Diablo 4’s most die-hard fans are convinced Vessel of Hatred fixes the game’s biggest problems

The biggest names in the Diablo 4 community are singing the praises of the Vessel of Hatred expansion, claiming that it finally addresses the game’s most nagging issues. Rhykker and Raxxanterax think it is a major upgrade that seriously improves the gameplay.

The launch of Vessel of Hatred is a game changer for Diablo 4 – and not just because it is the first expansion of the franchise.

While some of the biggest content creators got an early look at Diablo 4 Season 6 and the Vessel of Hatred expansion during PTR, the embargo was lifted a few days ago, unleashing a flood of their opinions.

Both creators highlighted the game’s evolution, comparing this updated version of Diablo 4 to previous iterations in the franchise.

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In his video review, Rhykker said, “I’ve seen it improve dramatically.” He praised how the expansion improved the pace and difficulty, saying: “The pace of the game has now accelerated. It’s smoother.” For him, this change made it feel more modern and engaging, reminiscent of Diablo 3.

New features such as the Spiritborn class received critical acclaim from them. Rhykker called it “the best designed class” and acknowledged improvements in class balance and design.

The revamped leveling experience felt rewarding for them too, with Rax saying in his video review: “The leveling progression is actually better”. Players enjoyed the improved item drops, noting that legendaries spawned more frequently. However, some affixes still lacked excitement.

Both also expressed satisfaction with the expansion’s campaign content. Rhykker felt that the amount of story content was greater than in previous expansions. “If you’re going to play Vessel of Hatred for the campaign experience, I think you’ll be happy,” he said.

Endgame activities, such as the challenging Dark Citadel raid, provided a new level of involvement. Rax commented, “This is the first time I’ve actually seen Blizzard doing real mechanics.”

On the other hand, Rax criticized the new Runeword system, calling it too simplified compared to Diablo 2. “Runewords are definitely not doing it for me right now,” he complained.

Rhykker confidently declared, “This is Diablo 4 in its ultimate form.” With these updates, Blizzard has reignited enthusiasm for the franchise and made players curious about what comes next, while Rax went a step further and said the expansion makes Diablo 4 “feel like a game that isn’t completely broken yet.”

Despite launching five hours late, Vessel of Hatred is receiving high praise from the community. At Dexerto we gave it a 4/5 and called it “exactly what Diablo 4 needed” in our review.