Highlights from the Action-Packed Opening Ceremony of BlizzCon 2026

BlizzCon 2026 marks the return of the World of Warcraft creator’s major fan event in person since 2023, and they certainly brought a wealth of news and announcements. From a new StarCraft installment to Diablo 5, here’s a rundown of everything unveiled during the opening ceremony in Anaheim, California.

Blizzard announced that Xal’atath, the Harbinger of the Void, is set to join the roster in their existing MOBA, and she won’t be the only new face in the Nexus. While significant updates were limited in 2022, the multiplayer experience has continued to receive support through seasonal patches.

Excitingly, Blizzard is developing a new animated series for Diablo in collaboration with Netflix. Although we didn’t see any footage, the company teased that adaptations for Overwatch and World of Warcraft are also in the pipeline.

The first trailer of BlizzCon 2026 featured a cinematic showcasing Terran marines engaging in battle, facing dire consequences. This project was introduced by Dan Hay, previously of Ubisoft’s Far Cry, who is now leading this long-anticipated spin-off, set to release in 2030.

A new stealth support character named Doctrine, equipped with healing drones, is set to arrive in season 5. He’s essentially a vampire, and players can start testing him today, as Blizzard showcased him in a new cinematic short.

The long-awaited port is launching on Nintendo’s hybrid console on September 15, coinciding with the new season.

Disciplined. Deadly. Legendary.

The Amazon class is making its debut in Diablo IV as part of a new Class Pack in the first half of 2027, bringing with it a new weapon: the javelin.

A surprise cinematic teaser revealed that the sequel is on the way for 2029, promising the fall of Sanctuary. The Diablo team assured fans of significant changes to the world, classes, and more, with further details to be shared in a panel later this weekend.

The release is set for October 20, and notably, the Monk class will be introduced to the card game for the first time in 2027.

A reveal trailer for Eclipse provided fans with their first look at what’s coming to the MMO in 2027 with its 12th expansion, which will conclude the Worldsoul Saga. Expect a massive robot armed with enormous laser cannons.

Warcraft 3 Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom will follow The Fall of Lordaeron, promising 30 hours of content, a new graphics mode, and the addition of a new unit. Plus, it’s available today.

A fresh take on vanilla WoW is set to launch on November 4, exploring alternate paths for some of the MMO’s most iconic moments, starting from year one. This will coexist alongside the regular and Classic versions, meaning there will now be three iterations of WoW!