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BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony: All The Biggest Announcements And Games
BlizzCon is a big deal if you're a fan of all things Blizzard, as the weekend event kicked off with a traditional opening ceremony full of announcements and reveals for the company's biggest games--and a few surprises!
The biggest of these was easily the announcement that StarCraft will return in 2030, but this time, Blizzard is switching up genres as the sci-fi game goes from real-time strategy to open-world shooter. A new Diablo was also announced, and World of Warcraft fans were spoiled with several reveals. In case you missed it, you can catch all the trailers and news below.
Heroes of the Storm is adding a new hero to its roster for the first time in six years, as Xal'atath is coming to the Nexus. You can try her out this weekend in the game.
For The First Time In 6 Years, Blizzard Is Bringing A New Character To Heroes Of The Storm
The next announcement was about a Diablo animated series in development. Blizzard president Johanna Faries announced that it's being produced by Netflix.
"Diablo, I promise, is just the beginning," Faries teased. "To our Overwatch community, to our Warcraft community, and who knows, perhaps even some of our other universes."
Ubisoft veteran Dan Hay was on stage to announce a brand-new StarCraft, which he described as an open-world shooter. The cinematic trailer showed off some gung-ho Dominion recruits training to be the best in the galaxy, but a few hours later, the remains of these fresh-faced soldiers were being scraped out of their warsuits.
StarCraft Is Officially Back, But It’s Taking A Much Different Form
Overwatch director Aaron Keller was next on stage, dressed in an incredible jacket themed around the game. A new animated trailer was shown off, featuring popular characters like former Talon leader Doomfist, Reaper, Widowmaker, and Sombra as they assaulted a prison pulled from the Watchpoint Gibraltar map. The video ended with a tease of the ninth hero joining Overwatch this year, Doctrine.
Miranda Moyer and Ben Bell from the Overwatch team described Doctrine as a Support-class hero who wields a scepter in battle. He mixes vampiric and techno-powers together, and he can shroud enemies in darkness to hinder them. Doctrine can also use an "infuse" power to transform his next power. Doctrine's Hero Trial will be available for all Overwatch players later today.
Overwatch’s Newest Blood-Sucking Character Pushes The Game Even Further Into The Fantasy Genre
Sombra and Roadhog are getting some big reworks in Overwatch soon. Sombra is being turned into a Support-class hero, and a whole lot of content is planned for Season 5 of the game.
Overwatch Is Reworking Two Of Its Most Criticized Characters
Stay a while, and listen to what's next for Diablo! Tiffany Wat and Brent Gibson from the Diablo team announced that everyone's favorite Horadrim scholar, Deckard Cain, will return to Sanctuary soon. You can meet the fan-favorite character in Diablo 4 on September 15, when Season of Hell's Legacy launches.
Todd McFarlane's Spawn is coming to Diablo Immortal, which makes my inner '90s kid very happy. Honestly, could you ask for a better crossover character in the free-to-play mobile game?
And it'll be out on September 15! Switch 2 owners can grab Diablo 4: Age of Hatred Collection when it launches alongside the new Season of Hell's Legacy.
At long last, you can play as an Amazon in Diablo 4. This new take on the fan-favorite character will wield her signature bow, as well as the new javelin-class weapon. She'll be added to the game in the first half of 2027.
With the Age of Hatred having concluded in Diablo 4, it's time for the next chapter in the series. Diablo 5 is currently scheduled to launch in Spring 2029, and things look bleak. In Diablo 5, the ancient Lord of Terror has returned and has conquered Sanctuary.
"What must you become, when the world has already fallen?" Wat teased for the dark direction of Diablo 5.
What's next for Hearthstone? A new expansion and a new gameplay me