All articles tagged with #blizzard entertainment
Blizzard announced Overwatch: Undivided, a 40-episode WEBTOON that expands the Reign of Talon storyline, with Episodes 1–3 available for free at launch on March 31, 2026; Episodes 4–8 can be read early via WEBTOON’s FastPass. The series centers on characters like D.Va, Juno, and Tracer and includes previews of various heroes’ designs, with the WEBTOON app and website serving as the reading platforms.
Former Overwatch lead Jeff Kaplan says Blizzard CFO Dennis Durkin pressured hitting revenue targets, warning that 1,000 developers would lose their jobs; exact targets are redacted by confidentiality. Kaplan attributes the pressure to Overwatch League investments that strained resources, and he left Blizzard to work with indie studio Kintsugiyama on The Legend of California.
Blizzard announces Overwatch Rush, a mobile-first top-down hero shooter built from the ground up for iOS and Android. The game is in early development and currently undergoing limited geo testing with a release date not yet announced. A dedicated Blizzard team (separate from Team 4) is developing it, focusing on fast-paced, bite-sized sessions, intuitive mobile controls, and optional in-app purchases in a free-to-play model. Controllers aren’t supported in the current version, and further content, balance updates, and testing will evolve based on player feedback via Discord.
Blizzard partners with Zillow to launch a Zillow-style housing explorer for World of Warcraft, letting players browse in-game homes across Azeroth ahead of the Midnight expansion, with the new Hearthsteel currency enabling real-money microtransactions and refunds while highlighting regulatory considerations.
Blizzard released the first Diablo II expansion in 25 years, Reign of the Warlock, exclusive to Diablo II Resurrected owners, introducing the Warlock class and signaling potential future content guided by community feedback to honor the game's 30th anniversary.
Blizzard says there will be no Hearthstone 2, clarifying that a BlizzCon 2026 reveal will be bigger than usual but not a new game. The Hearthstone expansion Cataclysm is coming March 17, bringing new mechanics and Colossals, plus a temporary unlock of cards from recent sets. The company also reiterates Hearthstone won’t be on consoles or handhelds yet, though platform considerations—potentially influenced by Microsoft—are being explored for the future.
Fareeha Andersen, Anran’s voice actor, backs a large fan movement asking Blizzard to revert Anran’s in-game appearance to her original design, criticizing the current look as 'ozempic-chic.' Anran remains in testing ahead of her Feb 10 launch, with Blizzard likely to consider changes in a future patch based on fan feedback.
Jennifer Hale, famed as Mass Effect’s Commander Shepard, voices Overwatch’s new hero Jetpack Cat, who launches February 10 alongside four other heroes. Jetpack Cat can tow both allies and enemies through the air, with an Ultimate to lift adversaries, and she features numerous meow-themed voice lines. The reveal caps a period of rapid hero releases planned for the year, and Blizzard also teased future animal-themed ideas, including a concept called Oranga-tank, as part of the ongoing Overwatch refresh.
Blizzard is dropping the '2' branding for Overwatch and launching a major February update that adds five new heroes—led by Jetpack Cat—and kicks off a story-driven era centered on Talon, plus cosmetic drops, UI updates, a Hello Kitty crossover, and a Switch 2 version tied to Season 2 in April.
Blizzard’s 34.4.2 patch tightens balance across Hearthstone, Arena, and Battlegrounds ahead of upcoming patches. Morchie gets a small buff; Elise the Navigator will be adjusted in a larger patch; The Great Dracorex can no longer be generated in Arena; Infinite Wolf remains banned from drafts; Battlegrounds tunes Deathrattles and buffs Timewarped cards; numerous Timewarp and minion pool changes sweep across modes; a mid-season update and rotations are on the horizon.
Blizzard announced a multi-week event to reveal future content for World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Hearthstone, and Diablo from January 29 to February 11 as part of its 35th anniversary celebration.
Blizzard Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against Turtle WoW, a fan server group that hosts mods and updates for World of Warcraft, alleging illegal use of Blizzard's artwork, trademarks, and code. The lawsuit aims to protect Blizzard's intellectual property as Turtle WoW continues to develop and expand its fan-made content, including plans for a new version built in Unreal Engine 5.
Over 450 game developers working on Diablo at Blizzard Entertainment voted to unionize under the CWA, driven by concerns over layoffs and job security, marking a significant step in industry-wide labor organization efforts in California.
Overwatch 2 has made significant progress in LGBTQ+ representation by finally revealing Soldier: 76's gay identity through a new story and in-game cosmetics during Pride Month, reflecting a broader commitment to inclusivity and authentic storytelling after years of limited acknowledgment.
Blizzard Entertainment's classic games, Warcraft: Orcs & Humans and Warcraft 2, will be removed from the GOG platform on December 13 at Blizzard's request. These games, which were pivotal in the development of the World of Warcraft series, were made available on GOG in 2019 with enhanced features. Despite their removal, GOG's Preservation Program ensures that owners can still play them on modern systems. Blizzard has recently released these games on Battle.net, including remastered versions, suggesting a strategic shift in their distribution.