Blizzard Entertainment just detonated the Diablo community with its 30th Anniversary Spotlight. The big reveal? The Warlock class is invading both Diablo II: Resurrected and Diablo IV. For D2, that’s the first new playable class in a quarter-century. For D4, it’s a new era of hellish power and player choice. The event also set the stage for the Lord of Hatred expansion, teasing a year packed with updates and a major BlizzCon return.
Warlock: The First New Diablo II Class in 25 Years
Diablo II: Resurrected just got its biggest shakeup since launch. The Reign of the Warlock update, live now, introduces a playable Warlock—a dark mage who bends hell’s legions to her will. That’s not just a new face; it’s a class forged in infernal fire, focused on summoning, binding, and transforming demons to dominate the battlefield. Each incarnation of the Warlock reflects a different Sanctuary era, tracking her evolution from mysterious origin to corrupted powerhouse.
Endgame gets a brutal overhaul. Players can now earn consumables to select which acts get terrorized, cranking up both difficulty and loot. Defeating Terrorized Act bosses on Hell can reveal one of five mystical statues. Collect them all to unlock a savage new boss fight: the Colossal Ancients. This encounter is built to push your skills and builds to the limit.
Quality-of-life improvements are everywhere. Expect loot filters, expanded stash tabs, and a new Chronicle system that tracks your treasure-hunting progress and doles out rewards for completionists.
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred Expands the Endgame—and the Roster
The next chapter for Diablo IV is Lord of Hatred, landing April 28. The expansion drags players back into Sanctuary to battle the growing influence of Mephisto. The Warlock joins the roster alongside the Paladin, setting up a clash between hellish chains and divine light. The Warlock in D4 is all about metal, fire, and unleashing hell’s fury against itself.
New endgame systems aim to give players more agency. War Plans let you customize your endgame journey, picking activity paths that suit your playstyle. Echoing Hatred events throw increasingly brutal waves of enemies at you, stress-testing your builds and reflexes.
The expansion opens up Skovos, a Mediterranean-inspired region with fresh characters, quests, and monsters. This is where the final showdown with Mephisto goes down, in a landscape that nods to humanity’s ancient roots.
Why the Warlock Matters: Franchise Evolution and Player Choice
This isn’t just another class drop. The Warlock’s arrival in both D2 and D4 signals a shift in how Blizzard approaches legacy content and live service. For D2, it’s a rare break from preservation, injecting new blood and mechanics into a classic formula. For D4, it’s a chance to flex creative muscle and keep the meta fresh as the game heads into its first major expansion cycle.
Both games now offer more ways to play, grind, and flex your buildcraft. The Warlock’s demonic toolkit adds a new flavor to the party, appealing to veterans and newcomers alike. And with the Chronicle system and War Plans, Blizzard is betting on deeper engagement and replayability.
Industry Impact: Raising the Bar for Action-RPGs
Diablo’s anniversary isn’t just a nostalgia trip. By updating both a remaster and a live title in tandem, Blizzard is setting a new standard for how legacy franchises can evolve. It’s a direct challenge to other action-RPGs: keep your classics alive, but don’t be afraid to experiment. The cross-generational Warlock rollout could inspire similar moves from competitors looking to bridge old and new audiences.
For players, it means more reasons to revisit Sanctuary—whether you’re grinding Hell in D2 or pushing endgame in D4. And with BlizzCon 2026 looming, expect more surprises as the franchise leans into its milestone year.
What’s Next: Eyes on Developer Updates and BlizzCon
The Warlock is just the start. Blizzard is promising a deep dive into the class during a live developer update on March 5 at 23:00 CET, streaming on YouTube and Twitch. Expect more details on abilities, lore, and how the Warlock will shake up the meta in both games. With Lord of Hatred launching in April and BlizzCon returning in September, Diablo fans are in for a year of hellfire—and maybe a few more surprises lurking in the shadows.