Diablo V, StarCraft Revealed at BlizzCon 2026
Blizzard's return to BlizzCon delivers long-range plans for Diablo and StarCraft alongside a surprise Warcraft III campaign, while the wider industry sees both a million-selling early-access launch and another VR studio closure.
Level-5 also responds to backlash over its use of generative AI, adding another major industry story to a day dominated by Blizzard announcements.
Blizzard Announces Diablo V for Spring 2029
Blizzard Entertainment announces Diablo V at BlizzCon 2026 for spring 2029. The action RPG takes place 100 years after Diablo IV in a post-apocalyptic world without heroes, while Blizzard has not yet revealed platforms or a specific release date.
The Diablo franchise also expands onto Nintendo Switch 2, with Diablo IV: Age of Hatred Collection arriving next week, and an animated Diablo series enters development at Netflix. Blizzard's opening ceremony additionally announces World of Warcraft Forever, while Overwatch 2 receives a vampire-inspired support hero, a new map, and major character reworks.
StarCraft Returns as a Story-Driven Open-World Shooter in 2030
Blizzard announces STARCRAFT, a story-driven open-world shooter targeting 2030 rather than a new real-time strategy game. The project follows more than 15 years since StarCraft II, with Blizzard vice president Dan Hay—formerly associated with Far Cry—attached to the new direction.
While StarCraft remains years away, Warcraft III receives new content immediately. Blizzard shadow-drops the first new Warcraft III campaign in more than 20 years, with the release positioned as part of the strategy game's continued revival.
Polyarc Closes the Studio Behind Moss
Polyarc, the Seattle developer behind the Moss VR series, closes after almost 12 years. The studio becomes the latest VR developer to shut down during a difficult period for the sector.
Bulkhead’s Wardogs Surpasses One Million Copies in Steam Early Access
Bulkhead's tactical shooter Wardogs sells more than one million copies and passes 350,000 concurrent players within hours of launching into Steam Early Access. The Derby-based studio reaches both milestones on launch day, giving the game an unusually large debut before its full release.
Level-5 Addresses Generative AI Backlash
Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino addresses fan criticism of generative AI content shown during the company's Vision 2026 II showcase, including material connected to Professor Layton and the Curious Village and DecaPolice. Hino says some viewers felt uncomfortable and that Level-5 will take the response as a lesson, while continuing to defend the studio's use of generative AI in game development.