narrative issues in the campaign are of little consequence in this genre. It’s just a shame that the expansion doesn’t so much expand the game into new, uncharted territory as simply patch up its shaky foundations.
Game Sandwich - John Hansen - 8 / 10
As someone who could not tell you the ins and outs of every little thing Diablo IV does, I really enjoyed Lord of Hatred. The warlock class was a lot of fun to play as, and the new campaign’s story was quite hard-hitting in spite of being a little too simple. For the hardcore player, there are new additions like the war table that should really excite your endless grinding, but the more casual crowd, like myself, can enjoy the ride without much dragging down the experience.
GamePro - Stephan Zielke - German - 83 / 100
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GameRant - Drew Swanson - 9 / 10
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred provides a thrilling conclusion to the Age of Hatred arc and bolsters its endgame content with some very welcome additions.
GameSpew - Richard Seagrave - 9 / 10
After the disappointing Vessel of Hatred, Blizzard redeems itself with Lord of Hatred, delivering an expansion that serves up a very enjoyable campaign, two new character classes, and some new features that truly enrich the Diablo 4 experience. There's a sense of completeness and finality to the this expansion that makes it a must for Diablo 4 fans.
Gameblog - French - 8 / 10
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Gamer Guides - Nathan Garvin - 83 / 100
With a compelling story, two new characters, a new region to explore, reworked skill trees and new gameplay mechanics, Lord of Hatred is an enticing offering for power gamers and those invested in the narrative, but anybody else may not find the limited endgame compelling enough for another bite at the apple.
Gamer Social Club - Fraser Billington - 9 / 10
Lord of Hatred brings with it so much content and changes its going to keep me busy for a very long time. Exploring the mechanics of new classes while slaying hell itself will never get old. With endless loot and endgame loops, Lord of Hatred will be loved by any fan of Diablo.
Hobby Consolas - Spanish - 85 / 100
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IGN - Travis Northup - 8 / 10
Lord of Hatred gives Diablo 4 an extremely satisfying conclusion, excellent changes to build crafting, and an endgame that could potentially go the distance.
INVEN - Jaihoon Jeong - Korean - 8.7 / 10
'Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred' serves as the concluding chapter that brings the first major storyline of Diablo IV, which began in 2023, to an end. Over the past three years, the live service has stabilized and the previously incomplete narrative has been brought to a close. However, in terms of gameplay content, it stands out as a bold expansion that breaks away from stagnation and introduces significant changes.
Loot Level Chill - Mick Fraser - 8.5 / 10
As the conclusion to Diablo 4’s narrative, Lord of Hatred excels. It tells a tighter, more personal, and features an incredibly satisfying and powerful final act.
MMORPG.com - Lucas White - 8 / 10
Considering how frustrating and depressing it can be to engage with something under the Microsoft/Activision/Blizzard banner these days, it’s nice to have something that speaks to struggling against powerful, hateful forces and the motivations behind that fight, rather than just being a fun distraction. I appreciate the opportunity of being encouraged to think.
Merlin'in Kazanı - Murat Oktay - Turkish - 89 / 100
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Niche Gamer - Jonathan White - 8 / 10
If you’re upgrading from the base game and didn’t buy Vessel of Hatred, you’ll be thrilled to find out that it comes included if you buy Lord of Hatred, which makes the $40 asking price a bit easier to swallow.
Output Lag - Steven Mills - 9 / 10
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred delivers an epic conclusion to the Hatred saga that Diablo IV's central story deserved. The narrative payoff is substantial and is my favorite Diablo story thus far. Skovos is gorgeous, and both new classes alone are sure to claim hundreds of hours from me over the next few months. And with the new endgame and reworked classes, those who've been with Sanctuary through its darkest hours can rest easy that the expansion rewards that investment completely. In a nutshell, Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred takes what's always been a great ARPG and pushes it to the top of a very crowded mountain.
PC Gamer - Tyler Colp - 90 / 100
Lord of Hatred brings a campaign packed with thrills and a systems refresh that revolutionizes the loot chase.
PCGamesN - Lauren Bergin - 8 / 10
Diablo 4 Lord of Hatred feels, in many ways, like the end. With evil seemingly vanquished for now, a reworked endgame that really does have everything you need, and eight unique, exciting classes, I'm not sure where Blizzard goes from here. It does, however, serve as a climatic end to a saga of strife and woe, and while its narrative didn't quite hit the spot for me, I can't wait to explore more of what Skovos has to offer.
PCMag - 5 / 5
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PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 9 / 10
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred is a very strong expansion that not only advances the story and introduces a brilliant Sorcerer and a powerful Paladin, but also finally brings some order to the end-game and gives players plenty of reasons to stay in Sanctuary for longer. It’s not perfect, but Blizzard has laid solid foundations for the further development of the whole of Diablo 4. It’s an expansion that leaves you wanting more in the best possible sense: it ends, and you simply want more.
Polygon - Oli Welsh - Unscored
Lord of Hatred is a good, meaty expansion. But I find it striking that I enjoyed playing the Paladin through the otherwise unremarkable season 11 more than playing the Warlock through Lord of Hatred's campaign.
SavePoint Gaming - Jake Su - 8.5 / 10
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred is the kind of expansion that fans needed, pairing a stronger campaign with meaningful class and systems changes that make Sanctuary worth returning to and continue fighting for.
Seasoned Gaming - Ainsley Bowden - 8.5 / 10
Lord of Hatred is exactly what I wanted out of the next chapter of Diablo 4. With a compelling story, new classes and activities, and broader build-crafting than ever before, this is Diablo 4 at its best.
Stevivor - Hamish Lindsay - 6.5 / 10
On its own, Lord of Hatred isn’t worth your time. If you think of it as unlocking another year of Diablo 4 content though, and resolve to put the shambolic events of the expansion behind you, then it’s fine. It continues to build and improve upon the game’s core systems and, at the end of the day, it’s still a ton of fun to blow up hordes of demons.
The Games Machine - Alessandro Alosi - Italian - 8 / 10
Lord of Hatred doesn't revolutionize Diablo IV, it just brings order. The endgame is less rambling thanks to War Plans, while the various game systems benefit from other new features and a renewed depth. There are some less convincing aspects, but overall it's a step in the right direction.
The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 10 / 10
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred stands as one of the best Diablo, nay, Blizzard expansions ever made. Its superb narrative, incredible new classes, and several revamped features feel like a new beginning for Diablo.
TheGamer - Allyson Cochran - 4 / 5
Bright skies, calm waters, and a version of Sanctuary that hasn’t collapsed yet. So when it inevitably does, when Mephisto tightens his grip, and everything starts to crumble, it lands with more weight than it otherwise would.
Total Gaming Network - Shawn Zipay - 5 / 5
The Lord of Hatred expansion is a strong and confident continuation of the journey that began three years ago, and it manages to refine the experience in almost every way. While I had once believed that Vessel of Hatred was the pinnacle of Diablo 4, I am happy to say that I was wrong. Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred shows that was still a lot of room left to grow, refine, and improve.
Twisted Voxel - Muhammad Ali Bari - 8 / 10
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred delivers some meaningful improvements and additions, but stops short of fully addressing long-standing issues.
VG247 - Sherif Saed - 4 / 5
Lord of Hatred accomplishes the near-impossible task of delivering a game-changing expansion that fundamentally improves on the core of Diablo 4, and a weighty narrative conclusion that so brilliantly balances spectacle with emotional heft. Essential for any fan of ARPGs.
Video Chums - A.J. Maciejewski - 8.7 / 10
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred contains a huge and unforgettable campaign along with so many tweaks, new systems, additional challenges, and awesome boss fights that it makes me wish more developers would pour this much love and attention into their expansions. 😈
WellPlayed - Ash Wayling - 8.5 / 10
Boasting a profound reinvention that overhauls the game's core player power routes and lacklustre endgame options, Lord of Hatred is a masterful recalibration that replaces "more of the same" with genuine mechanical depth, making it an essential evolution for veterans and the perfect demonic olive branch for the sceptics.
ZTGD - Augusto A. - 6.5 / 10
Diablo IV’s dopamine-infused gameplay struggles to carry the weight of new systems stacked on top of old content, and it’s disappointing to see basic improvements being passed off as major expansion features. Lord of Hatred’s features are welcome from a quality-of-life perspective, but as an expansion it leaves much to be desired.
