Diablo 4 fans are split on BlizzCon 2026's big 'freak out' promise
The believers, the skeptics, and one PTR clue caught in the middle.
Recently, we discussed Brent Gibson's famous quote "they're gonna freak out at BlizzCon when we announce…" and made our own predictions as to what it means for Diablo 4.
The forums have spent the last few weeks picking apart this quote as well. There are multiple players who try to manage expectations and call out that seasonal content or quality-of-life updates are not going to be a "freak out" moment for players. However, even with a lot of reasons as to why anticipation should be kept in check, there are still plenty of players who would wish for a much bigger announcement...
Why Diablo 4 Needs to Go Big
Some players take the game director's message very seriously and build full wishlists of what would blow BlizzCon out of the water.
These include a Diablo 1 remaster, a Diablo MMO project, a Diablo 4 expansion with Diablo as the main character, the long-wished-for Witch Doctor return, and so on. There are many opportunities to create waves in the Diablo 4 community, and although Diablo is getting two dedicated panels across the BlizzCon weekend, both are billed as 'Developer Updates' rather than a massive showcase, so we are not expecting an overwhelming amount of detail. Nevertheless, this could be the perfect time for one or two well-thought-through teaser trailers.
There is a clear wish for Diablo 4 to compete in the ARPG world against Path of Exile 2. Players expect more from the game team than just running the same cycles over and over again.
Why Some Fans Are Not Buying It
This leads us to the part of the community that would rather you manage your expectations. We have seen this movie before, so a lot of people are saying not to hold your breath after how the last season went. Plenty of players are voicing that warning, and they might be right.
As Necrobutcher said, "Seeing how things are going with Season 14 and Season 15 PTR, I do not have much hope for anything Diablo related."
Should we expect just The Witcher collab, some new cosmetics, or some quality-of-life updates as headliners? The most disappointing may be getting QoL updates disguised as new shiny features when these features should have worked properly and been well thought through beforehand (War Plans, for example).
The Story of Season 15
Given that many of the seasonal mechanics were kept hidden during the Season 15 PTR, it is worth theorizing about what Blizzard is keeping under wraps. We could get a new chapter in the story, and a new evil could make an appearance. Is it Diablo? Is it Baal? Some players, like Iggi, clearly discussed the random portals appearing, showcasing an underlying system.
Our prediction is right in between. Story teasing would make a lot of sense in terms of timeline. We have all played the Lord of Hatred campaign and want to know what happens next. What are we building towards? Who is our next enemy? Is Season 15 the beginning of that? Or is BlizzCon 2026 the one that will let us in on the next chapter of Diablo 4?
There is a lot to look forward to at BlizzCon, and there is also still time to make your own predictions. What would make you excited enough to return to Diablo 4 for Season 15?