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

Diablo 2: Resurrected has received what is arguably the most significant update since launch. The Reign of the Warlock expansion introduces the Warlock, the first new playable class added Diablo 2 ecosystem for decades. Not only that, but Warlock also comes as the second class of Diablo 4's Lord of Hatred expansion, and it will be featured in the Diablo Immortal for. Meanwhile, Blizzard has released the game on Steam, marking a new era for Diablo 2: Resurrected.

It may not seem at first glance, but this decision is very relevant because it means removing Diablo 2: Resurrecteds former Battle.net exclusivity and makes it fully compatible with the Steam Deck. While Warlock understandably draws 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.

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

After announcing a surprise content addition to Diablo 2, Blizzard confirms that the Resurrected Edition is available on a highly demanded platform.

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

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

Demonic Binding: The Warlock can enslave specific enemy types and temporarily turn them into allies or consume them for stat boosts.
Eldritch Weapon Manipulation: The class can telekinetically wield heavy weapons in combination with items that are not available, allowing for unusual gear configurations.
Chaos Magic Skill Tree: Instead of focusing solely on elemental damage, Warlock leans towards corruption-based abilities, area-denial effects, and scaling debuffs.

Compared to the Necromancer, the Warlock's summons are more ephemeral and transactional. Compared to the Sorceress, its spellcasting is less about raw elemental burst and more about sustained control of the battlefield. Melee prowess exists, but it's tied to magic scaling rather than physical damage optimization. The result is a hybrid class that encourages experimentation. Too long-term ladder Diablo 2: Resurrected players, this opens up new opportunities to create theories in a meta that has been largely stable for years.

The first new Diablo 2 class in nearly 25 years

When Diablo 2 launched in 2000, its range of classes was expanded in 2001 with Lord of Destructionwhich introduced the Assassin class archetype and Druid, which is also found in D4. After that, no new classes have been added to the game's framework. Diablo 2: Resurrectedreleased in 2021, modernized graphics and infrastructure but preserved the original class design. Until now, it has not expanded the list in a meaningful way.

Diablo 2 Resurrected Paladin Lightning Ability — An image of the Paladin from Diablo 2: Resurrected.

From a technical point of view, Warlock is the first new class in Diablo 2: Resurrected in almost five years. From a historical perspective, it is the first completely new class built in Diablo 2 system of almost 25 years. That difference matters. Warlock is not a seasonal variant or a temporary mode addition, but rather it represents a structural change to a game that many players considered to be mechanically complete. The update also includes quality-of-life features such as expanded stash management, customization of loot filters, and wider interface refinements. However, the class addition is what fundamentally changes the gameplay variety.

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Why the Steam release could have a bigger impact

Despite the attention surrounding Warlock, the Steam launch may ultimately prove more significant. Since launch in 2021, Diablo 2: Resurrected required the Battle.net launcher on Steam Deck and PC. For some players this was a minor inconvenience, but for others, especially Steam Deck users, it created unnecessary friction due to how difficult the solution to run Battle.net on Steam Deck was to implement. As of February 11, 2026, Diablo 2: Resurrected is officially available on Steam. The game is also verified for the Steam Deck, and this change changes several things:

The game can now be installed and launched directly via Steam without workarounds.
Steam Deck compatibility makes portable gaming much more accessible.
The Steam ecosystem introduces native achievements, community features and storefronts.
Discovery potential increases significantly among gamers who primarily use Steam as their PC platform.
Steam Deck is undoubtedly perfect for the game.
Diablo 2: Resurrected is also expected to be supported on the Steam Machine release.

Especially for handheld users, Diablo 2 is structurally well suited for portable sessions. Its segmented mission structure, repeatable farming loops, and offline-friendly pace translate cleanly to shorter play windows. With proper support for controls and optimized performance on the Steam Deck, the experience fits naturally with handheld gaming habits.

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

The Warlock expands build diversity and refreshes the theory in a game that has long relied on established archetypes. For veterans, that alone can justify returning. However, the Steam release reworks Diablo 2: Resurrected in a broader market context. By 2026, accessibility and platform flexibility will often affect longevity as much as content updates.

Adding the first new class in nearly 25 years is a remarkable milestone. Making the game fully integrated into the Steam ecosystem and optimized for Steam Deck may prove to be the more strategically important decision. For Diablo 2: ResurrectedWarlock changes how the game is played, but the Steam launch changes how the game is accessed.