Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred Launch Time: When You Can Play Tonight
The clock is ticking. Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred, the game’s second major expansion and the biggest update it has received since launch, goes live today. It’s an April 28th worldwide release, so here the United States that means later this evening. If you’re on Central time like I am, that’s 6PM tonight. Season 13 starts 30 minutes after that for some reason.
The Mephisto expansion features two new classes, a new region, a rebuilt endgame, the Horadric Cube, set bonuses, loot filters, and a skill tree overhaul for every class in the game. If you bounced off Diablo IV at any point over the last three years, this is the expansion designed to bring you back. Early reviews are calling it a triumphant expansion that gives the action RPG more depth than it’s ever had.
Here’s everything you need to know to be ready when the servers go live.
Diablo IV Lord of Hatred Global Launch Times
Lord of Hatred launches simultaneously worldwide at 4:00 PM PDT on April 27. Here’s what that means for you depending on where you live:
- 4:00 PM PDT (Los Angeles)
- 5:00 PM MDT (Denver)
- 6:00 PM CDT (Chicago)
- 7:00 PM EDT (New York)
- 12:00 AM BST, April 28 (London)
- 1:00 AM CEST, April 28 (Berlin/Paris)
- 8:00 AM JST, April 28 (Tokyo)
- 9:00 AM AEST, April 28 (Sydney)
If you’re in Asia or Oceania, you’re looking at early morning on April 28. Everyone in the Americas gets it the evening of April 27. Season 13 starts approximately 30 minutes after the expansion goes live, so if you’re creating a new Seasonal character, make sure you wait for the season to actually begin before locking in.
What a weird ass way to do a launch.
Preload Has Been Live
Preload for Lord of Hatred and the 3.0.0 patch has been live since April 23 at 4:00 PM PDT on Battle.net, Xbox, and PlayStation. If you haven’t started it yet, do it now. You can preload the 3.0.0 patch even if you haven’t purchased the expansion, since it contains the free updates like the skill tree rework, level cap increase, and loot filters.
A heads up on file size: without high-resolution assets, Diablo IV clocks in at about 95.6 GB. With the high-res textures, you’re looking at approximately 179 GB. Make sure you’ve cleared space.
Steam players should note that preload availability on Steam has been inconsistent. Those playing via Steam may need to wait until launch day to download. If you’re on Battle.net, Xbox, or PlayStation, you should already be good to go.
What’s Free and What Requires the Expansion
Not everything in Lord of Hatred requires a purchase. The following changes are free for all Diablo IV players with the 3.0.0 patch:
The level cap increase from 60 to 70. The complete skill tree rework with new skill variants for every class. Key Passives have been removed and their effects redistributed. Loot filters. New Torment difficulty tiers (Torment I through XII). New Paragon Board tiers. Gem rework (gems now add different types of multiplicative damage bonuses when socketed into weapons). The Artificer’s Tower (formerly The Tower) now drops actual loot rewards.
The following content requires the Lord of Hatred expansion: The Skovos region and new campaign. The Warlock class. War Plans endgame system. Echoing Hatred endgame event. The Horadric Cube crafting system. The Talisman and Charms system (set bonuses). Fishing. New dungeons, enemies, and settlements in Skovos.
The Paladin class has been available since Season 11 for anyone who pre-purchased the expansion.
Season 13: Season of Reckoning
Blizzard decided that the expansion was so big that Season 13 doesn’t need its own theme. There are no seasonal storylines or unique seasonal mechanics this time around. The focus is entirely on the Lord of Hatred campaign and the sweeping system changes that affect both Eternal and Seasonal realms. Two new season ranks have been added for rewards, and caches will contain gear, runes, sigils, seals, and charms.
If you plan to start the expansion, creating a Seasonal character is the move. You’ll get to experience the new campaign content while also progressing through seasonal chapters. Just make sure Season 13 has actually started (30 minutes after expansion launch) before you create your character.
The Overwatch Crossover
Overwatch is celebrating the Lord of Hatred launch with the Hatred’s Reckoning event, featuring five new legendary skins inspired by Diablo IV. The highlights include Ramattra as Mephisto, Brigitte as a Paladin, Lifeweaver as a Warlock, Mauga as a Druid, and the new hero Freja as a Rogue. Four returning skins from the previous Trials of Sanctuary event are also available. If you play both games, that’s worth checking out.
Quick Reminders Before You Log Begin
Don’t mass-salvage everything. Common and Magic items are now valuable Horadric Cube inputs. Learn what the Cube needs before you destroy potential crafting materials.
Know your class thresholds. Paladin Oaths lock in at Level 15. Warlock Soul Shards lock in at Level 30. Have a build direction in mind before you hit those levels because respeccing mid-season costs resources you’d rather spend elsewhere.
Complete the campaign before chasing endgame. War Plans, Echoing Hatred, the Talisman system, and the Horadric Cube are all gated behind finishing the Lord of Hatred story.
The expansion is available on PC (Battle.net and Steam), PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One with full cross-play and cross-progression.
If you already pre-purchased, you’re set. If you haven’t, the Standard Edition is available now. Every edition includes the Vessel of Hatred expansion (Spiritborn class, Nahantu, Mercenaries) if you don’t already own it, so new players and returning players who skipped the first expansion are covered.
We already published a complete guide to everything in Lord of Hatred covering both new classes, the Horadric Cube, Talisman system, War Plans, and a full day one action plan. Check that out if you want the deep dive.
See you in Skovos tonight. Drop a comment below or come talk builds and launch night chaos in the Vortex Effect forums.
