BlizzCon 2026: biggest announcements

BlizzCon returned on 12 and 13 September 2026 with one of Blizzard’s most announcement-packed showcases in years.

New World of Warcraft and Diablo games led the reveals, while StarCraft returned in an unexpected form and several long-running titles received substantial updates.

WORLD OF WARCRAFT: FOREVER REIMAGINES VANILLA AZEROTH

One of the show’s biggest surprises was World of Warcraft: Forever, a third version of the MMORPG designed to exist alongside Modern WoW and WoW Classic.

Forever returns players to the Vanilla era but expands it with unseen parts of Azeroth. Blizzard has promised three new zones, more than 1 000 quests, nine dungeons, two raids, and the new Skyborne playable race. The beta begins on 17 September, followed by the full launch on 4 November 2026.

Modern WoW players also received a preview of the Midnight update, Eclipse, and an early look at The Last Titan, the concluding chapter of the Worldsoul Saga. Meanwhile, Warcraft III: Reforged received its first new campaign in more than 23 years.

Forsaken Kingdom, accompanied by the major 3.0 update, was released during BlizzCon.

DIABLO V IS OFFICIAL

Blizzard officially revealed Diablo V, scheduled for release in spring 2029. The game presents a particularly bleak version of Sanctuary in which Diablo has already prevailed, establishing a markedly different starting point for the next instalment.

More immediate additions are coming to Diablo IV. The Season of Hell’s Legacy launches on 15 September as part of Diablo’s 30th-anniversary celebrations, bringing back the Prime Evils, Deckard Cain, anniversary rewards, and equipment inspired by previous games.

Diablo IV is also launching for Nintendo Switch 2, while the Amazon will arrive through the game’s first class pack during the first half of 2027.

Beyond gaming, Blizzard confirmed that a Diablo animated series is in development at Netflix.

STARCRAFT RETURNS AS AN OPEN-WORLD SHOOTER

After years of uncertainty surrounding the franchise, Blizzard unveiled a new StarCraft open-world shooter.

Currently titled simply StarCraft, the game will take players back to the Koprulu Sector when it launches in spring 2030. The change in genre signals a bold new direction for the series, although its distant release window means that much of the project remains under wraps.

OVERWATCH INTRODUCES DOCTRINE

Overwatch celebrated its tenth anniversary by revealing Doctrine, a vampire-inspired Support Hero who combines life-draining abilities with bat-like drones.

Doctrine will officially join the game in Season 5, alongside major reworks for Sombra and Roadhog and the new Watchpoint: Grimsvötn map. The season will conclude The Reign of Talon, the first year-long narrative arc in the game’s history.

Other Overwatch attractions included the Overwatch World Cup, a halftime performance by YOASOBI, a closing performance from LE SSERAFIM, and QuestWatch, a live tabletop role-playing adventure written by Matt Mercer and the Overwatch narrative team.

HEARTHSTONE WELCOMES THE MONK

Hearthstone is expanding its roster with the Monk, its first new playable class in six years. The adaptable new class is scheduled to arrive in March 2027.

Before then, the Reign of the Black Empire expansion will launch on 20 October 2026. Its Old God-themed cards introduce Assemble, a mechanic that combines two cards to create a more powerful one.

Battlegrounds will also receive the new Aberration minion type on 22 September, while a redesigned Journal will connect quests, achievements, events, and stories across different expansions.

HEROES OF THE STORM SHOWS SIGNS OF LIFE

Blizzard had a welcome surprise for Heroes of the Storm players: Xal’atath is joining the Nexus. The Warcraft character becomes playable on 28 September, following her Public Test Realm debut on 14 September.

Blizzard also hinted that further developments may be planned, raising hopes that the long-running crossover MOBA could receive more meaningful support.

A STATEMENT OF INTENT FROM BLIZZARD

BlizzCon 2026 balanced immediate releases with exceptionally long-term announcements. Warcraft III: Forsaken Kingdom arrived during the event, while World of Warcraft: Forever is only weeks away.

At the opposite end of the timeline, Diablo V and the new StarCraft project offered glimpses of Blizzard’s plans for 2029 and 2030.

The clearest takeaway was that Blizzard is investing in both its history and its future, reviving older games, expanding established live services, and finding new ways to use its best-known worlds.