Diablo 4 expansion Lord of Hatred launches April 28, sends players to Skovos

Gamesradar reports Diablo 4's second expansion, Lord of Hatred, will release on April 28 and takes players to the islands of Skovos — a rainforest and volcanic realm featured in the series for the first time.

Editor-in-Chief Josh West interviewed narrative designers Matt Burns and Eleni Rivera-Colon, who say the expansion follows Mephisto after he escapes soulstone imprisonment and takes over the body of Arakat. Burns described the new chapter as an opportunity to tie up long-running storylines and stage a confrontation with Mephisto, while the setting of Skovos — the oldest part of Sanctuary, first mentioned in Diablo 2 as the Amazon homeland and where Lillith created the firstborn — will be used to explore lore and culture. The expansion adds two new classes, the Paladin and an unnamed class some are speculating could be the Amazon.

Rivera-Colon said the team can "get really horrible, and I say that the best way possible" as Mephisto becomes more active, and Burns indicated the demon has come to Skovos to reach a place where he intends a profane ritual that could change humanity's fate. Gameplay changes confirmed include a raised level cap, a reworked skill tree with new variants for every class, and a loot filter; pre-ordering Lord of Hatred grants instant access to the Vessel of Hatred expansion, and the article suggests many players may return to Sanctuary later in 2026 if the expansion delivers.

Key Topics

Culture, Skovos, Mephisto, Paladin, Skill Tree