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BlizzCon 2026, Switch 2 Games, Wardogs Breaks Out

Sep 9, 2026 — Sep 16, 2026

Blizzard’s BlizzCon 2026 announcements give the week its longest horizon, while Nintendo and Capcom build an increasingly substantial Nintendo Switch 2 release calendar for 2026 and 2027 EurogamerEurogamerNintendo Life. At the same time, Bulkhead’s Wardogs becomes an early-access sensation as Polyarc closes and Bungie reworks Marathon around player feedback IGNPure XboxPush Square.

Blizzard Announces Diablo 5 and StarCraft Shooter at BlizzCon

Blizzard announces Diablo 5 for 2029 releaseDiablo 5 Is Coming In Spring 2029, Here's The First Teaser TrailerVGCNintendo Life

Blizzard Entertainment announces Diablo 5 for spring 2029 and STARCRAFT, a story-driven open-world first-person shooter targeting spring 2030 rather than a new real-time strategy game VGCEurogamer. Diablo 5 takes place a century after Diablo IV in a post-apocalyptic world, while STARCRAFT draws on western influences including Deadwood and is planned as a traditional boxed release rather than a live-service game Nintendo LifeThe VergeRock Paper ShotgunEurogamer.

The unusually distant release windows are intended to show confidence that Blizzard can deliver both projects on schedule IGNVGC. Blizzard also confirms World of Warcraft: Forever as its long-awaited Classic+ project, while Warcraft III receives its first new campaign in more than 20 years EurogamerPure XboxIGN.

The announcements also reinforce Blizzard’s near-term support for Nintendo Switch 2. Diablo IV: Age of Hatred Collection arrives on the console alongside Season of Hell’s Legacy on September 15, although Diablo IV receives no further expansions before Diablo 5 arrives EurogamerEurogamer.

Nintendo Switch 2 Builds a Major 2026-27 Release Calendar

Metroid Ravenous Switch 2 Estimated File Size RevealedMetroid Ravenous On Switch 2 Will Support 120Hz OutputNintendo LifeNintendo Life

Nintendo’s September 2026 Direct sets release dates for several major Nintendo Switch 2 games, including Metroid Ravenous on January 28, 2027, Monster Hunter Wilds on December 4, 2026, and Stellar Blade: Complete Edition on November 5, 2026 Nintendo LifeNintendo LifeNintendo Life. MercurySteam, the developer of Metroid Dread, appears to be behind Metroid Ravenous, while Monster Hunter Wilds includes its existing updates, local multiplayer, and cross-platform play Nintendo LifeEurogamerNintendo Life.

The broader calendar includes Nintendo Switch 2 versions of Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, and Resident Evil 4 on October 16, followed by Professor Layton and the New World of Steam on December 10 IGNGematsuAutomaton West. Team Ninja’s Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember then launches on March 4, 2027, across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, with day-one availability through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate IGNGematsu.

The porting push also shows signs of strain. IO Interactive delays the Nintendo Switch 2 version of 007 First Light to March 2027 for additional performance work, while Cold Iron Studios moves Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 to early 2027 EurogamerNintendo LifeIGN.

Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII Revelation arrives on April 8, 2027, including Nintendo Switch 2, but early previews warn that its large open world and extensive side content may overwhelm players Nintendo LifeVGCEurogamer. The release also requires downloads for physical PlayStation 5 and Xbox editions, adding another point of friction to one of the week’s biggest upcoming RPGs IGN.

Wardogs Becomes the Week’s Breakout Early-Access Shooter

Wardogs Sells 2 Million Copies in 5 Days as Early Access Shooter Blows Up on SteamTeam17 owner Everplay increases shareholding in Wardogs dev Bulkhead, touts strong FY26 resultsIGNGamesIndustry.biz

Bulkhead’s Wardogs sells more than two million copies in five days and exceeds 400,000 concurrent players on Steam, establishing one of the strongest early-access launches of the week IGNVGC. The tactical multiplayer shooter also has a PlayStation 5 version planned after its PC debut Push Square.

Team17 owner Everplay increases its shareholding in Bulkhead while reporting that Wardogs and Hell Let Loose: Vietnam are outperforming expectations GamesIndustry.biz. The commercial success is accompanied by controversy over Bulkhead’s working culture, with CEO Joe Brammer saying the studio avoids hiring people unwilling to work through crunch IGNGame Developer.

Polyarc Closure Highlights Pressure on Studios and Workers

Moss Developer Polyarc Games Shutting Its Doors After 12 YearsWorker-run studio KO_OP confirms layoffsPure XboxGame Developer

Polyarc, the Seattle developer behind the Moss virtual-reality series, closes after 12 years and winds down active development shortly after releasing Moss: The Forgotten Relic Pure XboxRock Paper Shotgun. The shutdown arrives alongside KO_OP’s confirmation that it has eliminated 13 roles, underlining the continuing instability among smaller studios Game Developer.

The week also brings a contrasting labor development at Blizzard Entertainment, where almost 1,900 unionized workers ratify the studio’s first contract with Microsoft GamesIndustry.bizEurogamer. The agreement provides stronger layoff protections, recall rights, remote and hybrid work benefits, and a requirement that Blizzard negotiate with employees over generative AI use EurogamerRock Paper Shotgun.

Generative AI creates a separate backlash for Level-5 after fans criticize AI-generated material shown during the studio’s Vision 2026 II showcase. CEO Akihiro Hino apologizes for the presentation while continuing to defend the company’s use of generative AI in development EurogamerVGCNintendo Life.

Xbox Takes Over Hideo Kojima’s Physint as Publishers Consolidate

Physint to be published by Xbox Game Studios as Sony Interactive Entertainment steps away [Update]Sony reportedly ditched Hideo Kojima's Physint following missed deadlines, bloated budgets, and Death Stranding 1&2 missing sales expectationsGematsuEurogamer

Xbox takes over publishing Hideo Kojima’s Physint after Sony Interactive Entertainment steps away from the previously PlayStation-associated action-espionage project GematsuXbox Wire. Reports attribute Sony’s withdrawal to concerns over missed deadlines, rising costs, profitability, the game’s lack of permanent exclusivity, and the commercial performance of the Death Stranding series EurogamerIGNPush Square.

Microsoft’s expanded relationship with Kojima Productions also covers the horror game OD and potential film and television projects Push SquareIGN. Elsewhere, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund reportedly considers combining Electronic Arts with Savvy Games Group after a PIF-led consortium completes a reported $55 billion leveraged buyout of EA, although no merger has been announced EurogamerRock Paper ShotgunThis Week in Video Games.

Bungie Delays Marathon’s Symbiosis Update to December

Marathon's Future Questioned as Bungie Delays Big Update and Scraps Seasonal ScheduleMarathon Delays Next Major Update, Puts Focus on PvE, and Moves Away from Seasonal Content Amidst Bungie StrugglesPush SquareIGN

Bungie delays Marathon’s next major update from September 22 to December 8, with the update now called Symbiosis and set to introduce the shooter’s long-awaited permanent player-versus-environment mode Push SquareEurogamerRock Paper Shotgun. The studio is also abandoning Marathon’s strict seasonal schedule and changing the game beyond its original extraction-shooter vision in response to player feedback IGNGame Developer.

The decision gives Marathon a longer wait for its next major content drop but also marks a broader change in Bungie’s plans for the game. Symbiosis is positioned as the first major step in Marathon’s next chapter and its shift toward a more dynamic survival experience This Week in Video GamesRock Paper Shotgun.

No Man’s Sky and Valheim Reach Major Milestones

No Man’s Sky ‘COSMOS’ update now availableViking afterlife open-world survival game Valheim 1.0 is finally hereGematsuGamingOnLinux

Hello Games releases the free Cosmos update for No Man’s Sky as part of the space exploration game’s tenth-anniversary celebrations GematsuPlayStation Blog. The update adds orbital bases, space-station ownership, new alliances, and the ability to fly directly toward the sun Eurogamer.

Valheim also officially leaves Early Access with its version 1.0 launch and the addition of the Deep North biome, completing the game’s world after roughly five years of development GamingOnLinux. The release drives Valheim to its highest Steam player count in five years, although it does not match the survival game’s larger early-access peak Eurogamer.