BlizzCon 2026 is underway, and Blizzard Entertainment used its Opening Ceremony to reveal Diablo V, announce an original open-world shooter titled STARCRAFT, and introduce World of Warcraft: Forever. The company also detailed major updates for World of Warcraft, Warcraft III: Reforged, Overwatch, Diablo IV, Hearthstone, and Heroes of the Storm.
This roundup covers every announcement in Blizzard Entertainment’s official Opening Ceremony recap, along with the release dates, beta windows, and official trailers published by Blizzard’s franchise channels. BlizzCon 2026 continues at the Anaheim Convention Center through Sunday, September 13, so these are the Opening Ceremony announcements rather than a recap of the full two-day event.
Diablo V is coming in spring 2029
Blizzard officially announced Diablo V for spring 2029. Its premise begins after catastrophe rather than ahead of it: Sanctuary has fallen, its heroes have been defeated, and Diablo has won. Players will enter that conquered world and confront the question of what they must become to survive it.
Blizzard has not announced platforms for Diablo V, so no console or PC versions should be assumed yet.
STARCRAFT returns as an open-world shooter
Blizzard’s new StarCraft project is styled STARCRAFT. It is an original open-world shooter set in the Koprulu Sector and is scheduled for spring 2030. The announcement marks a new direction for the science-fiction franchise rather than a newly announced real-time strategy sequel.
No platforms were confirmed in Blizzard’s announcement. The official reveal is the cinematic titled Dominion.
World of Warcraft: Midnight, Eclipse, and The Last Titan
For the modern version of World of Warcraft, Blizzard described the Worldsoul Saga as being at its midpoint in Midnight. Patch 12.2, titled Eclipse, will continue Xal’atath’s attempt to claim Azeroth’s Worldsoul and place its fate in players’ hands.
The studio also offered a first preview of The Last Titan, the final chapter of the Worldsoul Saga. Blizzard says it will conclude more than two decades of Warcraft storytelling while establishing what follows. More information on The Last Titan is expected early next year.
Warcraft III: Reforged gets Forsaken Kingdom
Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom is the first new Warcraft III story in more than 23 years. The campaign begins amid the ruins and fall of Lordaeron, follows the newly freed Forsaken as they establish the Undercity, and connects that era to the opening of World of Warcraft: Forever.
The official Forsaken Kingdom announcement says the release includes a prologue, three campaign chapters, a neutral Forsaken Paladin hero unit, and new story content. It is available now.
The campaign arrived with Warcraft III: Reforged update 3.0, described on Blizzard’s dedicated page as the Definitive Edition update. It adds graphical and performance improvements, while Blizzard’s Opening Ceremony recap also confirms a revamped World Editor.
World of Warcraft: Forever launches November 4
World of Warcraft: Forever is a new third WoW experience that will exist alongside Modern and Classic. Built on a Vanilla-era foundation, Forever returns to original Azeroth while opening new paths through familiar regions.
Blizzard says the game will include three new zones, more than 1,000 new quests, nine new dungeons, two new raids, and the new Skyborne race. World of Warcraft: Forever launches globally on November 4, 2026, at 3 p.m. PST and will be included with a World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time.
The beta begins September 17 and runs through October 21. Blizzard’s official edition and beta guide says access is included with the Skyborne Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection. That page also details optional upgrade packs, early name reservation, and launch-week invitation codes.
Overwatch reveals Doctrine, Season 5, and two hero reworks
Doctrine is Overwatch’s Hero 54, a vampire-inspired Support who manipulates lifeforce with a scepter, infusions, and bat-like drones. His limited-time Hero Trial is live through September 14, ahead of his full debut when Season 5 launches on October 6.
Season 5 will conclude The Reign of Talon, Overwatch’s first year-long narrative arc. The new Escort map Watchpoint: Grímsvötn is an Icelandic volcano prison where Doomfist breaks Doctrine free. Blizzard also teased Hero 55 as a clue to the game’s 2027 direction, but did not reveal the character’s identity.
Major Sombra and Roadhog reworks are planned for Season 5. Sombra will move from the Damage roster to Support; Blizzard has not yet published full ability details for either rework. The official Overwatch BlizzCon breakdown also confirms the continuation of Dokiwatch.
A new LE SSERAFIM collaboration is available in the game now, with the group set to perform as BlizzCon 2026’s closing musical act on September 13. YOASOBI will perform during the Overwatch World Cup halftime show. Blizzard also announced that the next Overwatch Spotlight will take place in February 2027 with a roadmap for the year ahead.
QuestWatch, Overwatch’s first live tabletop RPG one-shot, begins September 13 at noon PDT. Matt Mercer will serve as game master, with Carolina Ravassa, Anjali Bhimani, Darin DePaul, and Chiara Preziosi playing a non-canon adventure as Sombra, Symmetra, Reinhardt, and Vendetta.
Players can also earn a BlizzCon Mythic Voucher by completing one game after the Opening Ceremony, then exchange it for one eligible complete Mythic bundle from Seasons 1–14. The voucher must be earned and redeemed by October 5; players who already own every eligible base Mythic Skin receive 50 Mythic Prisms instead.
Diablo IV celebrates 30 years with Season of Hell’s Legacy
Diablo IV’s Season of Hell’s Legacy begins rolling out September 15 at 9:30 a.m. PT. Deckard Cain returns as a lost soul who guides players through a seasonal journey built around 30 years of Diablo history.
Baal, Mephisto, and Diablo return as the Prime Evils. Players will confront them, reclaim splinters of their souls, and carry a Splinter to wield part of a Prime Evil’s power at a cost. The season also brings anniversary rewards, gear inspired by earlier Diablo games, nine permanent legacy Unique items, Rebirth, and additional quality-of-life and endgame changes.
The Amazon class pack arrives in 2027
The Amazon is Diablo IV’s first class pack and will arrive in the first half of 2027. Blizzard says the warrior comes from Skovos and supports four official gameplay archetypes: Champion, Skirmisher, Ranger, and Commander. She can wield the returning bow and javelin, with the javelin becoming a new weapon type for Diablo IV. Pricing and further class-pack details have not been announced.
Diablo IV comes to Nintendo Switch 2 on September 15
Diablo IV: Age of Hatred Collection launches for Nintendo Switch 2 on September 15. The collection includes the base game, Vessel of Hatred, and Lord of Hatred.
Blizzard also brought back Moophisto for The Divine Bovine Community Challenge, making the cow-themed Mephisto encounter available to BlizzCon attendees and players at home.
Blizzard and Netflix are developing a Diablo animated series
Blizzard and Netflix are developing a new animated series set in the world of Diablo. That is the full extent of the confirmed production information for now: Blizzard has not announced a title, release date, cast, animation studio, plot, or episode count.
The company described the project as the beginning of more storytelling beyond games across its universes, but it did not announce any additional adaptations during the Opening Ceremony.
Hearthstone reveals Reign of the Black Empire, Aberrations, and Monk
Hearthstone is receiving an overhauled Journal that will gather quests, achievements, events, and the narrative surrounding each expansion in one place. Blizzard says it will continue to expand as the game’s story moves forward.
Reign of the Black Empire launches October 20 and travels back to ancient Azeroth when the Old Gods were at the height of their power. Its new Assemble keyword combines two cards into a stronger card, creating new possible pairings.
Hearthstone Battlegrounds adds Aberrations with Patch 36.6.1 on September 22. According to Blizzard’s official Battlegrounds announcement, the new minion type uses discard synergies and sacrifices to awaken either C’Thun or Y’Shaarj. Aberrations will appear in every lobby for their first two weeks, while Naga rotate out of the minion pool.
Monk becomes Hearthstone’s next playable class in March 2027. It will be the first new class added to the game in six years, bringing the Warcraft archetype’s fluid and adaptable fighting style to the card game.
Xal’atath joins Heroes of the Storm
Xal’atath is the next Heroes of the Storm character. The World of Warcraft antagonist arrives on the Heroes PTR on September 14, followed by a full release on September 28.
Blizzard thanked the players who have continued supporting Heroes of the Storm and said there may be more to come for the game, but it did not announce another hero or a broader roadmap.
BlizzCon 2026 continues through September 13
The Opening Ceremony delivered the weekend’s main reveal slate, but game-specific panels, esports, QuestWatch, performances, and other programming continue on September 13. Our BlizzCon 2026 schedule and viewing guide lists the official channels and remaining main-stage sessions.
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