The Steam Awards finalists have been revealed, and the battle for Sanctuary is being recognized for its staying power. Diablo IV has officially been nominated in the "Labor of Love" category, a distinction reserved for titles that have received sustained support and significant content updates long after their initial release.
Recognizing the Grind
The "Labor of Love" award is arguably one of the most meaningful categories on Steam because it tracks a developer's commitment to the long game. For Diablo IV, this nomination comes more than two years after its June 2023 launch. In the live-service era, that timeline is critical. We aren't just talking about bug fixes here; we're looking at a trajectory that includes the massive Vessel of Hatred expansion and the recent chaos of Season 10.
This nomination suggests that the community—or at least the voting block on Steam—acknowledges the shifts in the meta. From reworking itemization to introducing the Spiritborn class and refining the endgame loop, the game looks drastically different today than it did during the vanilla launch window. Whether you're currently grinding Paragon levels or took a break after the campaign, this nomination highlights the sheer volume of post-launch adjustments Blizzard has poured into the engine.
How do I vote for the Steam Awards?
If you feel the current state of Sanctuary deserves the nod, voting is handled directly through the Steam store platform. The "Labor of Love" category specifically targets games that are out of their honeymoon phase but are still getting "new content to nurture" the player base. Winners are entirely community-driven, meaning the outcome depends on player turnout during the voting period.
The Competition for the Crown
Securing a win here sends a specific message to the developers: keep the content coming. In the ARPG genre, stagnation is death. By nominating Diablo IV, players are essentially validating the current roadmap and the seasonal model. It’s a signal that the recent updates—balancing the eternal struggle between the High Heavens and Burning Hells—are hitting the right notes for the PC audience.
Head over to Steam to cast your ballot if you think the evolution of Sanctuary warrants the trophy.