BlizzCon 2026: StarCraft Returns, Diablo V Revealed & Every Major Announcement
BlizzCon 2026 opened in Anaheim on September 12 with one of Blizzard Entertainment’s busiest announcement slates in years. The biggest headlines included the return of StarCraft, the reveal of Diablo V, major updates for Overwatch and Warcraft, and a new Hearthstone expansion.
Here are the announcements, dates, and details players should know.
StarCraft returns as an open-world shooter
Blizzard confirmed that StarCraft will return in 2030 as an original open-world shooter. The announcement marks a major new direction for a franchise best known for real-time strategy.
Details are still limited, but the 2030 target makes this a long-range project rather than an imminent release.
Diablo V is coming in spring 2029
Diablo V was officially announced for spring 2029. Blizzard says the story begins after Sanctuary has fallen and Diablo has won.
Diablo IV: Season of Hell’s Legacy launches September 15, 2026, bringing back the Prime Evils, Deckard Cain, Nightmare Rifts, anniversary rewards, and gear inspired by earlier eras. The Amazon is planned as Diablo IV’s next class in the first half of 2027.
Overwatch adds Doctrine and celebrates 10 years
For Overwatch’s 10th anniversary, Blizzard revealed Doctrine, a new Support hero described as a life-draining, vampire-inspired healer who deploys bat-like drones.
Season 5 also includes major reworks for Sombra and Roadhog, plus the new Watchpoint: Grimsvotn map. The next Overwatch Spotlight is scheduled for February 2027.
World of Warcraft: Forever launches November 4
World of Warcraft: Forever is a new way to play alongside Modern and Classic, set in the Vanilla era but expanded with three new zones, more than 1,000 quests, nine dungeons, two raids, and the new Skyborne race.
- September 17, 2026: World of Warcraft: Forever beta begins
- November 4, 2026: World of Warcraft: Forever launches
- Available now: Warcraft III: Reforged’s Forsaken Kingdom campaign and 3.0 update
Blizzard also previewed The Last Titan, the final chapter of World of Warcraft’s Worldsoul Saga, with more information expected in early 2027.
Hearthstone: Reign of the Black Empire arrives October 20
Hearthstone: Reign of the Black Empire launches October 20, 2026. The expansion explores an early era of Azeroth and introduces Assemble, a keyword that merges two cards into a stronger one.
Battlegrounds adds a new minion type called Aberrations on September 22. The Monk is scheduled to become Hearthstone’s first new playable class in six years in March 2027.
Heroes of the Storm is getting a new hero
Xal’atath joins Heroes of the Storm on September 28, with PTR access beginning September 14.
Key BlizzCon 2026 dates
- September 14: Xal’atath hits the Heroes of the Storm PTR
- September 15: Diablo IV Season of Hell’s Legacy
- September 17: World of Warcraft: Forever beta
- September 22: Hearthstone Battlegrounds adds Aberrations
- September 28: Xal’atath launches in Heroes of the Storm
- October 20: Hearthstone: Reign of the Black Empire
- November 4: World of Warcraft: Forever
- Spring 2029: Diablo V
- 2030: new StarCraft open-world shooter
Blizzard is balancing near-term updates with long-range franchise announcements: several games have content arriving within months, while Diablo V and StarCraft establish a roadmap stretching into the next decade.
Official source
BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony recap — Blizzard Entertainment / Xbox Wire
Featured and in-article images are official Blizzard Entertainment promotional assets distributed through Xbox Wire.