Battle.net Archives

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

If you’re part of the 92% of Diablo 4 players who haven’t completed Lord of Hatred: lock in

Diablo 4's campaign has received positive feedback, particularly for the Lord of Hatred, which serves as an intense conclusion to the Mephisto saga. Despite this, only 8.1% of players have completed the campaign, influenced by its price and player engagement on different platforms. Player engagement on Steam increased from 5,500 to a peak of 64,000, currently around 44,000. The campaign features strong narrative elements and visual storytelling, particularly highlighting the character of Lilith, who receives more focus than in the base game. The transformation of Skovos and the emotional depth of the story are emphasized as compelling reasons for players to complete the campaign.

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

Warcraft 3 Legacy is finally back on Battle.net

Warcraft 3: Reforged faced significant criticism due to its shortcomings and the negative impact it had on the original Warcraft 3, as players encountered connection issues and lost access to competitive ladders. Blizzard announced a significant update allowing all players who own Warcraft 3 to access the original 1.29 client through the Battle.net App, which supports offline and LAN play only. This version was the last to allow easy LAN play, making it relevant for players seeking nostalgic gaming experiences. Additionally, a fix for non-functioning cinematics in the Legacy client involves renaming the en-USMovies folder to Movies in the installation directory.

AppWizard

April 27, 2026

Here’s the Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred release time for your region

The Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred expansion will be released on April 27 in the United States and on April 28 in Europe, Asia, and Australia. Players can preload the expansion starting April 23 at 4 pm PDT on Battle.net, Xbox, and PlayStation, but not on Steam. Patch 3.0, which includes updates to class skill systems and unique items, can also be preloaded separately.

Winsage

April 12, 2026

“What else were Steam Deck users to do but create their own solutions?”: I watched Valve’s Linux-first handheld turn into a Windows 11 experiment in its community

Valve's Steam Deck was released on February 25, 2022, and received positive reviews for its custom Linux operating system, SteamOS. Initially competing with the Nintendo Switch, it now faces competition from new handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go, which run Windows 11. Although not originally designed for Windows 11, users found ways to install it, leading Valve to release official drivers for easier installation. Running Windows 11 on the Steam Deck allows access to Xbox Game Pass and other game launchers, but it introduces challenges like performance issues due to additional telemetry and bloat. A community on Reddit, r/WindowsOnDeck, has formed to support users dual-booting Windows and SteamOS, providing resources and guides. Despite the challenges, the Steam Deck has become an unexpected Windows gaming handheld, sustained by community enthusiasm.

AppWizard

February 12, 2026

Diablo 2 is coming back with its first expansion in 25 years, featuring a new class, and finally, decent inventory management

Blizzard Entertainment announced a second expansion for Diablo 2, titled Reign of the Warlock, during the Diablo 30th anniversary Spotlight video. The last expansion, Lord of Destruction, was released 25 years ago. The new expansion introduces a warlock class that allows players to summon three different demons and bind one enemy demon for powerful buffs. Quality-of-life improvements include stash tabs that allow item stacking, unique tabs for specific categories, loot filters for item visibility, and a comprehensive item collection list. Diablo 2: Reign of the Warlock is now available on Battle.net.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader developer announces its own launcher, but players are already “opting out”

Owlcat Games is developing its own game launcher to serve as a central hub for players, aiming to improve cross-promotion of its titles. Market research indicated that many Pathfinder 2 players were unaware of Rogue Trader. The decision has received mixed reactions, with concerns about the crowded landscape of game launchers and their functionality. Owlcat plans to roll out the launcher gradually, ensuring no mandatory registration or data collection from users. Players in the alpha test for Warhammer 40k Dark Heresy will be the first to use the launcher, which will provide access to all of Owlcat's games and links to social media and announcements. The launcher will allow users to buy, install, or launch games regardless of the original distribution method, but players can bypass it if accessing games through Steam.

AppWizard

November 26, 2025

A major online services outage is affecting Fortnite, Arc Raiders, Battle.net, PSN, and more

Arc Raiders has restored connectivity to the Epic Games Store after experiencing service disruptions. Users reported issues with Arc Raiders servers around 10:30 AM Pacific Time, and Downdetector noted a surge in complaints regarding access to several platforms, including Fortnite, Rocket League, Dead by Daylight, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Elden Ring, and Battle.net. Amazon and Cloudflare have also acknowledged similar issues.

Winsage

November 20, 2025

2025 Windows 11 PC holiday buying guide: Best devices and deals

The holiday season is an ideal time to gift a Windows 11 PC, which can enhance gaming setups, assist with creative projects, and simplify daily tasks. Windows 11 PCs now feature Copilot, an AI-powered assistant that streamlines tasks through voice commands. A survey shows that over half of Gen Z and Millennials use generative AI weekly. Various Windows 11 PCs are available for different users, including: - Lenovo Legion 5 15": A gaming laptop with AMD Ryzen 7 260 processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 graphics, starting at ,249.99 MSRP, currently ,169.99 at Walmart. - ROG Xbox Ally: A portable gaming device starting at 9.99, available at Microsoft.com and Best Buy. - Dell 16 Plus Laptop: Designed for students, starting at ,149.99 MSRP. - Samsung Galaxy Book5 360: A versatile 2-in-1 PC starting at ,349.99 MSRP. - Acer Aspire 14 AI: A portable laptop starting at 9.99 MSRP at Costco.com. - ASUS Zenbook 14: Lightweight with multi-day battery life, starting at 9 MSRP at Walmart. - Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 Copilot+ PC: Starting at ,199.99 at Best Buy. - Surface Pro 12-inch: A portable 2-in-1 device starting at 9.99 MSRP at Best Buy. - HP OmniBook 5 14-inch: Offers long battery life, starting at 9.99 MSRP. - Surface Laptop 13-inch: Lightweight with AI features, starting at 9.99 MSRP at Best Buy. Retailers like Microsoft, Best Buy, and Costco offer significant holiday deals on these PCs, with discounts and promotions available. Microsoft.com features exclusive deals, price protection, and free shipping until January 31, 2026. Xbox deals include discounts on games and accessories, with Xbox Game Pass Premium subscriptions and Microsoft gift cards available as gift options.

AppWizard

November 9, 2025

How I turned a cheap mini PC into a AAA gaming machine — tips for inexpensive and reliable cloud gaming with NVIDIA and Xbox

A mini PC is an effective budget gaming option that allows gamers to play high-performance AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur's Gate 3, and Elden Ring using modest hardware by leveraging cloud gaming services such as NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Xbox Game Pass. To set up GeForce NOW on a mini PC, users need to connect the device to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, complete the Windows setup, download and install the GeForce NOW app, log in, connect digital stores, and select games to play. Key considerations for cloud gaming on mini PCs include the need for a stable internet connection (at least 25 Mbps download speed), potential subscription costs for enhanced experiences, the lack of a game library with GeForce NOW, and the importance of researching trusted brands to avoid malware in budget mini PCs. Additionally, dedicated gaming mini PCs exist but are often more expensive.

AppWizard

October 30, 2025

The Outer Worlds 2 Is Available Today

In The Outer Worlds 2, players assume the role of an Earth Directorate agent investigating disruptive skip drives causing dangerous rifts across the colonies, particularly in Arcadia. Different factions have their own agendas regarding these rifts: the Order of the Ascendant wants to study them, Auntie’s Choice seeks profit, and the Protectorate aims to maintain control. The game features a Perks and Flaws system for character development, ensuring that player choices lead to unique experiences. The Premium Edition includes the base game, a DLC Pass for future expansions, a digital artbook, and the soundtrack. Players navigate a factional war while customizing their character and recruiting companions. The game is available on multiple platforms, including Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5, and is accessible through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.