Diablo 4 enthusiasts are speculating that Blizzard may have inadvertently revealed the action RPG's next class through an internal build name.
As reported by Wowhead, the highly-anticipated Paladin class could be arriving soon, potentially as part of Season 11. This speculation stems from the discovery of the word "Paladin" within the filename of a build uploaded to Blizzard's servers (2.5.Xpaladin67961).
This could, of course, amount to nothing (fans are already jesting that the Paladin might be added as a Mercenary rather than a full-fledged class). However, a new class is anticipated with Diablo 4’s second expansion, and the Paladin would undoubtedly be a popular choice among players.
Blizzard confirmed earlier this year that the game's next expansion has been delayed from 2025 to 2026. The first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, introduced the Spiritborn class. A released Diablo 4 roadmap image has teased features like a new ranking system, leaderboards, and more alongside the 2026 expansion.
Diablo 4 was in the news last week following the announcement that development chief Rod Fergusson is leaving Blizzard. "After five years of driving the Diablo franchise forward with four major launches, it's time for me to step away from Blizzard/Microsoft, sword in hand, and see what's next," Fergusson stated. "The teams are positioned for success with an exciting slate of releases ahead. I'm incredibly proud of our collective achievements and look forward to the future of Diablo, and my own."
Separately, this week, Blizzard's Story and Franchise Development (SFD) team voted to unionize with the Communications Workers of America. “After more than ten years at Blizzard, I’ve witnessed all the highs and lows," said organizing committee member and principal editor Bucky Fisk. "For a long time, Blizzard was a place where people could build lasting careers, but that sense of stability has been eroding. Forming a union allows us to protect what makes this workplace unique, ensure genuine transparency in decision-making, and guarantee policies are applied equitably to all.”