Diablo 4 has had its ups and downs depending on the season, but this week felt different. Following the launch of the 'Vessel of Hatred' expansion on the 28th, it surged 15 spots to land at 15th in the Gamemeca popularity rankings. That is its highest position in four months, besting the hype surrounding the 'Spiritborn' class last December. Since this week’s data doesn't fully account for the launch impact, it is well-positioned to break into the Top 10 if the momentum holds through the golden holiday.

The highlight of this expansion is undoubtedly the showdown with Mephisto. Unlike the first expansion, which was criticised for a rather flat conclusion, players are reporting that both the story and direction have seen a massive upgrade. Coupled with the powerful new 'Spiritborn' class and the 'Kurast Undercity' endgame content, the scope feels significantly expanded. Looking at the key metrics, search volume and personal streaming views have spiked, clearly driving the dramatic jump in rankings.

Diablo 4 spent last year diligently shoring up its foundations through overhauled seasonal content. If this new expansion and the subsequent season can maintain this stability, the game could solidify its status as the undisputed king of the hack-and-slash genre. If the long-rumored 'Cow Level' finally makes its appearance, the grind might become even more addictive, giving it a long-term competitive edge.

Diablo has also decisively settled its score with Path of Exile. While the latter fell 11 spots to 47th, Path of Exile 2 disappeared from the rankings entirely back in March. Even the older Diablo 2 and 3 titles saw a dip in rank, yet both still outperformed Path of Exile. It seems the rivalry will only reignite if Path of Exile 2 manages a successful seasonal update to drag itself back up the charts.

The lower ranks this week were a battlefield for subculture games desperate to hook players. While Wuthering Waves held onto 30th, Honkai: Star Rail made a comeback to 41st after five months, buoyed by its 3rd-anniversary event, and the newly launched 'Neverness to Everness' took 45th. Conversely, the genre veteran Genshin Impact slipped 5 spots to 43rd, and Monster Life: Star Dive plummeted 26 spots to 50th just one week after launch. Arknights: Endfield, which threw its hat in the ring back in January, failed to crack the list entirely.

Subculture games have become so mainstream that calling them a 'sub' genre feels absurd. This trend triggered a flood of new titles over the past year, but as too many games crowded the market in a short time, the number of forgotten projects has increased exponentially. Industry insiders are now calling it a 'Blood Ocean'—a step beyond a Red Ocean—due to the increasingly toxic market environment. Even more concerning is the pipeline of heavy hitters like 'Infinity Nikki' expected to drop later this year.

In the upper echelons, FC Online climbed one spot to 4th. The surge in PC bang usage is particularly notable; the publisher's decision to celebrate its 8th anniversary with two new classes, a chance to grab 11-enhanced player packs, and a 50% commission discount coupon seems to have worked a treat.

Further down, Apex Legends climbed for the second consecutive week to land at 36th. After the well-received Gundam collaboration in March ended, the game kept the momentum going with a new Wild Card and a fresh season. While opinions on character designs remain divisive in Korea, it is still widely regarded as the pinnacle of hyper-FPS gameplay. However, the recurring server stability issues remain a thorn in their side that needs addressing for long-term growth.