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 notable setbacks: Error 37. This error, infamous from the launch of Diablo 3, barred countless players from accessing the game due to an overwhelming influx of users. The resulting backlash and subsequent memes highlighted the launch's issues, but Blizzard eventually overcame these challenges, turning Diablo 3 into a success. Fergusson and his team are keen on preventing such incidents as Diablo evolves into a more intricate live service model with Diablo 4, featuring regular updates, ongoing seasons, and planned expansions. The potential recurrence of such an error could prove disastrous, particularly as Blizzard aims to maintain Diablo 4's longevity beyond its major content drops, striving to make it a premier live service game.
Diablo, Immortal
Following his keynote, "Evolving Sanctuary: Building a Resilient Live-Service Game in Diablo IV," at the DICE Summit 2025 in Las Vegas, I had the chance to discuss with Fergusson. In his talk, he outlined four crucial strategies for ensuring Diablo 4's resilience: scaling the game effectively, maintaining a steady flow of content, embracing design flexibility, and keeping the community informed about upcoming features, even at the cost of maintaining surprises.
Fergusson emphasized the importance of keeping players engaged over the long term, contrasting this approach with the traditional model of releasing new numbered games every few years. Diablo 4 is set to embrace the live service model fully, with detailed content roadmaps and seasons planned well in advance.
When asked about the future of Diablo 4, whether it would be eternal or eventually give way to Diablo 5, Fergusson indicated a long-term commitment to the game. "We want it to be around for years," he remarked, drawing a comparison to Destiny's initial ten-year plan but expressing a more flexible approach. He highlighted the significant time gaps between previous Diablo releases but underscored the unique update strategy and his leadership's impact on Diablo 4.
Fergusson shared insights on the development timeline, revealing that the second expansion, Vessel of Hatred, would not arrive until 2026, delayed from the initial yearly expansion plan. This adjustment came as resources were shifted to address immediate needs following the game's launch and its first season. When pressed about future expansion timelines, Fergusson was cautious, citing past experiences with premature announcements. "I learned my lesson about calling the shot too early," he explained, indicating a preference for providing general guidance rather than specific dates.
Ruining the Surprise...on Purpose
Transparency is a key focus for Fergusson and his team, with plans to unveil a content roadmap in April and utilize the Public Test Realm (PTR) for upcoming patches. Initially hesitant about spoiling surprises, Fergusson now advocates for transparency, believing it's better to "ruin the surprise for 10,000 people so that millions of people have a great season." This approach extends to managing data leaks, where the impact on a small portion of the community is weighed against the overall player experience.
Fergusson also discussed expanding the PTR to consoles, a move complicated by certification challenges but supported by their parent company, Xbox. He highlighted the benefits of having Diablo 4 on Game Pass, which removes entry barriers and attracts a steady stream of new players, a strategy also seen with the game's release on Steam.
All Hours Diablo
In our concluding discussion, Fergusson shared his recent gaming experiences. He dismissed comparisons between Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2, noting their distinct differences but acknowledging the need to accommodate players of both games by staggering season releases.
Fergusson's top-played games of 2024 include NHL 24, Destiny 2, and, unsurprisingly, Diablo 4, with an impressive 650 hours of playtime on his personal account. His dedication to Diablo is evident, as he continues to enjoy the game outside of work, currently favoring the Companion Druid and Dance of Knives Rogue builds. His passion for the game underscores his commitment to its ongoing development and success.
