Blizzard Announces 2026 Franchise Livestream Showcases

Blizzard Entertainment announced a series of four livestream showcases beginning January 29, 2026, to unveil future plans for its flagship franchises, marking the company's 35th anniversary. The events, focused on World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Hearthstone, and Diablo, will feature developer insights, announcements, and previews of upcoming content.

The first presentation, titled "State of Azeroth," is scheduled for Thursday, January 29, at 9 a.m. Pacific Time on the World of Warcraft YouTube channel and Twitch. It will cover roadmaps for both the retail and Classic versions of the game, including updates from developers Holly Longdale and Ion Hazzikostas. Players can expect details on content timelines leading to the Midnight expansion, set for release later this year, as well as progress on the Classic edition's Burning Crusade pre-patch and potential plans beyond the current Mists of Pandaria phase.

Subsequent spotlights include Overwatch on Wednesday, February 4, at 10 a.m. PT, highlighting updates to the hero shooter following recent additions like Perks and Stadium mode. Hearthstone's presentation follows on Monday, February 9, at 9:30 a.m. PT, offering a deep dive into...