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Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred

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Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Blizzard Entertainment
Director(s)Brent Gibson
SeriesDiablo
Platform(s)
ReleaseOctober 8, 2024
Genre(s)Action role-playing, hack and slash, dungeon crawler
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred is an upcoming first major expansion pack for the online-only action role-playing dungeon crawling game Diablo IV. It is scheduled to release on October 8, 2024, for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X and S, and Windows.[1]

Set in the newly introduced region of Nahantu, a jungle overrun by corruption and dark forces, Vessel of Hatred explores new narratives and challenges within the Diablo universe. The expansion introduces the Spiritborn class, a versatile new character with abilities derived from ancient jungle warriors. Players also experience a new endgame dungeon designed for cooperative play, alongside an array of new items, abilities, and enhancements to the Paragon system. The expansion aims to deepen the lore of Sanctuary, continuing the story of Diablo IV and expanding its world.[2]

Gameplay

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Vessel of Hatred expands the core gameplay of Diablo IV. The new region, Nahantu, is a jungle environment with new enemies, including monstrous insects and corrupted humanoids, each with distinct attack patterns. The environment includes dense foliage and hazardous terrain.[3]

The expansion includes a new endgame dungeon designed for cooperative play. This multi-phase challenge requires players to coordinate their abilities and strategies to overcome waves of enemies and bosses.[4] Successful completion of the dungeon rewards players with loot and titles. Itemization includes new legendary items and aspects that provide new bonuses and effects for specialized builds. Furthermore, the Paragon system has been enhanced with additional boards and glyphs, offering further opportunities for character customization.[5]

Spiritborn class

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The Spiritborn is a new class introduced in the upcoming Diablo IV expansion, Vessel of Hatred. This class draws on the powers of ancient jungle warriors from the Nahantu clan and excels in both ranged and melee combat. Spiritborn abilities are designed to focus on crowd control, mobility, and sustained damage output.[6]

The new Spiritborn class

The Spiritborn class features the ability to summon various Spirit Guardians, each providing distinct abilities.[7] For instance, the Jaguar Spirit, known as Rezoka, grants abilities such as Rake, Ravager, and Rushing Claw, which inflict substantial fire damage. The Gorilla Spirit offers immense strength and resilience, enhancing both damage output and survivability.[8] The Eagle Spirit improves agility and precision, allowing for swift and accurate strikes, while the Centipede Spirit provides speed and poison damage.[9]

A notable aspect of the Spiritborn class is its access to the Spirit Realm, a ghostly reflection of Sanctuary created by the prophet Akarat and his acolyte Ysevete. In the Spirit Realm, players can embody Spirit Guardians, gaining their full strength and unique abilities to confront various threats.[10] The class also introduces new mechanics such as the Incarnate Skill, which enables players to embody the traits of their chosen Spirit Guardian, offering both passive bonuses and powerful active abilities. Additionally, the Spirit Hall is a special location where players can commune with their Spirit Guardians to enhance their abilities. The Spiritborn class features a new resource system that allows for strategic play and customization.[11]

Plot

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Nahantu, the new region in Diablo IV

Nahantu, the new region in Vessel of Hatred, is a jungle corrupted by Hatred. Players explore ancient ruins, swamps, and towering trees to uncover the region's secrets. Nahantu includes side quests and world events for additional exploration and rewards. The region features a day-and-night cycle, affecting enemy types and challenges.[12][13]

The expansion serves as a continuation of the Diablo IV narrative, focusing on events subsequent to the base game. The story follows Neyrelle, a character associated with Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred. Players are tasked with tracking Neyrelle and confronting the growing influence of Hatred in the region of Nahantu. The plot is initiated by the theft of a soulstone containing the imprisoned Mephisto, leading to his malevolent power spreading through Sanctuary.[12]

Development

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Vessel of Hatred is being developed by Blizzard Team 3, the same group responsible for the base game. Development began shortly after the release of Diablo IV, with a focus on addressing player feedback and introducing substantial new content.[14] Blizzard Entertainment previously stated that the company plans to release a new expansion for the game every year.[15] A key goal for the development team was to create a new playable class that offered a distinct playstyle and fit seamlessly into the world of Sanctuary. The Spiritborn class was conceived as a result of this process, with abilities that complement the existing classes while providing fresh challenges and opportunities.[16][17]

The creation of the Nahantu region presented a new set of challenges for the development team. To achieve the desired atmosphere of a dense, overgrown jungle, the team utilized advanced environmental art techniques and procedural generation to create a visually stunning and immersive environment. The region's flora and fauna were carefully designed to reflect the corrupting influence of Hatred. Balancing the expansion's difficulty was another critical aspect of development.[18]

The team aimed to create challenging content that would appeal to both veteran players and those new to the series. To achieve this, they introduced a variety of difficulty levels for the new endgame dungeon and carefully tuned the power level of the new enemies and bosses. Throughout the development process, the team maintained close communication with the Diablo IV community. Player feedback was carefully considered when making design decisions, ensuring that the expansion would meet the expectations of the player base.[19]

Marketing and release

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Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred was first announced at BlizzCon 2023 on November 3, 2023.[20] The game later released a CGI trailer, and Blizzard Entertainment announced the release date for the game at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 9, 2024. Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred is scheduled to release on October 8, 2024, for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, and Windows.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred release date". PCGamesN. 2024-07-10. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  2. ^ "Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred - Everything We Know - Gaming.net". www.gaming.net. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  3. ^ updated, Iain Wilson last (2024-02-05). "Diablo 4 DLC: Everything we know about Vessel of Hatred". gamesradar. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  4. ^ Harradence, Michael (2024-07-19). "Diablo IV Spiritborn Class Will Join New Nahantu Region In Vessel Of Hatred Expansion On October 8". PlayStation Universe. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  5. ^ published, Samuel Tolbert (2023-11-03). "Every Diablo announcement at BlizzCon 2023: Vessel of Hatred expansion details, and more". Windows Central. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  6. ^ published, Tyler Colp (2024-07-26). "Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred—Everything we know about the action RPG's first expansion". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  7. ^ "Best Diablo 4 Spiritborn build". PCGamesN. 2024-08-05. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  8. ^ Shive, Chris (2024-07-18). "Spiritborn Class Materializes in Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  9. ^ Northup, Travis (2024-07-18). "Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred Spiritborn Class Hands-On: Everything You Need to Know". IGN. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  10. ^ Tassi, Paul. "We May Know What Class Diablo 4's Vessel Of Hatred Expansion Will Bring". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  11. ^ updated, Iain Wilson last (2024-02-05). "Diablo 4 DLC: Everything we know about Vessel of Hatred". gamesradar. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  12. ^ a b "Diablo 4 Campfire Chat Recap - November 4 - PureDiablo". 2023-11-04. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  13. ^ Wenerowicz, Dan (2024-06-12). "Everything We Know About Vessel of Hatred in Diablo 4". The Escapist. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  14. ^ Spindler, Emily (2023-11-03). "Diablo IV's First Expansion Vessel of Hatred Is Coming In Late 2024". Kotaku Australia. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  15. ^ "Diablo 4 Already Has Two Expansions In The Works". GameSpot. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  16. ^ published, Jennifer YoungContributions from Jez Corden (2024-06-11). ""We definitely heard the feedback, we know people are excited about Paladins." Diablo 4 lead talks about taking a new direction with the Spiritborn class and more about Vessel of Hatred". Windows Central. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  17. ^ "Diablo 4's second expansion is already in the works at Blizzard". Digital Trends. 2023-11-07. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  18. ^ Fiddis, Rachael (2024-06-11). "Diablo 4: Vessel Of Hatred Dev Teases "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" After Trailer Acclaim". DualShockers. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  19. ^ Diablo (2024-06-21). Diablo IV Campfire Chat - Season 5: PTR | June, 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-06 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ "Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred Announced; First Major Expansion". Gamepressure.com. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  21. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (2024-06-09). "Diablo 4's First Expansion, Vessel of Hatred, Reveals Cinematic Trailer, Release Date - Xbox Showcase 2024". IGN. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
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