Diablo 4 has rolled out Season 8, introducing a wave of free updates that pave the way for the game’s second expansion, slated for release in 2026.

However, the game’s dedicated community is voicing frustration. These passionate players, eager for bold new features, revamped mechanics, and innovative gameplay, have been vocal about their dissatisfaction with the nearly two-year-old title. While casual players enjoy mowing down enemies without diving into complex strategies, the core fanbase—veteran players who obsess over meta builds and play consistently—demands more depth and innovation from Blizzard.

The release of Blizzard’s first-ever 2025 roadmap for Diablo 4 sparked significant backlash. Fans expressed disappointment over the lack of compelling new content for Season 8 and beyond, raising concerns about whether the game can maintain their engagement through 2025.

The online debate grew heated, prompting a Diablo community manager to respond directly in the main Diablo 4 subreddit thread: “We kept some roadmap details vague to allow for ongoing development,” they explained. “This isn’t the full picture for 2025 :)” Even former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra, now a corporate leader at Microsoft, joined the conversation, offering his perspective on the matter.

Season 8 arrives amid this tension, bringing its own set of polarizing changes. A major overhaul aligns Diablo 4’s battle pass with Call of Duty’s, allowing players to unlock rewards non-linearly. However, the revised pass offers less virtual currency, limiting players’ ability to fund future passes.

In an in-depth IGN interview, Diablo 4 lead live game designer Colin Finer and lead seasons designer Deric Nunez address the roadmap backlash, confirm long-awaited skill tree updates, and clarify the controversial battle pass adjustments.