The gaming community is buzzing with excitement as the news breaks out: Diablo IV, one of the year's major titles, is set to be available on Steam starting October 17. This information first surfaced through Wario64, a renowned video game news and deals account, which spotted a listing for this dark fantasy RPG on Steam.
The transition from Battle.net to Steam
While gamers could revel in the hellish landscapes of Diablo IV on consoles (with the exception of the Switch), the PC version was initially confined to Blizzard's own Battle.net service. The move to broaden Diablo IV's reach to Steam mirrors Blizzard's earlier endeavours to engage more PC gamers. This initiative took flight when Overwatch 2 was launched on Steam earlier this year. Blizzard intends to transition more game titles to Steam, although it remains tight-lipped about which games and when they would be accessible.
The release of Overwatch 2 on Steam, however, was met with disappointment, garnering an “overwhelmingly negative” review score from over 190,000 reviews. Much of the displeasure was rooted in introducing a battle pass and the axing of certain content. Unlike its predecessor, the gaming community warmly received Diablo IV, which hit the shelves back in June.
Steam launch alongside Season 2
Diablo IV's debut on Steam coincides with the onset of its second season, dubbed the Season of Blood, across all platforms. The Steam page has gone live and awaits eager gamers. Despite the shift, players must create a Battle.net account to dive into the game if they still need to get one. This requirement facilitates cross-platform play between Battle.net and console gamers. In addition, Diablo IV on Steam will feature Achievements and allow players to invite friends to play using the Steam friends list.
Diablo 4 is coming to Steam on October 17th https://t.co/o4RDvRSDUi pic.twitter.com/txGyvBqBqt
— Wario64 (@Wario64) October 4, 2023
Blizzard encapsulates the essence of Diablo IV in a blog post, stating, “Diablo IV is a game about slaying nightmarish creatures and acquiring powerful gear, but also about forging memories with new and old friends.” With this Steam launch, the gaming giant aims to diminish barriers, enabling adventurers worldwide to band together in defending Sanctuary.
The Season of Blood is not just a title; it brings a fresh vampire-themed seasonal questline, brandishing 22 Vampiric Powers for players to earn. It also unveils five formidable endgame bosses and a slew of quality-of-life enhancements. Among the latter are the option to delve into seasonal content without completing the primary campaign, an upsurge in XP to lessen the endgame grind, and refinements in inventory and stash management.
The paradigm of Diablo IV's rollout on Steam reflects that of Overwatch 2, which was launched on the platform in August alongside its sixth season, Invasion. The unwavering commitment of Blizzard to expand its presence on Steam shines through, promising a brighter horizon for the gaming community.
