Diablo 4 fans believe Blizzard has leaked the action RPG’s next class via an internal build name.
Wowhead reported that the Paladin class, perhaps the most-requested by fans since Diablo 4’s June 2023 release, is coming soon, potentially even as part of Season 11. That’s because the word Paladin was found in the name of a build uploaded to Blizzard’s servers (2.5.Xpaladin67961).
The Paladin is one of the most popular classes from Diablo 2, so its arrival in Diablo 4, should it happen, would be celebrated by the game's community. Now, this may be nothing (and Diablo 4 fans are already joking that the Paladin will be added as a Mercenary rather than a new class), but a new class is expected from Diablo 4’s second expansion, and the Paladin would certainly be a crowd-pleaser.
As Blizzard confirmed earlier this year, Diablo 4’s next expansion was pushed out of 2025 and into 2026. The game’s first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, added the Spiritborn class. A Diablo 4 roadmap image teased a new ranking system, leaderboards, and more alongside the expansion for 2026.
Diablo 4 hit the headlines last week after development chief Rod Fergusson announced his exit from Blizzard. "After five years of driving the Diablo franchise forward with four big launches, it's time for me to step away from Blizzard/Microsoft, sword in hand, and see what's next," Fergusson wrote. "The teams are set up for success, with an exciting slate of releases ahead. I'm incredibly proud of what we've built together and looking forward to what comes next for Diablo, and for me."
Then, this week, Blizzard's Story and Franchise Development team (SFD) voted in favor of unionization with the Communications Workers of America. “After more than a decade working at Blizzard, I’ve seen all the highs and lows," said organizing committee member and principal editor Bucky Fisk. "For years, Blizzard has been a place where people could build their careers and stay for decades, but that stability’s been fading. With a union, we’re able to preserve what makes this place special, secure real transparency in how decisions are made, and make sure policies are applied fairly to everyone.”
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
