Momentum has been building for Diablo 4 lately, with a week of Gamescom bringing a ton of announcements. We got our first look at AI companions for mercenaries, a detailed explanation of the system, more details on the new Nahantau explorable area, and even some details on features coming to all players with the release of Ships of Hatred – like the new Party Finder.
However, those who choose to pay for the expansion can look forward to some final new additions after they conclude the campaign.
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The new massive end-game activity in Ship of Hatred is designed specifically for co-op. It’s called Dark Castle, and it’s unlike any other end-game mode in Diablo IV. The castle’s three wings feature a mix of combat encounters, puzzles to solve, and traps to avoid—all culminating in a final boss fight.
The main enemy in Dark Fortress is the First Kazra, and judging by the trailer, they appear to have some new tricks up their sleeves. Dark Fortress sounds a lot like a raid, though Blizzard isn’t calling it that. Different parts of the campaign can be completed over multiple visits, meaning you can pause your run and come back to continue later.
Dark Castle also has its own rewards, and each class has its own rewards. There will be a certain number of rewards every week, and these rewards can be obtained when you complete your first run each week. There is even a new currency-Castle Coins-which can only be obtained by participating in activities and can be used to buy more cosmetics later.
Dark Castle is designed for teams of four, but it can be played with two players, though it’s not as easy. The good news? It’s not even the only new activity in Ships of Hatred!
There’s also Undercity, a new dungeon made up of multiple stages. This special activity is a limited-time assault type, which means it will reward efficient construction and quick enemy clearing. Blizzard says it’s designed to ease players into the late game, which means it’ll be a great place to quickly gain XP and maybe even get a few pieces of gear for the late game.
This is also an activity that evolves as you play Diablo IV. Throughout the game, you’ll earn tributes that can be used to alter future Undercity trips to target specific loot. Tributes come in different qualities, and the challenge and potential rewards increase with each tier.
The Hatred Ship will be released on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on October 8.
