News May 9, 2026

The review embargo has lifted for Diablo 4's Lord of Hatred expansion, and the general press reviews are now publicly available. The expansion has landed with a Metacritic aggregate score of 81 based on 31 reviews from various gaming outlets, indicating generally favorable reception as players await the upcoming release.

The scores range broadly across publications, reflecting varied perspectives on the expansion's content. GamingTrend gave one of the highest marks at 95, while Adrenaline, Console Creatures, Retcon, Wccftech, PC Gamer, and Game Rant all scored it at 90. Notable outlets like IGN landed at 80, with lower scores from Stevivor (65) and ZTGD (65). TheGamer awarded the expansion a 4 out of 5 rating.

What Changed

With the review embargo lifting, players now have comprehensive third-party assessments to inform their purchasing decisions ahead of launch. Key highlights from major publications include reflections on new content additions, narrative continuation, and mechanical adjustments introduced with the expansion.

What This Means for Players

The aggregate score of 81 places Lord of Hatred among solid expansions in the ARPG space, though individual review scores suggest varying opinions on specific aspects of the content. Players on the fence about purchasing can use these reviews to gauge whether the new content aligns with their interests. The spread between high marks (90+) and lower scores (65-70) indicates that the expansion's value proposition may depend heavily on what players prioritize in their Diablo 4 experience.

What's Next

A developer live stream is scheduled for Thursday where Blizzard will shed more light on endgame systems and changes coming with the expansion. This broadcast represents a final opportunity for players to see additional details before launch, particularly regarding progression systems that reviewers noted varied opinions on.