#Blizzard

World of Warcraft: Forever dev teases new 'mega dungeon' to get lost in for hours like the good ol' days

World of Warcraft: Forever senior game designer Josh Greenfield teased "a good BRD-like mega dungeon" on X. Blackrock Depths, the old WoW dungeon the community calls a mega dungeon, packs something like 20 boss encounters and requires five players. Greenfield also posted an image of what looks like a dungeon entrance tied to the Timbermaw, after Blizzard teased Blackmaw Hold for level 55+ players at BlizzCon.

Stop trying to make a console war out of which WoW is better, you're all exhausting

The World of Warcraft: Forever beta has recaptured the essence of oldschool MMOs for the author, but he rejects turning Retail, Classic, and Forever into warring factions. He argues Retail WoW's design isn't inherently bad, just different, and that Forever itself shows the versions can learn from each other. Building an identity out of which version you play and attacking others over it is exhausting and unhealthy.

Blizzard gifts Diablo 4 players a Resplendent Spark to apologise for Season 15 issues

Blizzard has apologised to Diablo 4 players for Season 15 launch issues by gifting them a Resplendent Spark, one of the game's rarest crafting materials, via the in-game Horadric Post mailing system. The season was initially delayed by several hours due to log-in errors and server issues, and gameplay mechanics such as The Tree of Whispers also failed to display rewards. All outstanding problems have since been addressed in patches and hotfixes.

10 Game Cancellations That Are Still Devastating Years Later

Polygon rounds up 10 canceled games that players are still upset about years later, including StarCraft: Ghost, announced in 2002 and put on indefinite hold in 2006, and Dead Space 4, which began development in February 2013 before EA halted it. The list also covers Fable Legends, canceled in 2016 just before its open beta, and Star Wars Battlefront 3, canceled by LucasArts in late 2008, with a playable Wii build surfacing in late 2024.

Diablo 4 Director Promises the Game Will Still Receive Support Well After Diablo 5 Launches

Diablo 4 director Brent Gibson responded to fan concerns about the game's lifespan after Diablo 5 was revealed at Blizzcon 2026, saying Diablo 4 will continue to receive support well after Diablo 5's release. He said the Amazon class is coming in the first half of 2027 and that seasons will continue as long as the community keeps showing up, citing ongoing support for Diablo 2 and Diablo 3. Diablo 5 director Joe Shely said Diablo 4 remains fully supported by its team and announced the game is coming to Switch 2.

Diablo 5 director promises Diablo 2-style combat where 'the right build' matters more than Diablo 4's action-heavy approach

Diablo 5 director Joe Shely said the game will keep some moment-to-moment execution mechanics but will on balance be a planning-and-investment game, designed around the ARPG tenet that any challenge can be overcome with the right build. He framed Diablo 4 as more reflex- and dodge-driven, while Diablo 2 rewarded preparing a character before a fight. What Blizzard has said about Diablo 5 at BlizzCon shows it knows many players want more of that old DNA.

Alleged WoW: Forever Survey Teases 11 New Classes, Including Some Deep Cuts

An alleged survey pushed to select World of Warcraft players via Blizzard's Battle.net launcher lists 11 potential new classes for WoW: Forever, including Bard, Necromancer, Tinker, Warden, and Witch. The survey details each class's lore, weapons, armor class, resources, roles, and signature abilities, with Demon Hunter, Monk, and Death Knight appearing as old-school versions of existing classes. Blizzard asks participants not to disclose the survey, but its contents almost always find their way online.

World of Warcraft: Forever classified for consoles in Brazil via the Ministry of Justice

World of Warcraft: Forever has been classified for consoles in Brazil via the Ministry of Justice. The console platforms were later removed from the listing, suggesting the classification may have been done in error. The game recently added full controller support.

WoW: Forever Players Are Up In Arms Over Streamer Not Being Banned For Illegal Gold

World of Warcraft: Forever players are protesting after a popular streamer was not banned for accepting large sums of gold from strangers ahead of a $100,000 beta dueling tournament on October 17. WoW Classic streamer Ziqo was seen accepting 380 gold from a level one character and 175 gold from another level one character named El Delivery. Blizzard community manager Kaivax said in a September 28 forum post that the company will increasingly take action against RMT gold buyers, without naming Ziqo.

From WoW and MTG Addicts to the Keepers of the Tavern in Hearthstone

Hearthstone executive producer Nathan Lyons-Smith and senior design manager Brenden Sewell join Jessica Cogswell to discuss how their time playing World of Warcraft and top TCGs like Magic: The Gathering influenced their work on Hearthstone.

Can Blizzard break the StarCraft sequel curse?

At BlizzCon 2026, Blizzard announced an open-world shooter set in the StarCraft universe with a release date in 2030. The article recounts how StarCraft: Ghost was shelved in 2006 and confirmed cancelled in 2014, and how the Overwatch-engine project Ares was cancelled in 2019, while also reviewing the state of StarCraft 2, Stormgate and ZeroSpace. The new game is led by creative director Dan Hay, a former Far Cry producer, and is built around a single-player story set 70 years after the events of Legacy of the Void.

World of Warcraft: Forever beta popularity grows as Blizzard raises server cap again

World of Warcraft executive producer Holly Longdale said on her personal X account that the team had to raise the population cap for the World of Warcraft: Forever beta again over the weekend. Long-time World of Warcraft: Classic developer Josh Greenfield previously called the beta's numbers the craziest he has seen in 17 years at Blizzard. Access to the beta requires the $59.99 Skyborne Epic pack, and the game launches fully on 4th November with a monthly subscription instead.

The Video Games And More You Should Play This Weekend – September 25, 2026

Game Informer announced Grand Theft Auto VI as its next cover story, featuring a 14-page report with exclusive Rockstar developer interviews, new screenshots, and original cover art, available digitally to subscribers next week. The game itself releases November 19. The weekend recommendations also cover a Sonic Adventure 2 design document, Critical Reflex demos, a Final Fantasy VII Revelation preview, a StarCraft developer interview at BlizzCon, and a Control Resonant review.

Game Informer interviews StarCraft devs at BlizzCon 2026 about the open-world shooter

Game Informer interviewed the StarCraft team at BlizzCon 2026 about the open-world shooter and asked its biggest questions about the game's production. Lead developers Dan Hay and AnaLee Haertling shared new details about the project and the themes and plot points Blizzard considers important as it works to ship the game in 2030.

World of Warcraft: Forever has recaptured the original MMO's magic, something I thought was impossible

Xbox's Platinum Trophy equivalent seems to leak, with a 15-second unlock sound

The Xbox PC App has reportedly been updated with a new Xbox Mythic Achievement, featuring a starred and laurelled symbol and a 15-second unlock sound, spotted by Xbox-watcher Klobrille. TrueAchievements says Mythic Achievements are worth zero Gamerscore and appear retroactive, but Microsoft has not officially confirmed the feature or whether it works like PlayStation's Platinum Trophy.

Player discovers game-changing pair of pants in World of Warcraft: Forever

A player has discovered the Smelting Pants in World of Warcraft: Forever, a rare drop that boosts Stamina and Spirit and cuts smelting time for copper, tin, bronze, and silver by 25 percent. No gear with profession boosts like this exists in Classic WoW, signaling a game-changing intent from Blizzard. The game's full release is set for 4th November.

Blizzard to take "a somewhat different approach" to level-scaling in Diablo 5, suggesting more influence from Diablo 2 than Diablo 4

Blizzard game director Joe Shely said at a BlizzCon roundtable that Diablo 5 will take "a somewhat different approach" to level-scaling, leaning closer to Diablo 2 than Diablo 4. Shely said automatic scaling can get in the way of the feeling of power, though the team has not fully discussed the system yet. Blizzard has also said Diablo 5's itemisation and loot are inspired by Diablo 2, and the game isn't due for release until spring 2029.

Xbox lays off 268 people as Activision takes over Halo and Rare, Obsidian joins Bethesda

Xbox is cutting 268 roles across Halo Studios, other first-party studios and the XGS management and central functions layer. Activision takes custody of the Halo series along with Age of Empires developer World's Edge and Sea of Thieves maker Rare, while Obsidian moves into Bethesda and Playground Games merges with Turn 10 Studios. Ninja Theory is consulting on a likely closure and Arkane's future is expected to be discussed through the end of the year.

Xbox Lays Off 268 More People, Hands Halo Series to Activision

Xbox announced it is cutting 268 roles across its first-party studios, XGS management, and central functions, with Halo Studios significantly affected. In an Xbox Wire post titled Continuing Our Reset, Xbox content chief Matt Booty said Activision will expand its remit to World's Edge and Rare and form a new internal team to develop the next Halo title, while a small team at Halo Studios continues supporting the community and in-market games. The post also details studio reshuffles including Bethesda absorbing Obsidian, King taking on Microsoft Casual Games, and Playground and Turn 10 merging, plus divestitures in which Compulsion and Double Fine spun off, Undead Labs signed with a new publisher, and Ninja Theory and Arkane face proposed closures.

Xbox transfers Rare and Halo to Activision, proposes closing Ninja Theory and cuts another 268 roles

Xbox is transferring Rare and ownership of the Halo franchise to Activision, proposing the closure of Ninja Theory with a staff consultation, and cutting 268 roles in the restructure. Activision will also take on World's Edge and build a new team for the next Halo, Bethesda will absorb Obsidian, Playground and Turn 10 will merge into one studio for Forza and Fable, and Undead Labs has left the business and will release State of Decay 3 day one on Game Pass with a new publisher. Xbox said it is roughly three-quarters of the way through a planned 3,200 job cuts this year.

Blizzard layoffs reported as imminent, while new Xbox cuts appear to spare Blizzard for now

Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier said on the 8-4 podcast that Blizzard layoffs are coming and imminent. The latest wave of Xbox cuts involves 268 job losses, with Ninja Theory closed, Halo Studios downsized and Halo development handed to Activision, Obsidian folded into Bethesda, Playground and Turn 10 merged, and Rare moved under Activision, though Blizzard does not appear to be included for now. Microsoft said earlier this year it intended to cut 3,200 roles from the Xbox division, cutting 1,600 immediately and earmarking 1,600 more.

World of Warcraft fans are torn over whether Forever's Skyborne starting zone fits Classic WoW's tone

World of Warcraft: Forever's beta has players debating whether the new Skyborne race's starting zone fits the tone of Classic WoW. The questline has players confront an elemental lord before level 15, while such foes only appeared at level 60 in Molten Core during Classic. Blizzard described Forever's approach at BlizzCon as "found photographs," and the full game releases on 4th November.

Xbox reportedly set to announce second round of layoffs this week

Xbox is reportedly preparing a second round of layoffs this week, with a source saying the company will consolidate several of its game studios, according to The Information. VGC reports this could involve mergers or internal changes at Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, Activision and Blizzard. Xbox had announced plans to cut 3,200 employees in July, with the first round resulting in 1,600 redundancies and the divestment of five internal studios.

Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave After 130+ Hours – Was It Worth It? | Podcast

This episode of The Game Informer Show spends a large chunk of time on Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, with Eric sharing thoughts after putting 130+ hours into Intelligent Systems' strategy-RPG. The show then briefly touches on early impressions of Control Resonant, and Alex reports back from Blizzcon 2026, including hands-on time with the World of Warcraft: Forever beta.

The Video Games And More You Should Play This Weekend – September 18, 2026

Game Informer rounds up the games worth playing this weekend, including this week's releases Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave and Marvel's Wolverine, plus Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, RuneScape: Dragonwilds, and Aniimo. The Crazy Taxi-inspired Truck-kun is Supporting Me From Another World?! is now available on Switch 2. At BlizzCon, Blizzard announced World of Warcraft: Forever, expanding vanilla WoW with new zones, raids, and 1,000 new quests.

Over the weekend, Blizzard announced Diablo V for 2029 and a StarCraft shooter for 2030.

World of Warcraft: Forever Devs Answer Our Biggest Questions at BlizzCon

Game Informer interviewed the World of Warcraft: Forever team at BlizzCon, with lead game designer Tim Jones and lead software engineer Nora Mills discussing new zones like Mount Hyjal and Riverglades, Azeroth's new lighting and particle system, and plans to improve the leveling experience for all players. The interview also covered add-on support, pricing for the new Skyborne elf race, and how Blizzard plans to implement future content such as new classes, including the long-requested Tinkerer.

Activision Blizzard sued by former employee over sexual harassment

Activision Blizzard is being sued by a former employee who claims she was sexually harassed during her time at the company. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court earlier this month, alleges a pervasive "frat boy" workplace culture, with the claimant accusing 10 men of harassment, physical assault, and inappropriate comments, and saying her reports to supervisors and HR were ignored. A Blizzard spokesperson said the company takes the allegations seriously, while a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the lawsuit relates only to alleged misconduct within Blizzard, which was not yet owned by Microsoft at the time. Activision Blizzard previously settled a modified version of a 2021 California Civil Rights Department lawsuit in 2023 for $55 million.

Blizzard announces new StarCraft as an open-world FPS launching in 2030

Blizzard announced at BlizzCon 2026 that the third StarCraft title, simply called StarCraft, will launch in 2030 and shift from real-time strategy to an open-world first-person shooter. Blizzard general manager and vice president Dan Hay leads the project and said players can create and name a character, follow that character's story to a definitive ending, and that it is not a seasonal game. It is the franchise's first new title since StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void in 2015, after two earlier StarCraft FPS attempts were cancelled.

BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony: Blizzard Announces Diablo V, a StarCraft Open-World Shooter, and More

At the BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony, Blizzard officially revealed Diablo V for spring 2029 and a StarCraft open-world shooter led by former Far Cry lead Dan Hay targeting a 2030 launch. Diablo IV comes to Switch 2 on September 15, Warcraft III: Reforged gets the new Forsaken Kingdom campaign today, and World of Warcraft Forever arrives on November 4 with a beta starting September 17. The next World of Warcraft update, Midnight Eclipse, and the expansion The Last Titan are aiming for 2027.

Blizzard has announced World of Warcraft Forever launches on November 4.

Warcraft III: Reforged Gets New Campaign Forsaken Kingdom and a New Graphics Mode Today

Blizzard announced at BlizzCon 2026 that Warcraft III: Reforged is getting a new campaign, Forsaken Kingdom, available today. Set amid the fall of Lordaeron, the prologue covers the aftermath of Arthas killing his father, and Blizzard says it offers over 30 hours of gameplay. The update also adds a new graphics mode closer to the original Warcraft III look, 24-unit group selection, World Editor improvements, and a new neutral hero, the Forsaken Paladin.

Blizzard announces World of Warcraft: Forever, expanding vanilla WoW and launching November 4

Blizzard announced World of Warcraft: Forever at BlizzCon, a new game edition that expands the vanilla WoW experience with new and overhauled zones, 1,000 new quests across the level 1-60 bracket, 9 additional dungeons, 10-20 player raids, and a new neutral playable elven race called the Skyborne. New zones include Mount Hyjal, Zephras Isle, and The Riverglades, with a new battleground on Darkspear Islands, while the engine adds new lighting and global illumination, volumetric particle effects, a new water renderer, and real-time shadows. A beta launches Thursday, September 17, ahead of the November 4 release date.

Diablo V - Teaser Trailer - Coming Spring 2029 from Blizzard.

Diablo V is coming from Blizzard in Spring 2029.

Blizzard Announces Diablo V, Arriving Spring 2029

Blizzard announced Diablo V during the BlizzCon 2026 opening ceremony, with a release set for spring 2029. The game is set a half-century after the events of Diablo IV and breaks from the series' usual premise, depicting an already-fallen Sanctuary where Diablo has won.

Starcraft Dominion - Announcement cinematic for 2030 open world shooter from Blizzard, now in development.

Starcraft will return in 2030 as an open world shooter from Blizzard.

Blizzard Reveals StarCraft Open-World Shooter, Targeting 2030 Launch

At the BlizzCon 2026 keynote, Blizzard announced a new open-world shooter simply titled StarCraft, targeting a 2030 launch. Dan Hay, previously a lead producer on the Far Cry series, introduced the project and its team, saying they plan to re-ignite the StarCraft universe, and showed a trailer featuring a Marine named Holt who is run over by a Zergling rush after landing on a planet.