Inside Blizzard’s Approach to Designing Diablo 2’s First New Class in 26 Years: “We Aim to Preserve the Masterpiece”

Blizzard is introducing a brand-new class to Diablo II: Resurrected, marking the first time in decades that players can experience a fresh way to navigate this nearly 26-year-old RPG. The Reign of the Warlock expansion launches today, February 11, and it represents a bold move for the remaster, balancing the preservation of the original game with the excitement of new content. The development team understands that some fans may see this as a significant change, so they approached the addition with careful consideration.

In a recent group interview at Blizzard’s Irvine campus, game producer Matthew Cederquist and game designer Tim Vasconcellos discussed the legacy of Diablo II and hinted at the possibility of more classes in the future. While the Warlock was a standout choice, it wasn’t the only class under consideration.

“We started with maybe three or four classes that were top of mind,” Cederquist shared. “After discussing it with the team, two classes stood out, but we decided to go with the Warlock because of the team’s enthusiasm. They were really excited about making it amazing.”

Although they kept the runner-up class under wraps, Vasconcellos noted that the Warlock’s unique blend of summon-based melee and ranged abilities fills a gap in Diablo II’s roster. However, the team is cautious about making changes that could disrupt the game’s legacy. They aimed to ensure the Warlock feels like a natural addition, as if it had always been part of the game.

“We looked at the Warlock and asked ourselves, ‘What would make this feel like it could have launched with Diablo II?’” Vasconcellos explained. “You’ll find references, like the Diablo I icons in the skill tree. These subtle nods are designed to evoke familiarity while still introducing something new. We’ve carefully considered how to express this class and the space it occupies, and we’re eager to hear from the community about whether we achieved our design goals.”

Blizzard emphasized that the team behind Diablo II: Resurrected consists of dedicated players who still enjoy the game and want any new content to enhance the experience. Whether they continue to expand the game will depend on player reception. While the team hopes this won’t be a one-time addition for the series’ 30th anniversary, they have no further announcements at this time.