At the opening ceremony of BlizzCon 2026, Blizzard Entertainment unveiled its line-up for the coming years, which ranges from a StarCraft shooter to Diablo V and World of Warcraft Forever as well as new content for Warcraft III. Here's an overview.
At BlizzCon 2026, held once again at the Anaheim Convention Centre, Blizzard Entertainment President Johanna Faries began by paying tribute to the community, just as her predecessors had done. "This is a truly special moment, as we come together around the games, universes and connections that inspire our work, friendships and lives," she explained in her address to the BlizzCon audience. "My hope is that our gathering here will remind the world why communities like this one are so important, why art and creativity matter, and why video games will always be relevant."
She also announced that Blizzard is collaborating with "creative heavyweights" to expand its storytelling beyond video games. For instance, an animated series set in the Diablo universe is being developed in collaboration with Netflix. This is just the beginning though, as more projects set in the Blizzard universe are taking shape.
One of the most significant new game announcements was a StarCraft shooter set in an open, story-driven world. The project was presented by Dan Hay, the long-standing producer and director of the Far Cry series from the third instalment onwards. The announcement came as a surprise, though, as the game is not due to be released until spring 2030 according to current plans. In other long-term announcements, Diablo V was also unveiled. It is scheduled for release in spring 2029 and is set in a world where Diablo has triumphed and taken over Sanctuary. However, apart from the trailers, there was nothing else to be seen of the two games.
More from the Diablo universe. The Diablo IV: Age of Hatred Collection, which includes all previous expansions and updates, is set to launch on 15 September 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2. It will offer cross-play and cross-platform progression. To mark the 30th anniversary of the franchise, Diablo IV: Season of Hell's Legacy will launch in-game on 15 September, with the return of the Great Evils (including Diablo) and Deckard Cain, alongside rewards and gear inspired by every era of Diablo. The Amazon class will be released in the first half of 2027 as part of Diablo IV’s first class pack, and she will come armed with both her javelin and her classic bow. However, beyond seasonal updates, there are no plans for any further major content expansions for Diablo IV, such as Lord of Hatred.
Most of the announcements, however, focus on Warcraft. For example, World of Warcraft: Forever was announced. It was codenamed Camelot and had long been referred to as Classic+. This will provide a third way to experience World of Warcraft, existing alongside Modern WoW and WoW Classic.
World of Warcraft: Forever © Blizzard Entertainment
It's a new beginning that never ends. It's the journey that counts, not the destination, explains Blizzard. In the expanded and updated version of Vanilla WoW, or classic WoW, level 60 is definitely the end, but new content, including progression systems, will be added regularly. Forever is released on 4. November (beta begins on 17 September) with three new areas (Mount Hyjal, Riverglades and Zephras Isles), over 1,000 new quests, nine new dungeons, two new raids (for 10 and 20 players), the new race of the Skyborn (Horde or Alliance) as well as new items, professions, and reputations, SD/HD character toggle and updated world visuals. Access to WoW Forever is included in the standard WoW subscription, but those who want access to Skyborne must purchase an upgrade. A hardcore version is also planned.
The 12.2 content update, Eclipse, has been unveiled for the modern version of World of Warcraft: Midnight. This is the final major update and features a new raid called the Worldcore, in which the Light and the Void battle each other. Before this, a new story-driven PvE action RPG game mode called 'Talebound' will be released as part of Patch 12.1.7. The new remix event, Wrath of the Lich King, is due to arrive in summer 2027. The choice of Wrath of the Lich King comes as no surprise, given that The Last Titan, the conclusion to the World Saga trilogy, is also set to be released in 2027 and will be set in Northrend. A massive robotic construct was shown stomping through Northrend in a small preview. The expansion itself is set to be unveiled in detail in early 2027.
Additionally, a new campaign has been released for Warcraft III: Reforged, featuring the first new storyline in over 23 years. Entitled 'Forsaken Kingdom', the new campaign tells the story of the fall of Lordaeron and its transformation into Undercity. According to Blizzard, it will offer around 30 hours of gameplay and will cost €30. Alongside the expansion, the Definitive Edition update (3.0) for Warcraft III: Reforged comes with graphical improvements and a revamped world editor, and will be available free of charge to those who already own Warcraft III: Reforged.
The next expansion for Hearthstone is called Reign of the Black Empire. It is set in an early era of Azeroth, long before the Old Gods (C'Thun, N'Zoth, Yogg-Saron and Y'Shaarj) were imprisoned. The new 'Assemble' keyword merges two cards into one powerful new card, opening the door to unpredictable combinations. Meanwhile, the Journal is being completely overhauled. All quests, achievements, and events from past adventures will be brought together in one place. Hearthstone Battlegrounds will feature a new type of minion: Abominations. The Monk, Hearthstone's first new class in over six years, is set to debut in 2027.
In Overwatch, Season 5 will feature the new support hero, Doctrine, as well as comprehensive reworks of the Sombra and Roadhog characters, alongside the new Watchpoint: Grímsvötn, and the conclusion of the story surrounding Talon's reign. Le Sserafim will return to the main stage for the BlizzCon weekend finale with a live performance, marking the start of their upcoming US tour. To celebrate this, a new in-game collaboration will be available. The next Overwatch Spotlight will be released in February 2027.
The long-dormant MOBA Heroes of the Storm is getting a new addition. Xal'atath will join the fray on 28 September and will be available on the PTR from 14 September. Blizzard has hinted that the future may hold more new heroes.
