Blizzard returned to Anaheim on Saturday for its first in-person BlizzCon since 2023, and the opening ceremony was stuffed with announcements that stretch out over the next several years. The two headline reveals both sit far in the future: Diablo V, aiming for spring 2029, and a new StarCraft, arriving in spring 2030.
The big two are years away
A surprise cinematic teased Diablo V, set after Sanctuary has fallen and Diablo has won. Blizzard framed the next chapter around the question of "what must you become when the world has already fallen," and promised more details in a panel later in the weekend. It is targeting spring 2029.
The long-rumored StarCraft project turned out to be a story-driven, open-world shooter, not an RTS. It was introduced by Dan Hay, the former head of Far Cry at Ubisoft, who is leading the spin-off. The first trailer showed Terran marines going into battle and getting torn apart. It is not slated to arrive until spring 2030. PC Gamer noted the obvious caveat: with Microsoft's recent track record of cancellations, a game four years out is a long bet.
Three flavors of WoW, and a farewell
Blizzard announced World of Warcraft: Forever, a "Classic Plus" style experience that revisits the game's first year with alternate paths through iconic moments. It launches November 4, with a beta starting September 17, and includes three new zones, more than 1,000 quests, nine dungeons, two raids, and the new Skyborne race. It will run alongside the Modern and Classic versions, making three concurrent WoWs.
For modern WoW, the next major update, Eclipse (12.2), continues the Worldsoul Saga in the Midnight expansion. Blizzard also gave a first look at The Last Titan, the next expansion and the intended culmination of over two decades of Warcraft storytelling, with more info promised early next year.
Warcraft III Reforged got its first new campaign in more than 23 years, Forsaken Kingdom, which covers the fall of Lordaeron and launched the same day alongside a 3.0 update with a graphics overhaul and revamped World Editor.
Live games keep rolling
- Diablo IV: Season of Hell's Legacy begins September 15, bringing back the Prime Evils and Deckard Cain. The Amazon class, wielding bow and javelin, arrives in the first half of 2027. The Age of Hatred Collection lands on Switch 2 on September 15 with cross-play and cross-progression.
- Overwatch: Season 5 adds new support hero Doctrine, reworks for Sombra and Roadhog, the new map Watchpoint: Grimsvotn, and the conclusion of the year-long Reign of Talon arc. YOASOBI will play an esports halftime show at the Overwatch World Cup, and the next Spotlight arrives in February 2027.
- Hearthstone: The Monk, its first new class in years, comes in 2027, with the Reign of the Black Empire expansion arriving first (Kotaku lists October 20).
- Heroes of the Storm: Xal'atath joins the Nexus on September 28 (PTR September 14), the MOBA's first new hero in six years.
Blizzard also confirmed an animated Diablo series in development at Netflix, with hints that Overwatch and Warcraft adaptations may follow.
What it means for players
If you play Blizzard games now, the near-term calendar is busy: Diablo IV's new season and Switch 2 port both hit September 15, WoW: Forever's beta opens September 17, and Warcraft III Reforged's new campaign is already live. The marquee items, Diablo V and StarCraft, are distant enough (2029 and 2030) that they belong on a watchlist rather than a wishlist, especially given how much can change over four years.
