Blizzard Announces StarCraft Shooter, Diablo V, and World of Warcraft Forever at BlizzCon 2026

Blizzard Entertainment impressed fans at BlizzCon 2026 with major announcements, including a new StarCraft shooter, Diablo V, and World of Warcraft Forever. The company also revealed updates for Hearthstone, Overwatch, Heroes of the Storm, Diablo 3, and Warcraft 3. After years of relatively few announcements, Blizzard’s latest event revealed several projects that could significantly shape its upcoming release schedule.

The biggest surprise was the announcement of a new StarCraft game. Although the reveal trailer offered very little information, Blizzard confirmed that the project would not be another hero shooter or live-service title. Instead, the game is reportedly being developed as an open-world shooter with a dedicated story and ending. 

Making a story-driven StarCraft shooter is a huge departure for the series that has long been synonymous with real-time strategy games. 

The project is now estimated to launch in 2030, but that is only an estimate. With Blizzard not having revealed a lot of gameplay yet, there are still many unknowns regarding the story, mechanics, and the world. The game’s ambitious setting and reported open-world design suggest that Blizzard is taking the franchise in a new direction, although fans will have to wait for more details before judging its potential.

The premise of the game could give the players a ground-up view of the StarCraft universe. Instead of commanding armies from above, players could visit locations, fight, and interact with the different factions themselves. The option to call in powerful attacks or use vehicles such as siege tanks could also allow for opportunities for large-scale action in a first- or third-person experience.

But it is still years away from release, and the early announcement leaves a lot of room for changes. Blizzard’s history with canceled projects, like StarCraft: Ghost, has also made fans wary. While the new game has attracted attention for its setting and direction, Blizzard will need to reveal more gameplay before players can fully understand its ambitions.

Alongside the StarCraft announcement, Blizzard revealed Diablo V. The upcoming sequel appears to represent a shift away from Diablo IV’s open-world structure and toward a more traditional Diablo experience. The game is reportedly planned for release in spring 2029, giving Blizzard several years to develop the next chapter in the franchise.

Diablo V’s story reportedly takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. Players once again will play as a powerful character who fights monsters and completes objectives as he travels through deadly environments. Blizzard has also discussed procedural landscapes, meaning that points of interest, enemies, and rewards may change when players return to areas they have already explored.

It would add variety to repeated playthroughs and keep exploration unpredictable. 

The reported changes also imply that Diablo V might be returning to a more structured format rather than relying heavily on a single open world. The game is expected to feature several classes, including the new Plague Knight, alongside returning character types such as the Demon Hunter and Monk.

Blizzard reportedly intends to include more starting classes than any previous Diablo game. Some of the game’s systems also appear to draw inspiration from Diablo 2, particularly its approach to loot and character progression. Rather than relying on a more uniform equipment system, Diablo Vcould introduce greater variety in the items players discover.

The announcement comes after Diablo IV’s long-term content plans reportedly shifted. Blizzard previously discussed supporting the game with expansions and ongoing updates, but announcing a full sequel suggests the company is moving toward a new foundation. The final result will depend on how Blizzard balances familiar Diablo elements with the changes introduced in the previous games.

We also had a big announcement with World of Warcraft Forever. By contrast, Forever is said to be an expanded take on the original World of Warcraft experience, rather than a return to an earlier version of the MMO as is the case with World of Warcraft Classic. Supposedly, the project will bring the world back to the way it was, with new content and gameplay features.

World of Warcraft Forever is said to include three new zones, over 1,000 quests, nine dungeons, two raids, and a new playable race called the Skyborn. These additions would provide a ton of content for players while still keeping the original game's identity.

Blizzard has confirmed the project’s release date for November 14, with the beta reportedly beginning September 17. The announcement is aimed at players who enjoy the early version of World of Warcraft but want more to do without moving to the modern game. It also gives Blizzard another way to serve different sections of its MMO community.

The company also announced several updates for its existing games. 

Hearthstone is receiving an updated journal, a new set based on the Old Gods, and a new keyword called Assemble. Players can apparently combine cards or minions to create more powerful units with this mechanic. The game also includes new minion types called Aberrations and a new class, the Monk.

Overwatch is receiving a new hero named Doctrine, who is described as a vampire-themed support character. Blizzard is also reworking Sombra and Roadhog while introducing a new map. Meanwhile, Heroes of the Storm is getting another new hero, suggesting that Blizzard continues to support the multiplayer title despite its reduced development focus recently.

Diablo 3 is also receiving new content, even though Diablo V was one of the event’s major announcements. A new season will reportedly introduce Diablo into the game for the first time. The Amazon class is also scheduled to arrive during the first half of next year. In addition, a complete edition of Diablo 3 is launching on Nintendo Switch 2.

One of the biggest surprise announcements was for Warcraft 3. Blizzard has launched a new expansion on the rise of the Forsaken, with an all-new story that connects to the larger Warcraft universe. The expansion is available through the Battle.net launcher, with the campaign reportedly emphasizing heroes rather than the traditional large-scale strategy structure.

The campaign has been compared to the bonus Orc campaign from The Frozen Throne, although the new content is reportedly much longer and makes extensive use of the Warcraft 3 engine. The expansion is priced at $30, which has raised questions about its value considering the type and amount of content included.

The update also includes some controversial changes. 

The new version reportedly needs players to be online, while the enhanced visuals are limited to the new campaign. It’s said that the updated graphics look better than Warcraft 3: Reforged, but the original Warcraft 3 content hasn’t received the visual upgrades.

BlizzCon 2026 is a particularly busy year for Blizzard, with several new projects announced, as well as updates to existing games. Diablo V and World of Warcraft Forever are all different takes on existing properties. The StarCraft shooter. While some of the announcements are still years away, they indicate that Blizzard is working on some new formats and not just familiar releases.

Ultimately, the success of these projects will depend on how well Blizzard executes them. Blizzard has revealed its big plans, but some of the titles are still early in development, and many details remain unconfirmed. As development continues, fans will have to wait for more gameplay footage and official updates to determine whether these ambitious ideas can translate into compelling gaming experiences.

For now, the announcements clarify what the company plans for the future and suggest Blizzard is preparing to enter a new phase of development for its flagship franchises. The upcoming releases also show that Blizzard is willing to revisit established formulas while introducing new experiences across its most recognizable series.