The highly acclaimed dungeon-crawling sequel, Diablo IV, is making its official debut on Steam on October 17th. This announcement is a significant win for PC gamers, as the game was previously exclusively available on Blizzard’s own platform, Battle.net. Steam, being a more widely-used service, opens up new horizons for both existing fans and potential players. This news is especially exciting for those fortunate enough to own a Steam Deck, as it promises to simplify the process of enjoying this epic adventure on the go.
While Valve has not yet rated the game for Steam Deck compatibility, such an evaluation is likely to occur closer to the release date. However, one important detail to note is that you will still require a Battle.net account to begin your journey in Diablo IV. Similar to the Battle.net version, standalone PCs will need, at a minimum, an Intel Core i5 or AMD FX-8350 CPU, along with 8 GB of RAM (although 16 GB is recommended) to ensure smooth gameplay.
The Steam release coincides with the launch of a new DLC titled “Season of Blood” on the same date. This content expansion introduces a fresh questline, enhanced vampire powers, the emergence of five formidable endgame bosses, and an exciting addition to the game in the form of actress Gemma Chan, who takes on the role of a vampire hunter.
Furthermore, players can anticipate a substantial patch, Patch 1.2.0, also scheduled for release on October 17th. This update brings a host of quality-of-life improvements, including faster experience point (XP) gain, enhanced navigation within Nightmare Dungeons, streamlined character rewards, more resilient NPC companions, reduced backtracking, and increased world boss spawns to facilitate loot collection. These enhancements represent just a glimpse of what’s in store. For a comprehensive list of improvements, refer to the detailed patch notes.
Diablo IV received high praise at its initial launch, particularly for its meticulously crafted world design, characterized by the “most detailed and creative assets Blizzard has ever produced.” It’s been described as the Diablo game that fans have longed for since the franchise’s inception back in 1997.
Blizzard’s decision to bring Diablo IV to Steam signifies a departure from its historically guarded approach to its intellectual property’s availability on platforms other than Battle.net. While Diablo IV is the latest high-profile game to make the move to Steam, it’s worth noting that Blizzard had previously confirmed that several titles would be venturing onto Valve’s storefront. While Diablo IV is one of these titles, the gaming community eagerly anticipates news of additional releases in the future.
