Blizzard Teases Warlock Class And Major Diablo Overhaul

Blizzard Entertainment is gearing up for what may be its most ambitious celebration of the Diablo franchise yet, marking three decades of demonic battles, loot-laden dungeons, and passionate fan debate. On February 11, 2026, at 2 p.m. Pacific Time, the company will host the highly anticipated Diablo 30th Anniversary Spotlight—a livestream event set to unveil major updates for Diablo IV, Diablo Immortal, and Diablo II: Resurrected, according to Blizzard’s official announcements and coverage from multiple gaming news outlets.

The centerpiece of the stream, as revealed by Blizzard, will be the official introduction of the next playable class for Diablo IV, which will debut alongside the Lord of Hatred expansion. The expansion itself, scheduled for release on April 28, 2026, continues the Age of Hatred saga and promises new campaign content in regions such as Skovos, as well as sweeping changes to game systems and mechanics. But it’s the new class reveal that has fans and leakers buzzing the loudest.

Blizzard has described this upcoming class as a "new force in Sanctuary" that will "reshape how you fight, survive and master the battlefield." The company’s cryptic wording has only fueled speculation and excitement within the community. Recent datamines from the Season 12 public test realm, as reported by GameSpot and corroborated by Reddit sleuths, strongly point toward a Warlock class. Leaked concept art depicts a dark spellcaster wielding sinister red magic and a menacing sword, conjuring demonic fists—imagery that stands in stark contrast to the Paladin, the holy warrior archetype introduced earlier for pre-purchasers of Lord of Hatred.

If the leaks are accurate, the Warlock class will focus on curses, demonic pacts, and area-denial spells, presenting a fresh archetype never before seen in the Diablo series. This is a bold move for Diablo IV, introducing new playstyles rather than simply recycling familiar ones like the Amazon, which many had anticipated for the Skovos setting. As PC Gamer notes, "the Warlock would mark another bold move for Diablo IV, introducing a never-before-seen archetype rather than recycling classics." This new class is expected to shake up the game’s meta and give players even more ways to tackle the horrors of Sanctuary.

But the 30th Anniversary Spotlight won’t just be about Diablo IV. Blizzard is using the occasion to celebrate the entire franchise, promising updates for Diablo Immortal and Diablo II: Resurrected as well. According to the official Diablo Twitter account, viewers can expect news on future developments for all three main live games. For Diablo II: Resurrected, the community’s demand for new content is at a fever pitch. Fans have been clamoring for an expansion, new runewords, and even an entirely new act, with one user, ‘chikit law,’ pleading, "D2R!!!! Please!!!! We have waited for a long time." Others, like ‘ASkiba01,’ have a wishlist that includes "New Runewords. Act VI. New class. So many great opportunities. Please don’t mess it up." The pressure on Blizzard to deliver is palpable.

The company is also planning to discuss large-scale changes to Diablo IV’s ancient skill tree and new high-level game mechanics, which were first teased back in December 2025. These updates aim to address community feedback on build diversity, progression, and the overall endgame experience. According to ixbt.com, "the developers shared what to expect from the 'Diablo 30th Anniversary Spotlight': [...] we will present the next powerful class that will be released with the Lord of Hatred expansion and will open up new ways for you to fight and survive in the dangerous world of Sanctuary. We will also talk about the large-scale changes to the ancient skill tree and new game mechanics at high levels."

Meanwhile, Diablo IV’s Season 12 is set to kick off on March 10, 2026, running until the launch of Lord of Hatred. This shorter-than-usual season will reintroduce the popular killstreak mechanic from Diablo 3, rewarding players for chaining kills with bonus experience, reputation, and new "Bloodied" items that interact with the killstreak system in novel ways. It’s a nod to franchise history and a signal that Blizzard is listening to its most devoted fans.

Community anticipation is sky-high, but so is skepticism. The replies to Blizzard’s official announcements are a microcosm of the franchise’s passionate, sometimes fractious fandom. Some, like ‘OpenPleb,’ argue, "People just want more d2r content," while others express doubts that anything meaningful will materialize. ‘rzchit’ sums up the cynicism with, "heard this all before and nothing ever happens." The debates don’t stop there—rivalries with other action-RPGs, particularly Path of Exile 2, spark heated exchanges, and the legacy of Diablo 3 remains a touchy subject. As ‘EngrandG’ puts it, "And what about Diablo 3? The best H’n’S ever?"—a question the official announcement notably sidesteps.

Blizzard is also sweetening the anniversary celebration with a limited-time Twitch Drops campaign. From February 11 at 2 p.m. PST through February 25 at 11:59 p.m. PST, subscribing to any eligible streamer in the Diablo IV category will unlock an exclusive gothic badge—the "mark of Diablo"—for your Twitch profile. It’s a small but stylish way for players to display their allegiance (and maybe a little infernal pride) as the franchise enters its fourth decade.

For those eager to dig deeper into the details, Blizzard will host a developer Q&A session, the "Sanctuary Sitdown," on the Sanctuary Discord at 11 a.m. PST on February 12. This session will allow fans to pose questions directly to the developers about the new class, balance tweaks, expansion timelines, and more. It’s a rare opportunity for the community to get answers straight from the source—and perhaps to press for clarity on the most tantalizing rumors.

All eyes are now on February 11. Will the Warlock class live up to the hype? Can Blizzard satisfy the voracious appetite for Diablo II: Resurrected content? And will the 30th Anniversary Spotlight prove to be the transformative moment that the franchise’s millions of fans are hoping for? With expectations sky-high and the community more engaged—and divided—than ever, one thing is certain: the future of Diablo is about to be revealed, and whatever comes next, it’s bound to be memorable.

As the countdown to the anniversary event ticks down, the world of Sanctuary stands on the brink of a new era—one shaped by both its storied past and the bold innovations yet to come.