Rod Fergusson on Diablo 5: 'Diablo 4 Should Last Years, Not Forever'

At the DICE Summit 2025, Rod Fergusson, the general manager of the Diablo series, kicked off his talk by addressing one of the franchise's most notorious setbacks: Error 37. This infamous error plagued the launch of Diablo 3, leaving countless players unable to access the game due to an overwhelming influx of simultaneous logins. The widespread frustration and ensuing memes led to significant criticism of Blizzard's launch strategy. Despite this rocky start, Blizzard managed to resolve the issue, and Diablo 3 eventually found success after extensive efforts.

However, the memory of Error 37 has driven Blizzard and Fergusson to ensure that such a debacle does not recur, especially as Diablo evolves into a more intricate live service model. With Diablo 4, the series has fully embraced the live service approach, featuring frequent updates, ongoing seasons, and scheduled major expansions. The stakes are high; another launch mishap like Error 37 could be devastating for Diablo 4's ambitions to become a lasting live service juggernaut.

Diablo, Immortal

During my conversation with Fergusson at the DICE Summit 2025 in Las Vegas, following his presentation titled "Evolving Sanctuary: Building a Resilient Live-Service Game in Diablo IV," he outlined four crucial elements for maintaining the resilience of Diablo 4: effective scaling, continuous content updates, flexibility in design purity, and transparent communication about future plans.

Fergusson emphasized the importance of retaining players consistently over the long term, a significant shift from the traditional Diablo model of sporadic updates and expansions. This new approach reflects a broader trend in the gaming industry, where major titles are designed to evolve continuously rather than relying on periodic sequels.

When asked about the longevity of Diablo 4, Fergusson expressed his vision for the game to remain active for many years, though he stopped short of declaring it eternal. He highlighted the need for players to see a clear roadmap for the game, acknowledging the significant time investment required to play Diablo and the importance of respecting that commitment.

Fergusson also reflected on the long gaps between previous Diablo releases and noted that the aggressive update schedule planned for Diablo 4 represents a new direction for the series. He joined Blizzard in 2020, bringing his experience from leading the Gears franchise, and advocates for a forward-looking approach without overcommitting to distant timelines.

For instance, during his DICE Summit talk, Fergusson announced that the second expansion for Diablo 4, Vessel of Hatred, would not arrive until 2026, a delay from the initially planned yearly expansion schedule. This adjustment was necessary to allocate resources to the live game and its first season. When pressed about whether 18 months would become the standard for future expansions, Fergusson remained non-committal, emphasizing the importance of internal certainty before making public announcements.

Ruining the Surprise…on Purpose

Fergusson's cautious approach extends to transparency, a key aspect of Diablo 4's development. He discussed the upcoming content roadmap, set to be revealed in April, and the Public Test Realm (PTR), where players can test upcoming patches before their official release. Initially hesitant about spoiling surprises, Fergusson has come to believe that transparency benefits the majority of players.

He explained, "You just realize that it's better to ruin the surprise for 10,000 people so that millions of people have a great season." He acknowledged that even if a PTR test goes poorly, it's preferable to a prolonged recovery from a surprise update gone wrong.

Fergusson also discussed the challenges of expanding the PTR to console players, currently limited to PC via Battle.net due to certification issues. However, with support from parent company Xbox, Blizzard is working to overcome these challenges. He also highlighted the benefits of Diablo 4's inclusion on Game Pass, which removes entry barriers and attracts a continuous stream of new players, unlike the pay-gated model of the main game.

All Hours Diablo

As our conversation concluded, I inquired about Fergusson's recent gaming habits, particularly whether he had played Path of Exile 2. He dismissed comparisons between that game and Diablo 4, emphasizing their differences. However, he acknowledged the feedback from players who enjoy both games and the need to schedule seasons thoughtfully to allow players to enjoy both without overlap.

Fergusson shared his top three games of 2024 by playtime: NHL 24 in third, Destiny 2 in second, and, unsurprisingly, Diablo 4 in first. With 650 hours of playtime on his home retail account, not including work hours, Fergusson's dedication to Diablo is clear. He mentioned playing as a Companion Druid and a Dance of Knives Rogue, underscoring his deep engagement with the game.

"It's something about the habit of the game," he said, explaining how the routine of daily activities in games like NHL and Destiny 2, as well as his long-standing love for Diablo, keeps him coming back. His passion for the game, both professionally and personally, drives his vision for Diablo 4's future as a resilient and engaging live service.