Diablo 4: Warlock Class Revealed and Major Expansion Details Unveiled
BERLIN, 11 February 2026 — The Sanctuary landscape has shifted dramatically today as Blizzard Entertainment marks the 30th anniversary of the Diablo franchise with a series of monumental announcements. Following the successful launch of the Vessel of Hatred expansion in late 2024, the developer has officially pulled back the curtain on the next chapter of the saga, confirming the long-rumoured return of a fan-favourite archetype and a massive technical overhaul for the current season.
The Lord of Hatred Expansion: Enter the Warlock
In a global spotlight event held earlier today, Blizzard confirmed that the second major expansion for Diablo 4 is titled Lord of Hatred. The headline feature is the introduction of the Warlock, a new playable class that focuses on shadow corruption, demonic summoning, and soul-harvesting mechanics. This marks a significant departure from the Spiritborn class introduced in the previous expansion, offering a more traditional “dark caster” fantasy that fans have requested since the game’s 2023 debut.
New Region: Skovos and the Horadric Cube
The expansion will take players to the Skovos Isles, a region steeped in Amazonian lore and ancient mysteries. Alongside the new environment, Blizzard is reintroducing the Horadric Cube, a powerful crafting tool that will allow for deeper itemisation updates, including the ability to transmute materials and extract legendary powers in ways that bypass current gear limitations.
Season 12 and the “Reign of the Warlock” Update
While the expansion is the long-term focus, the immediate future of Diablo 4 lies in Season 12. Recent patch notes (version 2.5.2) and Public Test Realm (PTR) findings have highlighted several key changes currently live or arriving this week:
- Paladin Buffs: Significant balance adjustments have been made to holy-themed skills and mercenary synergies.
- The Tower: A new endgame activity designed to test vertical progression and speed-clearing capabilities.
- Killstreaks and Bloodied Items: Secret content discovered in the PTR suggests a new “Bloodied” item tier that scales in power based on active killstreaks.
- Switch 2 Rumours: Following the official reveal of the “Switch 2” last week, industry reports suggest Diablo 4 is slated for a high-performance port to the new Nintendo hardware.
PC System Requirements (Updated for 2026)
With the continuous graphical updates and the scale of the Vessel of Hatred and upcoming Lord of Hatred content, Blizzard has maintained a tiered approach to PC specifications. Below are the finalised requirements to ensure Sanctuary remains fluid on your machine.
| Requirement | Minimum Specifications (1080p Native, 30fps) | Recommended Specifications (1080p, 60fps) |
|---|---|---|
| OS | 64-bit Windows 10 version 1909 or newer | 64-bit Windows 10 version 1909 or newer |
| Processor (CPU) | Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD FX-8350 | Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB RAM | 32 GB RAM |
| Graphics (GPU) | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 or AMD Radeon R9 280 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT |
| Storage | SSD with 45 GB available space | SSD with 45 GB available space |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Diablo 4 originally release?
Diablo 4 was officially released on 5 June 2023, following its initial announcement at BlizzCon 2019.
What was the first expansion for Diablo 4?
The first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, was released on 8 October 2024. It introduced the Spiritborn class and the region of Nahantu.
Is the Warlock class available now?
No. The Warlock class is part of the upcoming Lord of Hatred expansion. However, themed updates and balance patches related to the “Reign of the Warlock” are currently being integrated into the seasonal cycle as of February 2026.
Can I play Diablo 4 on the new Nintendo console?
While Blizzard has not officially confirmed a release date, multiple reports following the Switch 2 reveal last week indicate that Diablo 4 is one of the major third-party titles heading to the platform.