Blizzard announced Diablo 5 for a spring 2029 release during BlizzCon 2026. The company confirmed that the next mainline entry in the action role-playing franchise will launch on PC and consoles. Alongside this announcement, Blizzard outlined significant changes to the future support model for Diablo 4.
Diablo 4 Support Model Shift
Diablo 4 will no longer receive paid expansions following the release of Lord of Hatred. Blizzard will instead transition to a model of free narrative bridge updates for the current game. These upcoming patches will connect the current storyline directly to the events of Diablo 5. The developer aims to maintain player engagement through these continuous narrative additions without requiring additional purchases for story content.
Warcraft 3 Campaign Launch
Warcraft 3 Reforged received a major free 3.0 update during the event. Alongside this patch, Blizzard shadow-dropped a new standalone two-part prologue campaign titled Forsaken Kingdom, which became available on September 12, 2026.
These updates mark a pivot in Blizzard's release strategy across its core franchises. Players will see paid expansions phased out in favor of free narrative connective tissue for Diablo 4 leading up to the 2029 launch of Diablo 5, while Warcraft 3 receives immediate new content through both the 3.0 update and the Forsaken Kingdom release.
The rollout of the Forsaken Kingdom campaign offers a fresh tactical layer for real-time strategy veterans, functioning independently in two parts. Meanwhile, the strategic shift for the sanctuary universe alters the economic expectations of the player base, eliminating future financial barriers for storyline progression. This ensures that every active user can follow the overarching plot leading up to the 2029 console and PC launch without mandatory transactional milestones.
The Forsaken Kingdom campaign is available for immediate purchase as a standalone experience, requiring no prior installation of other Warcraft titles to play.
