Torchlight II Coming Spring 2011

Torchlight II has received the green light from Runic Games, and it's coming as a digital download in Spring 2011, according to a surprise reveal on Runic's official website this morning.

The title, a follow-up to its Diablo-like predecessor, looks as if it'll retain the same basic core mechanics. It's biggest twist comes from the addition of online co-op, a mode in which users will be able to explore the deep and dank together via a free matchmaking system that can match people based on character level.

Torchlight II will have a narrative component that appears as if it'll be beefier than the, admittedly, near non-existent one in the original Torchlight. A guardian-warrior named Syl will summon you to a place called the Estherian Steppes In Torchlight II, a place where you'll meet the Destroyer and be sent upon a quest across a continent troubled by evil. Eventually, you'll be asked to follow in the tracks of a missing Alchemist and save the world from said evil.  

 The sequel will feature an updated version of the Torchlight editor, randomized overworld areas complete with weather effects, random dungeons, a selection of pets, fishing, limitless loot, and a retirement system which will allow users to retire an older character and bestow some benefits of it to a newly created character.

Here are the PR created bullet-points, available on the game's official site:

• Multiplayer -- Play with your friends over a local area network, or over the Internet. A free matchmaking peer-to-peer service lets you make new friends for exciting co-op play.     
• Customizable Characters -- Players create and customize a character from one of four classes available and choose an animal companion. Through cosmetic, class, and gender choices, skill path decisions, and the treasures they acquire, each character can be custom-tailored to each player’s needs.
• Moddability -- Torchlight II will release with an updated version of TorchEd, the Torchlight editor. Players have the option to create their own mods, adding even more content to the world. You and your friends can download the same mod and play together!
• New User Interface -- Torchlight II boasts an entirely new, improved user interface, designed to be easier than ever for new players to pick up and play. Thanks to this intuitive interface, players have immediate access to a rich and varied world, with little experience necessary.
• Overworld Areas -- Torchlight II has large randomized overworld areas to explore with weather, time of day cycles, and random events that provide players with even more content to experience.
• Random Dungeons -- Delve into randomly generated dungeons within the game at any time for extra experience and rare loot. Dungeons in Torchlight II have even more branching paths to explore with friends filled with random events, rewards and dangers.
• Retirement System -- Once characters are sufficiently leveled up, they can “retire” and bestow specific benefits and perks onto new characters.
• Pets -- Players choose a pet to accompany them. Pets level up along with the player, and help in battle, learn spells, carry items, and perform a variety of support services.
• Fishing -- Fishing returns in the sequel! Players can take a break from the high-energy pace of adventuring to relax by one of the many fishing holes and see what they can catch. Fish have unique benefits for the player and pet, while a number of other rewards can also be discovered.

    
Note that Runic was careful not to mention a platform. The studio was high on the idea of putting the original game across console networks, so it wouldn't be much of a stretch to consider that this one will come to PSN or XBLM at some point. Steam, at least, seems like the safest bet at this point. 
 
UPDATE: A representative tells me that Torchlight II will be released on the PC initially, with a Macintosh version to follow at some point afterwards. The Torchlight MMO is still a thing that is happening, too, despite this surprise announcement.