Diablo 5 Timing: Blizzard's Fergusson on Diablo 4's Longevity

At the DICE Summit 2025, Rod Fergusson, the general manager of the Diablo series, opened his talk by addressing one of the franchise's most notorious failures: Error 37. This error, which surfaced at the launch of Diablo 3, prevented countless players from accessing the game due to an overwhelming number of simultaneous logins. The backlash was significant, with the error even becoming a meme within the gaming community. Blizzard eventually resolved the issue, and Diablo 3 went on to be a success. However, the incident left a lasting impression, prompting Blizzard and Fergusson to prioritize preventing similar issues in the future, especially as Diablo evolves into a more complex live service model with frequent updates, ongoing seasons, and regular expansions. Diablo 4, in particular, has fully embraced this live service approach, making the avoidance of another Error 37-like catastrophe crucial for its long-term viability.

Diablo, Immortal

During the DICE Summit 2025 in Las Vegas, I had the opportunity to speak with Rod Fergusson following his presentation titled "Evolving Sanctuary: Building a Resilient Live-Service Game in Diablo IV." In his talk, Fergusson outlined four key strategies for ensuring the resilience of Diablo 4: scaling the game effectively, maintaining a steady flow of content, being flexible with design purity, and keeping players informed about upcoming updates, even if it means sacrificing some surprises.

Fergusson emphasized the importance of keeping players engaged over the long term, highlighting the shift from the traditional model of numbered releases to a more sustained live service approach. This shift is evident in the detailed content roadmaps and season planning, which contrast sharply with the update strategies of previous Diablo games.

When asked about the future of Diablo 4, Fergusson expressed a desire for the game to remain relevant for years, though he stopped short of calling it "eternal." He drew a comparison to Destiny, which initially aimed for a ten-year lifespan but adjusted its plans. Fergusson stressed the importance of respecting players' time and commitment, ensuring they see a clear path forward for the game.

Fergusson also shared insights into the development timeline for Diablo 4's expansions. He noted that the second expansion, Vessel of Hatred, was delayed to 2026 due to the need to prioritize immediate updates and the first season's launch. This experience taught him the value of cautious planning and not committing to specific timelines too early.

Ruining the Surprise...on Purpose

Fergusson's approach to transparency is a key aspect of Diablo 4's development. He discussed the use of content roadmaps and the Public Test Realm (PTR), where players can test upcoming patches before they go live. Initially, the team was hesitant about spoiling surprises, but Fergusson now believes that it's better to "ruin the surprise for 10,000 people so that millions of people have a great season." This philosophy extends to handling data leaks, where he acknowledges that while some players might see spoilers, the overall experience for the majority remains intact.

One of the challenges Fergusson mentioned is expanding the PTR to console players, currently limited to PC due to certification issues. However, with the support of parent company Xbox, Blizzard is working to overcome these obstacles. Additionally, Fergusson highlighted the benefits of Diablo 4's inclusion on Game Pass, which helps attract a broader player base by removing entry barriers, similar to the decision to release the game on Steam alongside Battle.net.

All Hours Diablo

In our conversation, I also asked Fergusson about his personal gaming habits and whether he had played Path of Exile 2, given the comparisons to Diablo 4. He dismissed the comparisons, noting that the two games are fundamentally different, but acknowledged the need to consider players who enjoy both titles. He mentioned feedback from players requesting that the seasons of both games not overlap, allowing them to enjoy each without having to choose between them.

Fergusson shared his top three games of 2024 by playtime: NHL 24, Destiny 2, and, unsurprisingly, Diablo 4, with a staggering 650 hours on his personal account. He currently plays as a Companion Druid and has recently started a Dance of Knives Rogue, showcasing his deep passion for the game. Fergusson's dedication to Diablo is evident, as he continues to play it extensively even outside of work, driven by the game's engaging mechanics and his personal connection to it.