This article contains spoilers forDiablo 4: Vessel of Hatred’s ending.
Despite being in a bit of a lull in content since the release of Vessel of Hatred,Diablo 4Season 9 may provide fans with a bit of a bright spot regarding the next major expansion. Along with the new seasonal mechanics like Horadric Spells and Strongrooms,Diablo 4’s Sins of the Horadrim season has added what appears to be the most significant tease for its next expansion to date. IfDiablo 4Season 9 is indeed teasing what to expect from the game’s next major expansion, players could potentially be headed back to a fan-favoriteDiablo 3location.
Diablo 4is no stranger to including hints at future content and Easter Eggs for players to uncover. One of the most notable ongoing teases relates toDiablo 4’s mythical Cow Levelthat players have been attempting to uncover since the game launched. However, this latest hint towardsDiablo 4’s next major expansion provides a pretty clear direction to guide fan speculation, without outright confirming where the next DLC will take place.
Diablo 4 Season 9 Introduces an NPC That Seems to Herald the Next Major Expansion
Players Can Find Yvaine Preaching About The Prophet’s Return in Cerrigar
When players start their Season 9 journey, they will find themselves in the Scosglen capital of Cerrigar where a new NPC named Bryona will issue the incitingSins of the Horadrim quest. However, near this NPC is another new character named Yvaine, who can be seen preaching to a crowd of onlookers about the return of the Prophet. Speaking to her reveals that she has seen the Prophet and urges players to embark on a pilgrimage west to see him for themselves.
Players unfamiliar with the Vessel of Hatred expansion may shrug off this encounter as the ramblings of a zealot meant to add flavor to the world ofDiablo 4. However, with theending of Vessel of Hatredin mind, it’s clear that the Prophet Yvaine speaks of is Akarat, who is now possessed by Mephisto. This would align with her statement that the Prophet has returned, as Akarat is the prophet of the Zakarum faith who had long been dead by the timeDiablo 4’s events take place. As such, an apparent miracle like this would naturally warrant a renewed religious zeal that could form the foundation of a Church of Light-themed expansion.
Diablo 4’s Next Expansion May Be Headed Back to Westmarch
What makes this teaser even more interesting is the fact that Yvaine points toward Akarat being located somewhere far to the west, encouraging followers to make a pilgrimage to him for themselves. While an entire continent exists to the west ofDiablo 4’s current map, the location this NPC is most likely referring to is Westmarch.Diablo 3players are likely already familiar with Westmarch as the site of itsReaper of Souls expansion, but the region plays a much more significant role in the franchise’s lore and would be the ideal destination for players to face off against a Mephisto-possessed Akarat.
Westmarch was conquered by the Church of Light and grew to be the center of the Zakarum faith in the west. As such, it’s fitting that Akarat would return to the location where the Church’s influence is strongest, likely in an attempt to corrupt its followers through Mephisto’s control. Although there are plenty of other locations west ofDiablo 4’s map that could be the setting for the next expansion, such as Khanduras or Ivgorod, Westmarch is the most significant to the Zakarum and would be popular with fans ofDiablo 3after Vessel of Hatred brought players back toDiablo 2’s Kurast.
Diablo 4’s next expansion has been delayed until 2026, but no release date beyond this window has been given.
