Diablo 4 Season 11 makes DLC optional in name only

Diablo 4 Season 11 is shaping up to be quite an exciting update. Divine gifts, sanctifications, and new uniques and items will give players the power they need to face the Lesser Evils that will take center stage this season. Azmodan joins Andariel, Duriel and Belial as they challenge various aspects of the game, and with the vicious quartet finally complete with the arrival of this iconic boss, it will be 11. Diablo 4 it has the perfect setup to be a big hit.

However, this season has some fine print that might spoil the fun for some players. New encounter with Andariel is locked A vessel of hatredmeaning players who don't have the expansion can't fight the Lesser Evil or claim seasonal loot for defeating it. Diablo 4 Season 11 is the first instance of season-locked DLC content – and unfortunately, it likely won't be the last.

Some Diablo 4 Season 11 content requires Vessel of Hatred

Players without the first Diablo 4 expansion are left behind

Azmodan, one of the main antagonists Diablo 3finally joins his Lesser Evil kin Diablo 4 Season 11. All four of these terrifying foes invade various other activities throughout the game world, adding a fiendish and unexpected twist to otherwise familiar content:

Azmodan can appear in place of other world bosses.
Duriel replaces the Blood Maiden encounter in Helltides.
Belial takes over Diablo 4 The Pit of Artificers as his final boss, which summons his eyes all the time.
Andariel faces in Kurast Undercity.

That said, there's a big caveat to these special appearances of the Lesser Evil: only players with A vessel of hatred. Kurast Undercity is a special timed dungeon activity added in the expansion that can be accessed from forbidden zones by players who only have the base game. While Andariel can still be fought in her original version Diablo 4the new Kurast Undercity encounter – and all of its seasonal power and rewards – will be unavailable to those without the DLC.

no sale, Diablo 4 costs $50 and A vessel of hatred is $40. While both can be purchased together for $70, fans who already own one Diablo 4 again you have to spend almost as much as the base game to get the DLC.

diablo 4 season 11 belial eye pit of artificers

This is the first time that players who do not own the expansion will not be able to use one of the core features of the expansion. Unless Diablo 4 that will change before the season starts on Dec. 9, players without Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred not only will they lose that content, but they'll be at a disadvantage to their DLC-owning siblings.

Expansion-locked seasonal content in Diablo 4 was inevitable

Unfortunately, this development is hardly surprising. When A vessel of hatred upon initial release, Blizzard warned players that future seasons would eventually feature locked for DLC. As a live service game, it's only natural Diablo 4 would like to incorporate its seasonal content into its newest areas and features, but it remains unfortunate for fans who have yet to pick up A vessel of hatred.

All things considered, it's truly impressive that it took this long in the first place. Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred launched on October 8, 2024, i.e Diablo 4 it went over a year without having seasonal content locked as DLC. Unfortunately, time seems to be running out on Season 11, and now that the floodgates are open, fans will likely see more of this in the future.

The next era of Blizzard's hit ARPG is on the horizon with a 2026 reveal Diablo 4 expansion is expected by the end of this year. While fans could go a while without collecting this unnamed DLC, they may want to give it a go A vessel of hatred on their Christmas lists, or else pray that it's on sale for the holidays and they'll buy it themselves.