Diablo 2 resurrected Getting a surprise class after 5 years isn't even the best thing about its new update

Diablo 2: Resurrected received probably the most significant update since launch. The Reign of the Warlock expansion introduces the Warlock, the first new playable class added to the game Diablo 2 ecosystem in decades. Not only that, but Warlock also comes as a second class Diablo 4Lord of Hatred expansion and will appear in Diablo Immortal too. At the same time, Blizzard released the game on Steam, marking a new era for Diablo 2: Resurrected.

It may not seem so at first glance, but this decision is very relevant because it means removal Diablo 2: ResurrectedA former Battle.net exclusive, this makes it fully compatible with the Steam Deck. While Warlock is understandably getting the most attention, the platform shift could ultimately have a wider long-term impact on the future of the game, if not the franchise as a whole.

Diablo 2 has just been released on another platform 25 years after it first launched

Following the announcement of surprise content for Diablo 2, Blizzard confirms that the Resurrected Edition is available on the much-desired platform.

Diablo 2: Resurrected's Warlock Class compared to the original roster – and why the Steam release may matter more

original Diablo 2 class selection has long been defined by clear archetypes. The Barbarian dominates melee, the Sorceress specializes in elemental burst damage, the Paladin balances auras with survivability, and the Necromancer commands summoning and curses. Even later additions like Assassin and Druid filled distinct mechanical niches. Warlock doesn't fit neatly into one category and instead mixes mechanics traditionally divided into several classes:

Demonic Bond: Warlock can enslave specific types of enemies and temporarily turn them into allies or consume them for stat boosts.
Eldritch Weapon Handling: The class can telekinetically wield heavy weapons in combination with off-hand items, allowing for unusual device configurations.
Chaos Magic Skill Tree: Rather than focusing purely on elemental damage, Warlock relies on corruption-based abilities, area negation effects, and scaling debuffs.

Compared to the Necromancer, the Warlock's summoning is more temporary and transactional. Compared to Sorceress, her casting is less about raw elemental burst and more about permanent battlefield control. Melee vitality exists, but it's tied to magical scaling rather than physical damage optimization. The result is a hybrid classroom that encourages experimentation. For a long-term ladder Diablo 2: Resurrected players, this opens up new possibilities for theoretical creation in a meta that has remained largely stable over the years.

The first new Diablo 2 class in nearly 25 years

When Diablo 2 launched in 2000, its class was expanded in 2001 by Lord of Destructionwhich introduced the Assassin and Druid class archetype which is also in D4. After that, no new classes were added to the game. Diablo 2: Resurrectedreleased in 2021, modernized the visuals and infrastructure but kept the original class design. Until now, it has not meaningfully expanded the roster.

Diablo 2 resurrected the Paladin's lightning ability — Shot of Paladin from Diablo 2: Resurrected.

Technically, the Warlock is the first new class Diablo 2: Resurrected in almost five years. Historically, it is the first completely new class built into the Diablo 2 system for almost 25 years. That resolution matters. Warlock is not a seasonal variant or a temporary addition to the mode, but rather represents a structural change to the game that many players consider mechanically complete. The update also includes quality-of-life features such as expanded stash management, loot filter customization, and wider interface improvements. However, the addition of a class is what fundamentally changes the game's variety.

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Why a Steam release can have more of an impact

Despite the attention surrounding Warlock, the Steam launch could end up being more significant. From release in 2021, Diablo 2: Resurrected required Battle.net launcher on Steam Deck and PC. This was a minor inconvenience for some players, but for others, especially Steam Deck users, it caused unnecessary friction due to how difficult it was to implement a solution to run Battle.net on Steam Deck. From February 11, 2026 Diablo 2: Resurrected is officially available on Steam. The game is also Steam Deck verified and this shift changes a few things:

The game can now be installed and run directly through Steam without a workaround.
Steam Deck compatibility makes portable gaming much more accessible.
The Steam ecosystem features native achievements, community features, and store visibility.
The discovery potential increases significantly for players who primarily use Steam as their PC platform.
Steam Deck is probably perfect for the game.
Diablo 2: Resurrected is expected to be supported on the Steam Machine release as well.

Especially for pocket users, Diablo 2 is structurally suitable for portable sessions. Its segmented quest structure, repeatable farming loops, and offline-friendly pacing translate neatly into shorter play windows. With proper controller support and optimized performance on Steam Deck, the experience naturally matches your handheld gaming habits.

A Battle.net account is still required, and unfortunately the launcher dependency remains.

Warlock expands the variety of builds and refreshes the theoretical treatment in a game that has long relied on established archetypes. For veterans, that alone can justify a return. However, the release on Steam is changing Diablo 2: Resurrected in the broader market context. In 2026, platform availability and flexibility will often influence longevity as much as content updates.

The addition of the first new class in nearly 25 years is a significant milestone. Making a game fully integrated into the Steam ecosystem and optimized for the Steam Deck may turn out to be a more strategically important decision. For Diablo 2: ResurrectedWarlock will change the way you play the game, but the launch of Steam will change the way you access the game.