Key Takeaways
1. Release on Steam: Diablo II: Resurrected – Infernal Edition launched on Steam on February 11, 2026, marking a significant shift for the franchise with closer integration to Valve’s platform.
2. New Warlock Class: The edition introduces the Warlock class, featuring unique skill trees that focus on enslaving demons and using forbidden magics, along with various community-requested quality-of-life improvements.
3. Positive Market Response: The launch garnered positive feedback, with a peak of 11,749 players in the first 24 hours, surpassing Diablo IV’s initial week peak, and achieving a 90% positive rating from reviewers.
4. Enhanced Performance: The Infernal Edition is praised for being well-polished, Steam Deck Verified, and capable of maintaining 60 FPS at high settings, while eliminating the need for the Battle.net launcher for gameplay.
5. Pricing Issues: Players expressed dissatisfaction with the pricing structure, as existing owners must purchase the Reign of the Warlock DLC separately for $24.99, and concerns remain regarding the “always-online” DRM requirement.
Blizzard Entertainment has officially released Diablo II: Resurrected – Infernal Edition on Steam as of February 11, 2026. This marks a significant shift for the franchise, as it integrates more closely with Valve’s platform. The edition features the complete 1.0 package and includes the fresh Reign of the Warlock DLC, which is the first expansion to add a new character class to the Diablo II series in over twenty years.
Immediate Market Response
The launch received positive feedback right away, with SteamDB reporting a peak of 11,749 players within the first 24 hours. This number surpassed Diablo IV’s daily peak during its initial week. This surge is likely a result of a blend of nostalgia and quality, as the game boasts a solid 90% positive rating from around 2,113 reviews at the time of writing.
New Class and Features
At the heart of this update is the new Warlock class, which rebalances the current game dynamics. Unlike the Necromancer, which relies on passive summons, the Warlock features a “Demon” skill tree that focuses on enslaving hellish creatures as twisted allies, and an “Eldritch” path that empowers melee weapons with “forbidden” magics. In addition to the new class, the Infernal Edition includes numerous quality-of-life improvements that the community has long requested, such as a customizable Loot Filter and dedicated stash tabs for stackable resources like gems, runes, and crafting materials. These enhancements aim to alleviate the inventory issues seen in the original 2000 version.
Enhanced Performance
Reviews suggest that the Infernal Edition is a well-polished version of the game. It is currently Steam Deck Verified (currently priced at $748 on Amazon for the 64 GB model), with testers noting a steady 60 FPS at high settings while using about 14 W of power. Another plus for Steam users is the elimination of the required Battle.net desktop launcher; although a Battle.net account is still necessary for backend login, players can now launch the game directly through Steam. This could enhance compatibility with Linux-based handheld devices and SteamOS 3.7.
Pricing Concerns
Nonetheless, the launch hasn’t been entirely flawless, which is to be expected. A glance at community forums like Reddit reveals that players are unhappy with the pricing for those who already own Resurrected, as they must buy the Reign of the Warlock DLC separately for $24.99, which is almost the same cost as the bundled Infernal Edition for new players. Additionally, the “always-online” DRM remains a contentious issue for those seeking a completely offline handheld experience.
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