Blizzard's first full BlizzCon since 2023 delivers major reveals across StarCraft, Diablo and Warcraft franchises under Microsoft's ownership.
Blizzard Entertainment held the BlizzCon 2026 opening ceremony on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, unveiling a new StarCraft game, Diablo V, and multiple Warcraft projects in what outlets including Variety and Xbox Wire described as a milestone event under Microsoft Gaming's ownership.
StarCraft Returns as Open-World Shooter
Blizzard announced a new StarCraft title, its first mainline entry in roughly 16 years since 2010's StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, according to GamesRadar. Variety reported the game is technically the third mainline StarCraft installment but will simply be titled "StarCraft." Xbox Wire and Variety confirmed it is an open-world, story-driven shooter set decades after StarCraft II, targeting a Spring 2030 release. GamesRadar noted Dan Hay appeared on stage to announce the franchise's return, a departure from the series' real-time strategy origins.
Diablo V and Warcraft Expansion Announced
Blizzard also revealed Diablo V, its next numbered action RPG entry, set for Spring 2029, according to Xbox Wire and Game Informer. The game is set roughly 50 years after Diablo IV, opening in a Sanctuary where, per Xbox Wire's framing, Diablo has won. Game Informer reported Diablo IV continues as a live title, with a new season called "Age of Hatred" and a Nintendo Switch 2 version also announced.
Warcraft III: Reforged received its first new campaign in over 23 years, playable immediately and available through Xbox Game Pass as add-on content, Xbox Wire reported. The ceremony closed with the reveal of World of Warcraft: Forever, described by IGN as a "Classic Plus" MMO offering a third way to play WoW alongside Modern and Classic versions. Set in the Vanilla era, it adds three new zones, more than 1,000 quests, nine dungeons, two raids and a new Skyborne race, according to Xbox Wire and Game Informer. Beta testing begins September 17, 2026, with full launch set for November 4, 2026.
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Broader Event Highlights
Blizzard's official recap confirmed Japanese duo YOASOBI will perform at BlizzCon's first-ever halftime show during the Overwatch World Cup. Game Informer also noted Heroes of the Storm received a new update after being in maintenance mode. The ceremony opened with a cinematic spanning Diablo, Overwatch, Hearthstone, StarCraft and World of Warcraft, GamesRadar reported.
