BlizzCon 2026 ran with the label of “The Next Chapter.” And the Opening Ceremony showed that 2026 is the beginning of a new era for Blizzard. Massive reveals, big announcements, and all properties, old and new, were well represented across all parts of BlizzCon 2026. Let’s break down all the big reveals and why they are so exciting for Blizzard fans old and new.
World of Warcraft’s Worldsoul Saga continues with Midnight 12.2, Eclipse, and The Last Titan.
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After defeating Ula’tek and the rise of the C’thraxxi general, Kith’ix, 12.2, Eclipse will show us what Xal’atath’s ultimate objective actually is. That darkwell and beam from the events of Midnight‘s launch have taken her underground directly to the heart of Azeroth, the World Core. Xal’atath has forced her way to where our World Soul has been kept to merge with her. We’ll be confronting Xal’atath head-on in this patch.
The new standalone game mode was first teased at PAX East 2025, as was the return of Remix. As for The Last Titan, whatever happens in Eclipse will bear fruit here. The Last Titan will also close 20 years of worldbuilding and will set up what comes next for our champions. We got to see exactly what we’ll be dealing with in terms of the new Northrend design and threats.
The Last Titan in 2027 will take us back to Northrend with the Wyrmrest Temple in Dragonblight as well as Icecrown Citadel. And our latest big enemy is a giant mech-like Titan construct, with more enemies promised to follow.
World of Warcraft Classic+ is REAL.
Not just a new version of World of Warcraft Classic, the Classic team has revealed at BlizzCon 2026 its newest version, World of Warcraft: Forever. As shown in its cinematic trailer, the original world of Azeroth is expanding with Dalaran dropping its shield, Undead Paladins, Mount Hyjal as a zone with the corpse of Archimonde, and a brand new race, the Skyborne. The original zones are getting expanded, with 10-20 player raids old and new, new talent trees, and over a thousand new quests and rewards.
World of Warcraft: Forever is taking a brand new approach to the wonders of the original Azeroth as a new beginning. This mode will be a third pillar of World of Warcraft, focusing on the world and exploring it as the primary character, with the journey as the focus. Also, it’s going to feature a more modern look instead of returning to the original Vanilla style. Retail players will be interested in playing for all-new account-wide awards too. This mode takes place after the events of Warcraft 3′s newest expansion, Forsaken Kingdom.
Interestingly, the max level will be set to 60 for the lifetime of the game. New ways to progress will be introduced along with new ways to explore. Almost like an Alternate Universe Azeroth, where Blizzard will really experiment with gameplay design for their long-running MMO. Maybe some of these new features will be introduced in World of Warcraft after The Last Titan.
World of Warcraft: Forever launches in only 7 weeks on November 4th, with beta launching this Thursday.
Warcraft 3 Reforged has a new expansion, Forsaken Kingdom.
After 23 years, Warcraft 3 is getting a brand new campaign with the Forsaken Kingdom. As the name implies, this campaign will focus on Loerderon, the undead, and Sylvanas. We will play through the fall of Loerderon and watch as it gets turned from the center of the Human kingdoms to the home of the undead Forsaken.
This expansion will also bring along with it a brand new graphical overhaul, massive map editing, and a new neutral hero, Forsaken Paladin, something we haven’t even seen yet in World of Warcraft. If you want to play, Forsaken Kingdom is available TODAY!
Hearthstone’s latest expansion brings us back to the time of the Old Gods’ reign of Azeroth.
Full of Old Gods, Titan Keepers, and more, we’re going back in time via Reign of the Black Empire. This is when the Old Gods ruled the planet before the Titans appeared. This expansion will also bring a new feature, Assemble, that combines two cards. Reign of the Black Empire launches October 20th.
Battlegrounds is also getting an update with its newest creature type, Aberration. Killing Aberrations will increase Old God influence on the battlefields. Hearthstone is improving its lore and storytelling with a new journal that will also include new events, such as 2v2 Hearthstone matches.
Lastly, Hearthstone is getting a brand-new class: the Monk. Chen Stormstout is the leading Monk coming to the game in Spring of 2027. Like Monks in World of Warcraft, this new class is meant to build combos and be highly flexible. Maybe it’ll come with some keg-drinking and drunken-master cards, too.
Overwatch’s Latest hero, Doctrine, adds a new vampiric twist to the Support role.
Overwatch‘s newest hero, Doctrine, is bringing a whole vampire aesthetic to the game’s roster. As revealed in a new animated cinematic shown at BlizzCon 2026, Doctrine is joining the fight on the side of the ex-Talon. He can heal and damage foes, and improves his abilities with an ability called “Infuse”. Doctrine will be part of Season 5, which comes out in October.
As a Moira support main, Doctrine could easily become a new main with his balance of being a healing threat. Doctrine is the ninth hero to be introduced as part of the 10 revealed heroes with the brand change to Overwatch. To follow Doctrine, an investigator sneaking around in the shadows was teased as the final hero coming to the Reign of Talon.
Overwatch‘s next season is heading to Iceland and the Maximum Security prison.
The ex-Talon team of Doomfist, Sombra, Reaper, and Widowmaker made it to Iceland and Overwatch’s base. They’ve broken out a former Talon member to help their cause. Is that to take on Vendetta and Doomfist’s usurpers? Only time will tell. But the narrative storytelling for Overwatch‘s newest season model continues, with intriguing interconnections that bring us to new locations and introduce more narrative-based heroes. Also, Doomfist freaking rocks. No wonder he’s become the newest highlighted hero of the franchise.
Also, as part of Season 5, Sombra is being reworked as a support, and Roadhog is getting a rework to be more supportive to his teammates instead of being a Big Guy with a hook. We’ll also get the originally announced feature for Season 4, unvaulted battle passes, as well as Dokiwatch and more! 2027 was also teased to be another big year with new heroes, a new storyline, and more.
Heroes of the Storm is BACK and with its new “hero”, Xal’atath.
After 4 years since pausing development, Blizzard’s MOBA, Heroes of the Storm, is getting a new content update. Xalatath, the primary villain of World of Warcraft‘s Worldsoul Saga is entering the nexus. She is coming September 14th to the Heroes of the Storm PTR and full release on September 28th. Another new hero was teased. But just having HotS back is extremely exciting in and of itself.
Diablo IV reveals its 30th anniversary celebration and new class, Amazon.
2026 marks 30 years of Blizzard’s grimdark action dungeon crawler, Diablo. As part of the celebration, Season of Hell’s Legacy launches in Diablo IV on Tuesday. Deckard Cain is returning this season to fight some of the series’ famous bosses, such as the prime evils, locations, and items. Diablo IV is also coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on September 17th with the Age of Hatred collection. Spawn is also finding his way to Sanctuary on September 29th in Diablo Immortal.
The Amazon class is coming to Diablo IV, too. The Amazon will be able to wield a bow as well as the new weapon type, javelin. You’ll be able to play as an Amazon in the first half of 2027 with the Amazon Class Pack.
A new era for Diablo, one without heroes and Sanctuary’s destruction.
Diablo V is real! In spring of 2029, we’ll be back in a new era of Sanctuary, fallen to the armies of Hell. All the heroes are gone, and we’ll play in a land that’s completely fallen, with no towns, no safety. Diablo V will be all about what one must become when the world has already fallen. After playing through near-destroyed lands time and again, coming back to Sanctuary after its ultimate destruction will be a joy. How the classes and gameplay will update will also be a welcome surprise with this new setting.
Diablo is Netflix’s latest animated show.
Microsoft has openly been pushing for more collabs with TV and Hollywood. It was announced at BlizzCon 2026 that Diablo has found its match made in heaven with Netflix’s animation team. Similar dark vibes as Castlevania, a show diving right into the grimdark Sanctuary, will be excellent. Additional shows surrounding Overwatch and Warcraft are also coming! About time these amazing and deep media properties are getting the love they deserve.
Starcraft is finally getting a new game, this time as an open-world shooter.
It’s about damn time! BlizzCon 2026 announced a return to the futuristic Starcraft universe with its open-world shooter, aptly named Starcraft. A Starcraft shooter has been rumored since the original reveal and eventual cancellation of Starcraft Ghost. We will be playing as a Terran Marshall in the Koprolu Sector fighting on the ground and in the face of the Zerg. Sadly, this is still a ways away and won’t be out until 2030. Yet a whole open-world shooter that will hopefully be as dark and gritty as that trailer really feels perfect to re-enter the once-thought-abandoned Blizzard universe.
Stay tuned to But Why Tho? for all kinds of BlizzCon 2026 reveals and news.
