Here's when Diablo 4 season 1 launches around the world

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Diablo 4's first season brings a new storyline and powerful gems; here's when you can start playing it.

Diablo 4 character Cormund close-up
(Image credit: Activision Blizzard)

Update: Diablo 4 Season 1 is live now.

Season one, the Season of the Malignant, will introduce the Seasonal Realm to the game—not to be confused with the Eternal Realm. It's best to think of them like separate modes: the Eternal Realm is the normal mode and the Seasonal Realm is the rotating seasonal mode.

The first season will run for around three months, which is plenty of time to level up your new character, put together a powerful build using the new Malignant Heart gems, and finish the Seasonal Journey and battle pass. Once the season ends, your Seasonal Realm character will return to the Eternal Realm (minus the Malignant Hearts).

Diablo 4 season 1 launch times

  • 10 am, July 20 (PDT)
  • 1 pm, July 20 (EDT)
  • 6 pm, July 20 (BST)
  • 7 pm, July 20 (CEST)
  • 3 am, July 21 (AEST)

(Image credit: Blizzard)

You can technically preload season one by downloading the roughly 8GB pre-season patch that dropped yesterday. There are loads of bug fixes, balance changes, and new items that are available now in the Eternal Realm. But for the new storyline and Malignant Hearts, you'll have to make a new character on the Seasonal Realm and finish the campaign (or skip it).

What will and won't carry over from the Eternal Realm to the Seasonal Realm

  • ✅ Campaign skip option (available once you complete it)
  • ✅ Altars of Lilith stat bonuses
  • ✅ Discovered map areas
  • ✅ Renown rewards (XP, potion capacity, skill points, Paragon points)
  • ✅ Armor and weapon transmogs
  • ❌ Eternal Realm characters and items
  • ❌ Partial Campaign progress
  • ❌ Aspects in the Codex of Power
  • ❌ Currency and materials
  • ❌ Stash items
  • ❌ Non-capital Waypoints

There's still time to complete our pre-season checklist so that you can start season 1 with a handful of skill points. Otherwise, take a look at those patch notes and start thinking about what class and build you want to play. And don't worry if you change your mind halfway through, Blizzard just made it much easier to gear up your alts.

Tyler Colp

Tyler has covered videogames and PC hardware for 15 years. He regularly spends time playing and reporting on games like Diablo 4, Elden Ring, Overwatch 2, and Final Fantasy 14. While his specialty is in action RPGs and MMOs, he's driven to cover all sorts of games whether they're broken, beautiful, or bizarre.