Diablo 4's Next Expansion: The Five Biggest Features Fans Want to See
Nov-22-2025 PSTWhat do we actually want from Diablo 4's next era?
Based on current developer commentary, player feedback, and long-standing franchise expectations, several major additions rise to the top. Some of these could be paid expansion features, while others could land in the free seasonal update that launches with it. Either way, these systems represent what many fans believe Diablo 4 needs most going into 2025.
Here are the five biggest features players want to see-ranked from exciting to absolutely essential.
5. A New Class, and All Signs Point to the Paladin
Let's get the obvious one out of the way first: the new class. Every Diablo expansion introduces a new playable archetype, and for Diablo 4, the betting odds strongly favor one thing:
The Paladin.
Between datamining, cinematic hints, lore breadcrumbs, and the simple popularity of holy warriors across the franchise, the Paladin feels like the cleanest and most expected choice. But while the Diablo II Paladin is the clear foundation, many players hope Blizzard draws from multiple holy archetypes across the series.
Crusader-style armor and mounted combat from Diablo III
Valkyrie-like spear or javelin fantasy
Light/Dark switching mechanics, allowing players to swap between radiant and corrupted skill sets mid-combat
A hybrid holy warrior that mixes Paladin auras, Crusader defensive tools, and a new identity could easily become one of Diablo 4's most popular classes ever.
Even if it simply ends up as a modernized Diablo II Paladin, many fans believe this class alone will be a huge selling point for the expansion. But while a new class is important, it's far from the only feature players want.
4. A Full Reward System Overhaul and Meta Progression
Diablo 4's loot-driven gameplay has improved significantly since launch, but one criticism still remains:
Players get tons of loot, but not enough rewarding progression.
Many ARPGs-Path of Exile, Last Epoch, and even Diablo III-include some form of meta progression, where players gain persistent upgrades tied to specific content. Path of Exile's Atlas Trees are the gold standard: you play an activity, earn points, and customize that activity's difficulty, rewards, and structure.
Imagine Diablo 4 adopting something similar:
You run Infernal Hordes and unlock nodes that boost boss drops or allow unique-only reward chests.
You grind Nightmare Dungeons and unlock modifiers that guarantee more glyph XP or higher Sigil rarity.
You farm Helltides and unlock better cinder generation or improved mystery chest rolls.
However, such a system would require Blizzard to reduce the amount of loot currently dropping. Diablo 4 simply outputs too many items for meta progression to feel meaningful. A full reward overhaul-less loot, but more control-is actually a widely requested change.
Season 10 proved this point when Chaos Uniques allowed players to earn powerful items through many different activities rather than spamming ladder bosses. That freedom of choice was a huge factor in Season 10's success.
A structured meta progression system would build on that philosophy permanently.
3. A Kanai's Cube-Style System for Legendary Powers
One of Diablo III's most beloved features was the Kanai's Cube, a system that allowed players to extract legendary powers and equip them as passive effects. Diablo 4's Codex system already performs half of this function, which makes a Cube-like addition feel both logical and easy to implement.
The Diablo 4 version wouldn't need to be overly complicated:
Allow players to slot a few extra legendary aspects into a character-wide cube.
Pull the powers directly from the Codex.
Exclude stats-only the legendary effect would apply.
Possibly include certain unique effects, though this would be more complex.Why is this important?
Because Diablo 4's builds are extremely constrained by limited gear slots. Between Uniques, Mythics, and mandatory Aspects, players often have very little room to experiment. A cube solution expands creative freedom without breaking balance, because it adds effects-not more stats.
Blizzard has already said they want to move gameplay-defining modifiers off aspects and into the skill tree during future reworks. If that happens, a Cube system becomes even more viable, because aspects become more focused on utility and power rather than identity.
With more builds, more variety, and more ways to customize your character, a Cube system might be the single easiest way to deepen Diablo 4's buildcrafting.
2. New Gear Rarities: Sets, Chaos Armor, and More Chase Items
If there is one area where Diablo 4 still lags behind other ARPGs, it's gear diversity. While Mythics were a strong addition, players want more item types to chase-especially items that aren't just stat sticks but provide new build identity.
Set Items Feel Inevitable
Before launch, Blizzard confirmed that sets were planned, just not ready. Now that runes arrived in Vessel of Hatred, sets feel like the obvious next step.
Sets should NOT be:
mandatory for every build
raw power creep
Diablo III-style "build dictators"
Instead, sets should act as horizontal upgrades-optional, creative tools that expand rather than restrict build options.
Chaos Armor Should Return-Carefully
Chaos Armor was the breakout feature of Season 10. Always-max-rolled Uniques created an addictive chase and eliminated endless boss spam. Most players want Chaos Armor to return in some form, but it needs:
tuned-down power levels
rarity appropriate to its strength
potentially a limit of one equipped at a time
A controlled version of Chaos Armor could easily become Diablo 4's equivalent of PoE's chase items-rare, exciting, and build-defining.
More Rare Item Categories
Other ARPGs use multiple item tiers, situationally powerful gear, and rare conditional items to deepen endgame collection. Diablo 4 could benefit tremendously from broader item diversity, giving players more long-term goals across seasons and expansions.
1. New Endgame Systems-The One Feature Diablo 4 Needs Most
This is the big one.
More than new classes, more than new gear, more than meta progression-Diablo 4 desperately needs more endgame content.
While current systems like Helltides, Nightmare Dungeons, the Pit, and Infernal Hordes are solid, they can only be iterated on so many times before players crave something new. Other ARPGs thrive because they offer multiple distinct endgame loops.
Diablo 4 needs something bold. Something new. Something replayable and dynamic.
Infinite Dungeons
Imagine a massive, multi-level dungeon-50 floors, 100 floors, or even infinite depth-where difficulty ramps endlessly and rewards scale accordingly.
Full Roguelike Mode
A system where each "run" gives:
randomized boons
temporary buffs
vendor currency
build-shifting augments
Runs could start with your character at level 1, no gear, and scale into absurd power by the end. Flavor that combines ARPG buildcrafting with roguelike progression would fit Diablo perfectly.
Genre-Hybrid Systems
Why not borrow concepts from other genres?
Tower defense elements
Branching map progression
Multi-stage boss gauntlets
Resource-based excavation or delving systems
Endgame variety is what gives seasons longevity, and Diablo 4 has enormous room to expand in this department.
With a new expansion, there has never been a better time to introduce entirely new systems to sit beside the Pit, Helltides, and seasonal content.
Final Thoughts: A New Era for Diablo 4 Is Almost Here
A Paladin-style class seems almost guaranteed. Reward structure changes feel overdue. Buildcrafting expansions like a Cube system could redefine the meta. Gear diversification through sets, more Diablo 4 materials and Chaos Armor would give players new goals. And above all else, Diablo 4 needs new, bold, varied endgame content that extends replayability across seasons.
If Blizzard delivers even half of these updates, the next expansion could become the game's biggest moment since launch-and possibly its turning point toward long-term, lasting success.