Diablo 5, StarCraft and WoW Forever: Every Major BlizzCon 2026 Announcement
BlizzCon returned on 12 September 2026 with a packed opening ceremony and several announcements that will shape Blizzard’s games for years. The biggest reveals included Diablo V, a new open-world StarCraft shooter and World of Warcraft: Forever. Blizzard also surprised players by releasing the first new Warcraft III campaign in 23 years.
Here are the important confirmed details, the release dates announced so far and the parts that remain subject to change.
BlizzCon 2026 announcements at a glance
- Diablo V: planned for spring 2029.
- StarCraft: a new open-world shooter targeting 2030.
- World of Warcraft: Forever: launches 4 November 2026, with beta access beginning 17 September.
- Warcraft III: Forsaken Kingdom: a new campaign released on 12 September alongside the free Reforged 3.0 update.
- Overwatch: a new hero called Doctrine, a new map and major Roadhog and Sombra changes were revealed.
- Hearthstone: the Monk class arrives with the Reign of the Black Empire expansion on 20 October.
Diablo V is coming in spring 2029
The headline announcement was Diablo V. Blizzard currently plans to release it in spring 2029, although that window is distant enough that details and timing could still change.
The story takes place roughly a century after Diablo IV. This time the apocalypse has already happened: Sanctuary has fallen and Diablo has won. Blizzard says the familiar safe towns are gone, with players instead travelling alongside a caravan of followers.
Early development information also points to procedurally generated dungeons and overworld areas, a larger selection of playable classes and a stronger emphasis on loot inspired by Diablo II. These are development plans rather than final promises, so we would expect the design to evolve before launch.
The new StarCraft is an open-world shooter
Blizzard also confirmed a new game simply titled StarCraft. It is being built as an open-world shooter rather than a traditional real-time strategy game, with a provisional release target of 2030.
That change of genre will divide opinion. It brings the universe to players who enjoy action games, but long-time fans may still be waiting for a true successor to StarCraft II. With four years of development still ahead, the cinematic announcement establishes the direction without revealing enough to judge the final game.
World of Warcraft: Forever launches this November
World of Warcraft: Forever is Blizzard’s answer to the long-running demand for a “Classic Plus” experience. It returns to the early era of the MMO but adds new stories and locations instead of recreating the original game without changes.
Blizzard has confirmed a global launch on 4 November 2026, with beta testing beginning on 17 September. Announced content includes three new zones, more than 1,000 quests, two raids, nine dungeons and the new Skyborne Elves playable race.
The level cap will initially remain at 60. The idea is to explore areas and events that were absent from the original version of Azeroth, creating a separate timeline that could eventually move in a different direction from the historical expansions.
Warcraft III gets its first new campaign in 23 years
One of the most unexpected reveals was Warcraft III: Forsaken Kingdom. The campaign launched during BlizzCon on 12 September, making it the first new official Warcraft III campaign in 23 years.
It arrived alongside the free Warcraft III: Reforged 3.0 update. This is the rare announcement players can experience immediately rather than adding to a release calendar several years away.
Overwatch and Hearthstone updates
Overwatch is receiving a new hero called Doctrine and a new Icelandic prison map named Grímsvötn. Blizzard also outlined larger character changes: Roadhog is being revised to provide more team support, while Sombra is moving toward a support role.
For Hearthstone, the Reign of the Black Empire expansion is scheduled for 20 October. Its biggest addition is Monk, the game’s first new class in several years.
Which BlizzCon announcement matters most?
Diablo V and StarCraft are the attention-grabbing reveals, but their distant release windows mean players should treat current details as an early look rather than a finished specification.
World of Warcraft: Forever is the most immediate major release, with its beta only days away and launch set for November. Meanwhile, Forsaken Kingdom is the best surprise for anyone who wants something new to play now.
Pixalrig will track confirmed release updates, platform details and UK preorder information as Blizzard publishes them.
Sources
All release information was checked on 13 September 2026. Long-range dates and in-development features may change.
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