Diablo 4 devs confirm shortened Season 5 will pave the way for DLC and Season 6

Diablo 4 developers have confirmed that Season 6 is planned to launch in conjunction with the Vessel of Hatred expansion. This means a shorter run time for the upcoming Season 5.

Diablo 4 Season 4 has been the most eventful content update in the game’s relatively short lifespan. The plethora of changes introduced — such as more robust Helltides, deeper crafting mechanics, and improved inventory management — have fundamentally altered the game.

It doesn’t seem like Blizzard is done with these game-changing alterations, however. The implementation of the second-ever PTR to test features for Diablo 4 Season 5 hints that even more drastic improvements are on the way.

Despite this revelation regarding Season 5, it appears that it will have a shorter run than its predecessors. Turns out, Diablo 4’s Vessel of Hatred expansion is partially responsible for the speedy seasonal change.

Blizzard Entertainment

Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred looks to be shaking the game up in unexpected ways.

In an interview with Windows Central, Diablo 4 Game Manager Rod Fergusson shared plans for Diablo 4 Season 5 and 6. In doing so, he may have revealed more than he meant to.

“We know what’s coming in season 5 and we’re really excited about what that’s going to do,” Fergusson said. “And then season 6 is at the same time as the expansion and we’ve got cool ideas for that too that we’re currently playing and testing right now.”

With Diablo 4 Season 5 is set to launch on August 6 when Season 4 finally reaches its end. Season 6 and the Vessel of Hatred expansion are planned to go live on October 8.

This means Season 5 will be significantly shorter than its predecessors. The team at Blizzard has previously stated that the aim is for seasons in Diablo 4 to run for approximately 12 weeks, but Season 5 will fall short at only nine weeks.

Whether this will have any impact on Diablo 4 Season 5’s suite of activities and rewards remains to be seen. A proper reveal is still a while off with the current focus being on the Vessel of Hatred expansion and a showcase of the new Spiritborn Class set for July 18.