During the Xbox Games Showcase, Microsoft revealed the opening cinematic for Diablo 4’s first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, along with its release date: October 8, 2024.
The expansion centers on the prime evil Mephisto, who, as expected, has sinister plans for the beleaguered Sanctuary. Vessel of Hatred continues the narrative from Diablo 4, which launched to phenomenal sales in June 2023. Diablo 4 is Blizzard’s fastest-selling game to date, amassing over $666 million in revenue within its first week.
Cinematic director Doug Gregory explained that the trailer features Mephisto manipulating Neyrelle’s emotions, as depicted in the footage.
“The brutality is evident, but if the bond between Neyrelle and her mother isn’t believable, everything else falls flat,” said Gregory in an Xbox News Wire post. “The true anguish lies in believing your mother is alive for a fleeting moment, having that hope shattered, and realizing that the person by your side – Mephisto – can easily toy with your mental state.”
Since its release, Blizzard has issued multiple content updates in a seasonal format, with the latest being an overhauled loot system introduced in Season 4. Vessel of Hatred is the first of two known expansions for Diablo 4 currently in development at Blizzard.
By Andrej Kovacevic
Updated on 10th June 2024