Blizzard’s 2026 Showcase was a four-part series of franchise spotlights, held from January 29 to February 11—not a single opening-ceremony stream. Its announcements ranged from plans for World of Warcraft: Midnight and a year-long Overwatch story to Hearthstone’s CATACLYSM expansion and the surprise release of a new class for Diablo II: Resurrected.
What was the Blizzard Showcase 2026?
Blizzard used “Showcase” for four developer-led presentations devoted to individual franchises. The schedule ran from January 29 through February 11, 2026. Blizzard’s viewers’ guide listed official YouTube and Twitch destinations and said the broadcasts would also be available on demand. This recap covers those four presentations, not announcements from the separate BlizzCon event.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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World of Warcraft - PC/Mac | $17.39 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Warcraft III Battle Chest - PC/Mac | $18.75 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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World Of Warcraft Battle Chest (PC/Mac) | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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World of Warcraft Battle for Azeroth - PC Standard Edition | Buy on Amazon | |
| 5 |
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World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria - PC/Mac - (Obsolete) | $14.35 | Buy on Amazon |
| Franchise | Presentation | Main announcement |
|---|---|---|
| World of Warcraft | State of Azeroth, January 29 | Midnight expansion plans and related game updates |
| Overwatch | February 4 | A year-long story, new heroes and systems, and a refreshed interface |
| Hearthstone | February 9 | CATACLYSM, new keywords and returning Colossals |
| Diablo | 30th Anniversary Spotlight, February 11 | Reign of the Warlock for Diablo II: Resurrected |
What did Blizzard announce for World of Warcraft?
Midnight and Season 1
Blizzard’s recap said World of Warcraft: Midnight was scheduled to launch globally on March 2, 2026. The announced expansion features included new zones and quests, the Haranir allied race, zone events, a PvP battleground and a War Mode area.
Blizzard said Season 1 would begin shortly after launch. Its planned content included a new Delve progression track and companion, world bosses, three raids released on a staggered schedule, and a new Mythic+ dungeon pool. Those dates and features describe Blizzard’s announcements at the time; they should not be read as a current schedule or confirmation that every feature remains unchanged.
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- World of Warcraft Game
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Other WoW announcements
The recap also mentioned housing updates and improvements, a creator competition, further conflict in WoW Classic’s Mists of Pandaria, and a charity pet pack featuring Roofus in support of Habitat for Humanity.
What did Blizzard announce for Overwatch?
Blizzard outlined a year-long continuous story, with five new heroes planned for Season 1 and ten across the year. It said the narrative would unfold through cinematics, comics and in-game events, alongside new systems and a refreshed UI/UX. These were announced plans; the recap does not establish the present release status of each item.
Rank #2
- Warcraft III Battle Chest
What did Blizzard announce for Hearthstone?
CATACLYSM and its mechanics
Blizzard announced CATACLYSM for March 17, 2026, according to its recap. The expansion was set to bring back Colossals and introduce the “Herald” and “Shatter” keywords. The capitalization here follows Blizzard’s announced names.
Cards and Year of the Scarab rewards
Blizzard said all players would have access to every card from Into the Emerald Dream and The Lost City of Un’Goro during the CATACLYSM expansion cycle, alongside other Year of the Scarab rewards. The Showcase recap records what was announced, not whether the offer or its terms are still available in-game.
What was the Diablo Showcase surprise?
The headline surprise was Reign of the Warlock, which Blizzard announced as a same-day release for Diablo II: Resurrected during the February 11 spotlight. Blizzard described it as a major content release and called the Warlock the game’s first new playable class in more than 25 years. That historical claim is Blizzard’s characterization.
The presentation also covered updates across Diablo IV and Diablo Immortal. The recap identifies the Warlock release as the central surprise, rather than giving equivalent detail for every update discussed in those games.
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How to watch the presentations
Blizzard’s viewers’ guide listed official YouTube and Twitch channels for the four spotlights and said they could be watched live or on demand. Because these events took place in early 2026, the on-demand broadcasts are the relevant option for anyone catching up after the scheduled dates.
Quick Recap
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- Master the Path of the Monk - Learn the mystic powers of the Monk, World of Warcraft's newest playable class. Destroy foes with the Windwalker's devastating attacks, replenish allies with the Mistweaver's spiritual energies, and shrug off enormous damage with the Brewmaster's unyielding strength.
- Battle to level 90 - Ascend to new heights of power as you explore the verdant reaches of the Jade Forest, war with the terrible Yaungol on Kun-Lai Summit, and unlock the secrets of the Mogu'shan Vaults.
- Unleash the Mighty Pandaren - Set out as a member of the enigmatic Pandaren -- World of Warcraft's first neutral race -- and join the ranks of either the Horde or Alliance as you enter the conflict brewing on Pandaria's shores.
- Discover a Lost Continent - Explore the ancient kingdoms of Pandaria and mount your defense against a newly awakened evil stirring in the continent's dark corners.
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