Diablo 4’s second expansion, Lord of Hatred, is receiving positive early reviews. Critics are calling it the best the game has seen since its June 2023 launch. This is a big shift for a title that had a 67% positive rating from 22,516 Steam reviews before the release.
Lead system designer Colin Finer set expectations ahead of launch. He told GamingBolt that “so many of the features are a love letter to Diablo and its players.” This positions Lord of Hatred as a planned improvement, rather than just another content update.
The reviews back up that goal. Push Square’s review roundup found a strong consensus that the expansion marks a real high point for the franchise’s modern era. Many outlets echoed the sentiment that this is “the best Diablo 4 has ever been.” The base game launched with a Metacritic score of 90, setting a high standard.
Blizzard’s approach to expansions has been evolving. The first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, tackled criticisms about content depth and build diversity. Lord of Hatred seems to build on those improvements. This suggests the development team is honing in on a clearer direction for the game’s long-term live service model.
However, the positive reviews clash with some player complaints about pricing. Long-time owners who bought the base game and Vessel of Hatred separately face higher costs for Lord of Hatred than new players. Those new players can grab a bundle with everything for around $100. This pricing disparity is causing tension in the community, despite the expansion receiving good reviews.
| Base Game Metacritic Score | 90 |
| Steam Review Sentiment | 67% Positive |
| Total Steam Reviews | 22,516 |
| Current Steam Player Count | 5,050 |
| Base Game Price (Steam) | $49.99 |
One Steam reviewer expressed the pricing frustration clearly: “The price for Lord of Hatred for people who have Diablo + Vessel of Hatred expansion is insane vs the collection which comes with everything. New players get everything for like $100 while players from the beginning…” This sentiment popped up often in community forums and review threads leading up to launch.
What To Watch
- Steam review trajectory: The 67% positive baseline is relatively low for a Blizzard flagship title. Whether Lord of Hatred’s critical momentum translates into improved user sentiment will be an important indicator of the expansion’s long-term success.
- Blizzard’s response to pricing backlash: The bundle pricing issue has generated enough noise that Blizzard might feel pressured to offer loyalty discounts or upgrade pricing for existing owners. Keep an eye out for any official statements or pricing changes in the weeks after launch.
- Player count recovery: Seeing a concurrent player count of 5,050 on Steam is modest for a game of this caliber. A significant spike in player numbers after launch would indicate that Lord of Hatred is successfully attracting back lapsed players, which is the ultimate test for any live service expansion.
Marcus Webb
Marcus Webb covers esports, competitive gaming, and community stories for Explosion.com. A former semi-professional Counter-Strike player, Marcus transitioned to journalism 5 years ago and has since covered major tournaments including The International, League of Legends Worlds, and the Valorant Champions Tour. He brings a player's perspective to competitive gaming coverage and is known for his data-driven analysis of player performance and meta shifts.
