Getting a surprise class five years after Diablo 2 Resurrection isn't even the best thing about the new update

Diablo 2: Resurrection We've received the most important update since launch. The Reign of the Warlock expansion introduces the Warlock, the first new playable class. diablo 2 ecosystem in a few decades. In addition, Warlock also appears as a secondary class. Diablo 4It is scheduled to appear in the Lord of Hatred expansion pack. diablo immortal do. At the same time, Blizzard ushered in a new era by releasing games on Steam. Diablo 2: Resurrection.

It may not seem like it at first glance, but this decision is very relevant as it implies elimination. Diablo 2: ResurrectionBuilding on its previous Battle.net exclusivity, it is fully compatible with Steam Deck. While Warlock is understandably garnering the most attention, the platform switch could ultimately have broader, long-term implications for the future of the game, if not the franchise as a whole.

Diablo 2 is revived and released on Steam

25 years after its original release, Diablo 2 is being released on yet another platform.

After announcing a surprising amount of content additions to Diablo 2, Blizzard has confirmed that the revived edition is now available on highly requested platforms.

Diablo 2: Resurrated's Warlock class compared to the original roster – and why the Steam release is more important

text diablo 2 Class selection has long been defined as a clear archetype. Barbarians dominate melee combat, Sorceresses specialize in elemental blast damage, Paladins balance auras and survivability, and Necromancers command summons and curses. Later additions like Assassin and Druid also filled distinct mechanical niches. Warlocks don't fit neatly into one category, but instead blend mechanics traditionally split across multiple classes.

  • Demon Bonds: Warlocks can enslave certain enemy types, temporarily turning them into allies or consuming them to gain stat boosts.
  • Bizarre Weapon Controls: This class can wield heavy weapons with telekinesis along with auxiliary items, allowing for unique equipment configurations.
  • Chaos Magic Skill Tree: Instead of focusing purely on elemental damage, warlocks focus on corruption-based abilities, area denial effects, and scaling debuffs.

Compared to the Necromancer, the Warlock's summons are more temporary and transactional. Compared to the Sorceress, this spell casting is more about sustained battlefield control than raw elemental explosions. Melee survivability exists, but is related to magic scaling rather than physical damage optimization. The result is a hybrid class that encourages experimentation. For long ladder use Diablo 2: Resurrection Players, this opens up new theory-making opportunities in a meta that has remained largely stable for years.

First new Diablo 2 class in nearly 25 years

when diablo 2 After its launch in 2000, the class lineup was expanded in 2001. lord of destructionintroduced the Assassin class archetype and the Druid. D4. No new classes have been added to the game framework since then. Diablo 2: ResurrectionReleased in 2021, it modernized its visuals and infrastructure while maintaining the original class design. So far, we haven't been able to meaningfully expand the roster.

Diablo 2 Resurrection Paladin Lightning Ability
A scene from Diablo 2: Resurrection Paladin.

From a technical standpoint, the Warlock is the world's first new class. Diablo 2: Resurrection Almost 5 years later. From a historical perspective, this class is the first to be built as an entirely new class. diablo 2 After almost 25 years, the system was born. That distinction is important. Warlock represents a structural change to a game that many players consider mechanically complete, rather than a seasonal twist or temporary mode addition. This update also includes quality-of-life features, including expanded inventory management, custom loot filters, and broader interface improvements. However, the addition of classes is a fundamental change in gameplay variety.

Find all 10 pairs


Find all 10 pairs

Why a Steam launch could have a bigger impact

Despite the excitement surrounding Warlock, its Steam release may ultimately be more significant. After launch in 2021, Diablo 2: Resurrection Steam Deck and PC require the Battle.net launcher. For some players this was a minor inconvenience, but for others, especially Steam Deck users, it created unnecessary friction due to how difficult it was to implement a workaround to run Battle.net on Steam Deck. As of February 11, 2026, Diablo 2: Resurrection Officially available on Steam. The game has also been verified for the Steam Deck, and with this change comes a few changes.

  • You can now install and launch games directly through Steam without any workarounds.

  • Steam Deck compatibility makes portable play even more accessible.

  • Steam's ecosystem introduces native achievements, community features, and store visibility.

  • This significantly increases your discoverability among players who primarily use Steam as their PC platform.

  • Steam Deck is definitely perfect for gaming.

  • Diablo 2: Resurrated is also expected to be supported on Steam Machine launch.

Especially for portable users, diablo 2 Structurally suited for portable sessions. The split quest structure, repeatable farming loop, and offline-friendly pace result in shorter play periods. With Steam Deck's proper controller support and optimized performance, the experience blends seamlessly with your portable gaming habits.

A Battle.net account is still required and unfortunately launcher dependencies persist.

Warlock expands build variety and refreshes crafting theory in a game that has long relied on established archetypes. For veterans, that alone can justify returning. However, the frame has been changed in the Steam release. Diablo 2: Resurrection In the broader market context. In 2026, accessibility and platform flexibility will often impact longevity as much as content updates.

Adding a new class for the first time in nearly 25 years is a notable milestone. Fully integrating your game into the Steam ecosystem and optimizing it for Steam Deck may be a more strategic decision. for Diablo 2: ResurrectionWarlock changes the way you play the game, but its Steam release changes how you approach the game.


Diablo 2: Resurrected Tag Page Cover Art


released

September 23, 2021

ESRB

M (for adults 17+) Due to blood and gore, suggestive themes and violence.

publisher

blizzard entertainment


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