Blizzard is thinking long-term: Diablo V in 2029 and StarCraft returns as an open-world shooter in 2030

At BlizzCon 2026, Blizzard unveiled two ambitious projects: Diablo V, expected in the spring of 2029, and a new StarCraft game scheduled for 2030, this time in the form of an open-world shooter.

Blizzard made a big splash by unveiling Diablo V, set for release in the spring of 2029. For this new installment in its famous action-RPG franchise, the studio isn’t simply continuing the story of its predecessors. When players enter Sanctuary, the battle will already have been lost: Diablo will have triumphed, and the heroes will have failed to prevent the world’s downfall. This represents a major shift for the series, as previous installments typically cast the player as the savior. Blizzard is thus hinting at an adventure centered on survival in a devastated world.

For now, however, details remain limited. Blizzard has not yet revealed the supported platforms, the different character classes, or the main gameplay mechanics. The studio has primarily highlighted the game’s new narrative direction. With at least three long years of development still ahead, Diablo V could also mark a new milestone from a technical standpoint, though it’s still far too early to know its hardware requirements. Rendering and image-enhancement technologies are expected to continue evolving between now and 2029, as will graphics cards and processors—though it’s fair to say that this isn’t really the right time for a hardware upgrade, and Blizzard will likely need to maintain a certain level of accessibility, a key element of the franchise since its inception.

The other major announcement at BlizzCon concerns StarCraft. After several years of absence, the franchise will make its return in 2030 with a project very different from what we’re used to seeing on PC. So this isn’t StarCraft III, but an open-world shooter simply titled StarCraft. The first preview released by Blizzard is essentially a cinematic trailer and therefore doesn’t show any gameplay. It simply shows human soldiers facing off against the Zerg. Of course, the Protoss are also featured. Beyond that, many questions remain: the structure of the open world, playable factions, the campaign’s layout, and the player’s perspective, to name just a few.

This shift in genre inevitably brings to mind a precedent in the franchise’s history. Blizzard had already ventured into the action game genre with the famous *StarCraft: Ghost*, a project announced in the early 2000s that was delayed numerous times before ultimately being scrapped. The new StarCraft appears to have no connection to that previous project, but its shift toward the FPS genre is sure to bring back some memories for longtime fans. While Diablo V is still expected in nearly three years, StarCraft isn’t expected to arrive until 2030. Clearly, we still have plenty of time to wait!