BlizzCon 2026: New StarCraft shooter, Diablo on Netflix, Overwatch hero Doctrine

Blizzard opened BlizzCon 2026 with a new StarCraft shooter, a Diablo series for Netflix and fresh heroes for Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm.

BlizzCon 2026 takes place on 12 and 13 September 2026 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. The Opening Ceremony began at 10:30 a.m. PDT on 12 September in Hall D on the Main Stage, with doors at 9:00 a.m. PDT. The show was planned to run for around 75 minutes, and was streamed free on Blizzard's official YouTube and Twitch channels Blizzard.

The surprise was StarCraft. Dan Hay appeared on stage to announce a brand-new StarCraft game described as an open-world shooter, a shooting game set in a large explorable world GameSpot. No release date or platforms were given. The announcement restarts a series long known for real-time strategy, where players command armies from above, rather than for shooting action.

Diablo is heading to television. Blizzard president Johanna Faries announced a Diablo animated series produced by Netflix, now in development. No premiere date or casting was shared. The series was one of the few non-game announcements in a ceremony otherwise focused on playable rosters and updates.

Overwatch added to its line-up. The name is Doctrine. He is the ninth hero due in 2026, a Support-class character, the role focused on healing and protecting team-mates, who wields a scepter. His kit mixes vampiric and techno-powers, including an ability to shroud enemies in darkness to hinder them and an “infuse” power that transforms his next power.

Players did not have long to wait. Doctrine’s Hero Trial, a limited-time try-out open to all players, was due to go live later on 12 September. Blizzard also showed a new animated trailer in which Doomfist, Reaper, Widowmaker and Sombra assault a prison drawn from Watchpoint Gibraltar, one of the game’s maps.

Two older favourites are changing too. Sombra is being reworked from damage-dealer into a Support-class hero. Roadhog, the tank known for his hook and bulk, is also getting a rework, with details to follow in dedicated panels.

Heroes of the Storm, Blizzard’s free-to-play team brawler built around characters from its other games, is getting its first new hero in six years. The newcomer is Xal’atath. She was playable on the show floor during the BlizzCon weekend.

What makes this stand out is the spread. Rather than leaning on one franchise, Blizzard gave each of its large communities something concrete: a new game to follow, a show to wait for, and heroes to try at the event or at home that same evening.