Diablo 4 Season 11 Reignites an Old ARPG Rivalry

In an unexpected break from tradition, Diablo 4 Season 11 won’t be starting on the expected start date of December 9. Typically, Diablo 4 updates come on Tuesdays at 10am PST, and this has historically stayed true for the start times for new seasons as well. Season 11 breaks this trend by starting on Thursday, December 11 at 8:30pm PST, putting it on a collision course with another ARPG giant.

Diablo 4 Season 11 is already facing an uphill battle after how well received the seasonal mechanics of Season 10 were. With features like Chaos Perks and Chaos Armor set to expire when Season 10 ends, the controversial changes to Diablo 4‘s Tempering and Masterworking systems may not be enough to make up for the diverse build potential of this past season. While a later start date means players can hang onto their Chaos Armor for just a bit longer, it also means Diablo 4 is going to have to compete with Path of Exile 2‘s latest content drop.

Diablo 4 Season 11 is Set to Clash with Path of Exile 2 Once Again

Image via Blizzard

Two of the biggest ARPGs on the market right now are Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2, and each has been receiving a steady stream of content updates since their respective launches. Most major content updates for Path of Exile 2 have been staggered from Diablo 4 season start dates to avoid splitting the attention of ARPG fans.

Path of Exile 2 Update	Release Date	Diablo 4 Season	Release Date
Path of Exile 2 Early Access Release	December 6, 2024	Diablo 4 Season 7	January 21, 2025
Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt	April 4, 2025	Diablo 4 Season 8	April 29, 2025
Path of Exile 2: The Third Edict	August 29, 2025	Diablo 4 Season 9	July 1, 2025

Path of Exile 2 Update 0.4 Releases Less Than 24 Hours After Diablo 4 Season 11

With Diablo 4 Season 11 releasing on December 11, its launch is the closest to a major Path of Exile 2 update since the game released into Early Access. Path of Exile 2 update 0.4, titled The Last of the Druids, is set to release the next day on December 12. And with Diablo 4 Season 11 starting late in the day on December 11, the window between these two major ARPG content drops is incredibly close, forcing players to choose between which game they want to dive into first.

Diablo 4 Season 11 May Have a Secret Weapon to Give It the Edge Over Path of Exile 2 0.4

While it may seem like an unfortunate coincidence or poor planning on Diablo 4‘s part, there may be a method to the madness of this release date. December 11 is the same date The Game Awards 2025 is set to air, and 8:30pm PST would be right around the tail end of the show. Fans have been speculating based on numerous developer teases that Diablo 4 Expansion 2 will be revealed at The Game Awards, which could be used as a launch point into Season 11 shortly afterward.

the game awards 2025 intergalactic no show

Although it is unlikely, the date and time of Diablo 4 Season 11 and The Game Awards 2025 could also be an intentional part of a shadow-drop that is announced during the show. A new class being announced and then available right as the new season starts would be a great way to generate hype for Diablo 4 Season 11, and the Paladin class has been rumored to be coming to Diablo 4 for some time. The entirety of the next Diablo 4 expansion may not be shadow-dropped at The Game Awards, but dropping an exciting piece of content that hasn’t been announced yet for Diablo 4 Season 11 would surely entice TGA viewers to check out the new season following the show’s end, potentially giving Diablo 4 the attention it needs to draw ARPG players away from Path of Exile 2 0.4.