Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred serves as the first major expansion to the action RPG Diablo IV, bringing fresh content to players on PS4 and PS5. This bundle enhances the core experience with a new class, additional story elements, and updated mechanics that build on the hack-and-slash foundation of battling demons in a dark fantasy world.
Gameplay
The expansion introduces the Spiritborn class, a versatile fighter from the Nahantu jungle who wields glaives, quarterstaves, and polearms with expert precision. Players channel abilities from four Spirit Guardians to adapt combat strategies, switching between them for mobility, ferocity, or defensive plays. Mercenaries join as recruitable allies that level up alongside the character, offering unique skills like crowd control or damage boosts during fights.
Runewords return as a key mechanic, allowing customization of gear with powerful effects. The core loop revolves around exploring dense jungles, slaying hordes of enemies, and looting gear to refine builds. Base game updates refine progression with shared Paragon levels across characters, adjusted difficulty tiers, and expanded skills for all classes.
Game Modes
The main campaign extends the narrative, focusing on pursuing Neyrelle amid Mephisto's corrupting influence, with battles against new demons and tribal foes in misty jungles. Dark Citadel stands out as a cooperative end-game dungeon where teams coordinate to tackle multi-stage challenges and earn rewards.
Players also delve into new dungeons and strongholds scattered across the Nahantu region, fighting through environmental hazards and boss encounters. The Party Finder tool simplifies grouping for these activities, supporting both solo and multiplayer approaches in seasonal or eternal realms.
Updates and Current State
Since its release, Vessel of Hatred has integrated with ongoing seasons, including quality-of-life improvements like streamlined leveling and itemization changes. As of 2026, the game continues to receive support through seasonal content that introduces themed events and balance tweaks, keeping the community engaged.
Key mechanics such as realm-wide Paragon progression ensure that time invested in one character benefits others, while new difficulty systems challenge veteran players. The expansion remains tied to the base game's evolving ecosystem, with no signs of slowing down in terms of developer updates.
Is It Worth Playing?
For those who enjoy action RPGs with deep customization and cooperative elements, this expansion adds meaningful depth to Diablo IV. It has garnered strong player reception, holding an 86 average critic score with 91 percent of reviewers recommending it. The new Spiritborn class and Dark Citadel mode provide fresh reasons to return, especially if you appreciate story-driven campaigns and loot-focused grinding.
If you're new or returning after a break, the bundle offers an accessible entry point with permanent base game enhancements. However, it requires the original Diablo IV to play, making it ideal for committed fans rather than casual newcomers. Overall, it delivers value through its polished additions and sustained support.