What you’ll learn

This breakdown explains what IGN’s April coverage for Diablo IV: The Lord of Hatred is actually delivering (and when), summarizes the newly revealed in-game cutscene (spoilers), and details the practical progression changes players should prepare for—especially if you plan to keep playing Eternal characters through the expansion launch.

IGN’s April rollout: not a single info drop

IGN’s post about The Lord of Hatred led many players to expect one major “everything at once” reveal tied to the only visible date. Instead, the coverage is being paced across the month of April, with different beats arriving over time—endgame deep dives, gameplay showcases, and story cutscenes released on separate days.

Practically, this means you should expect a staggered flow of information rather than one definitive “full details” article. If you’re planning time off, build planning, or deciding whether to play Seasonal versus Eternal at launch, don’t wait for a single mega-post to answer everything.

What’s likely to show up next

• Endgame deep dives that clarify the post-campaign loop and new endgame hooks.
• Gameplay segments showing moment-to-moment combat, new encounters, and feature changes.
• Additional story cutscenes that connect the expansion narrative beats.

Because the reveals are spaced out, it’s worth tracking announcements closely if you’re trying to lock in a launch plan (class choice, leveling route, and when to replace gear).

Cutscene spoilers: Mephisto’s “stage” and Lorath’s warning

Spoiler warning: The following section summarizes an in-game cutscene (not a pre-rendered cinematic) shown as part of IGN’s coverage.

The cutscene centers on a coastal city welcoming a “pilgrim” to its shores, framed as a ritual of purification and worthiness. A leader invokes the blessing of Queen Adrianna, presenting the moment as a public celebration—complete with chanting crowds and a sense of religious certainty.

Into that ceremony steps Lorath, sounding the alarm: the pilgrim is a demon, and the mainland burns because of him. The crowd’s faith clashes with Lorath’s credibility, forcing him to rely on reputation and personal trust—“as a Horadrim” and as someone once called friend.

Mephisto then asserts control over the scene with chilling calm, treating the entire moment as performance and consequence. The exchange frames him as not merely powerful, but deliberate—someone who understands crowds, symbols, and the ease with which “mercy” and “hate” can be manipulated. The cutscene’s final beats emphasize the theme directly: hate is presented as human nature, and the “pilgrimage” as a mechanism to reshape it.

• It positions Mephisto as a public figure within a controlled narrative, not just a hidden evil.
• It escalates Lorath’s stakes by showing how easily authority and truth can be overridden.
• It hints that the expansion’s conflict may be social as much as supernatural, with communities willingly participating in dangerous belief systems.

Also worth noting: because this is an in-game cutscene, the visual presentation is closer to gameplay fidelity than the franchise’s big cinematic set pieces—yet it still conveys strong character acting and tone.

Launch timing: watch the in-game countdown, not assumptions

One of the clearest practical takeaways is that players should base scheduling on the in-game timers and official launch messaging rather than a single early date being interpreted as “release day.” If you’re coordinating with friends, planning a fresh character, or deciding whether to focus on Eternal prep, rely on the most current countdown and announcements.

Take a look at: common Season mistakes that slow down early progression

Will there be a PTR or early patch notes?

Based on how these expansions are typically handled, a public test realm would normally be announced well in advance. If it hasn’t been communicated by now, expectations should be tempered.

Patch notes timing can also be tight. It’s realistic to see major notes land very close to launch—sometimes as late as the day before—so don’t build an entire plan around early documentation. Instead, prepare flexible leveling and gearing priorities that still work if tuning changes arrive late.

Big progression changes: level 70 and item power 900

The expansion’s headline progression shifts are straightforward but far-reaching:

• Maximum level increases to 70, extending character progression beyond the current cap.
• Item power increases to 900, raising the ceiling on gear strength and making new drops materially better than what you have now.

Even if your current setup feels “finished,” these jumps typically reset what “best in slot” means. Expect to replace gear while leveling into the new cap, and expect your previous endgame items to become stepping stones rather than permanent fixtures.

Every class is slated to receive skill tree updates, including new branches and modifiers. The key point is accessibility: these updated trees are expected to be available broadly, while certain additional modifier options may be tied to owning the expansion.

From a planning perspective, this means:

• Build templates will change, even for players who don’t buy the expansion, because baseline trees are being updated.
• Respeccing and re-evaluating synergies will be mandatory if you want to keep an older character feeling “current.”
• Some endgame archetypes may be rebuilt around newly available modifiers rather than old best-in-slot nodes.

Eternal Realm warning: how “legacy” gear can impact your character

If you primarily play Eternal characters (or plan to keep a favorite Eternal build alive), the most important preparation topic is legacy gear behavior during major progression shifts.

When a major update changes itemization tiers and progression bands, older gear can become “legacy”—meaning it may no longer be eligible for certain upgrade paths, modifications, or system interactions that apply to new drops. Even if the item remains usable, the game can treat it as a relic from a prior ruleset.

What this means when moving from 60 to 70

• Expect to replace most gear naturally while leveling, because item power 900 will outclass older items.
• Don’t assume you can upgrade your way forward if the item is flagged legacy.
• Plan your Eternal leveling around drops, not around perfecting your current set.

The practical takeaway: if you log into Eternal at expansion launch with a “locked in” build, treat it as a starting kit—not a final kit.

Take a look at: how Warlock tuning could affect build planning

Seasonal vs Eternal: why Seasons can feel easier for progression

Even for players who prefer Eternal long-term, Seasons often provide extra mechanics, borrowed power, and streamlined progression that make it faster to hit goals—especially early on. If your objective is to build strength efficiently, playing Seasonal content and then letting rewards flow back to Eternal systems (where applicable) can be an effective approach.

In many ARPG seasonal models, that strength is expressed through:

• Additional mechanics that increase loot and power acquisition.
• Faster gearing curves due to seasonal reward structures.
• More active trading and grouping as players concentrate in the seasonal ecosystem.

If your main concern is keeping an Eternal roster strong, a seasonal push can be a practical “booster” period—especially when an expansion raises the ceiling and makes older gear less relevant.

If you want to be ready without overcommitting before patch notes land, focus on flexible prep:

• Clean up stash space so you can sort new item power tiers quickly.
• Bookmark your current build essentials (key aspects/uniques) but plan to replace most slots.
• Stockpile general crafting materials that historically remain useful across item power jumps.
• Keep a leveling-friendly setup for your preferred class so you can adapt to skill tree changes.

Most importantly, avoid sinking too many resources into “perfecting” gear right before a higher item power tier arrives—those upgrades are often the first to be outgrown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Lord of Hatred cutscene a cinematic or in-game footage?

It’s presented as an in-game cutscene, so it reflects gameplay-level visuals rather than a fully pre-rendered cinematic.

Will my Eternal gear still work after the level cap increases?

It should remain usable, but major progression updates can cause older items to become legacy, limiting upgrades and making replacements more efficient as you level.

If you’re undecided, yes—skill tree updates can shift class balance. If you already have a favorite, plan a flexible leveling setup and be ready to respec.

Do I need to play Seasons to keep my Eternal characters strong?

No, but Seasons often accelerate gearing and resource gains. Many players use Seasonal progression to strengthen long-term account options later.