Blizzard's BlizzCon convention has returned this weekend, marking its first appearance in two years. The opening ceremony, kicking off at 6:30 PM BST, is expected to reveal significant news and announcements from the company's major franchises.
Rumors suggest a major focus on a new StarCraft shooter, reportedly a co-op title similar to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, rather than a large-scale multiplayer experience. This project is said to be led by Dan Hay, formerly of Far Cry fame.
Evolving Classics and New Platforms
The convention is also anticipated to feature World of Warcraft "Classic Plus," a new direction for the classic version of the game that aims to introduce fresh updates. This follows Blizzard's approach with Diablo 2 earlier this year, which saw the addition of a new Warlock class as part of an evolutionary direction for that title. Furthermore, an announcement regarding a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Diablo 4 is widely expected, potentially with a shadow-drop release.
Franchise Updates on the Horizon
In addition to new game prospects, BlizzCon 2026 is likely to detail upcoming expansions for both Overwatch and Diablo 4. Both games have adopted a regular schedule for major content updates, with Diablo 4's most recent expansion, Lord of Hatred, released in April, and Overwatch's significant relaunch, Reign of Talon, occurring in February.
The backdrop to this year's BlizzCon includes the significant workforce reductions announced by Microsoft earlier in the year. While Blizzard appears to have been less affected by these cuts, the convention may address industry sentiment, particularly in light of a recent union recognition vote.