BlizzCon 2026: New Starcraft Shooter, Diablo 5, World of Warcraft Forever

At the BlizzCon main hall, the announcement of a new Starcraft shooter left the crowd in a frenzy. The game, simply titled Starcraft, is set in the universe of the beloved franchise, with the teaser revealing the rise and fall of an elite soldier. Starcraft 2's Nova Covert Ops campaign pack was the last major news from the series in a decade, sparking much anticipation. Blizzard CEO Johanna Faries also hinted at future expansions for other franchises on the platform.

The long-awaited Diablo 5 was revealed at the hazy opening ceremony, promising a darker and deeper dive into the world of Sanctuary. The Lord of Terror, Diablo, is expected to take over the world, forcing players to fight for its return. The announcement came earlier than expected, with Diablo 4 still in development after a decade-long creation process for the previous two games.

In a surprise development for Diablo fans, the Amazon class from Diablo 2 is being brought back via a class pack next year, allowing players to explore the Skovos isles as one of their own. Additionally, an animated Diablo series is set to premiere on Netflix, further expanding the franchise.

World of Warcraft Forever, titled "Classic plus," is also making its debut at BlizzCon. This revamped version of the legendary MMO will focus on preserving the feel and level cap of vanilla WoW while adding new content, including three zones, 1,000 new quests, nine new dungeons, two new raids, and a new Skyborne race. The beta for WoW Forever is set to launch on September 17, with the game's official launch just two months later, on November 4.

Meanwhile, Overwatch continues to evolve with the introduction of new heroes and maps. The hero shooter's 10th anniversary celebration saw the announcement of 10 new heroes and a continuously evolving story. Noteworthy changes include the addition of Doctrine, a vampire-inspired support hero, and a new escort map set in the Icelandic prison where the character was once held. Overwatch's longtime support hero, Sombra, is also getting a rework, transitioning from a high-powered assassin to a support role.

The gaming landscape is also seeing changes in established franchises. Heroes of the Storm is set to receive its first new hero in six years, Xal'atath from World of Warcraft, adding fresh content to the multiplayer battle arena. Overwatch 2 is receiving balance patches and a new hero, Xal'atath, as Blizzard aims to breathe new life into the game.