Blizzard has reinvented itself after the darkest years in its history. The company claims that 2026 marks the beginning of a new era, fulfilling a major promise as it steps into a radically reshaped future. Today’s Blizzard barely resembles what it was just a few years ago, having found unexpected strength even during its hardest moments.
Few developers have gone through as much turmoil as Blizzard. Over the last five years, the studio has faced workplace harassment scandals, watched one of its flagship games collapse, been acquired by Microsoft, and carried out thousands of layoffs. Many believed the company would never recover from such a devastating period. However, everything seems to have shifted at last. Johanna Fares, Blizzard’s president since early 2024, says the company is not only back on its feet but entering what she believes will be its greatest era. According to her, this will become clear starting in 2026, when a steady rhythm of major releases begins.
Blizzard Wants to Return Stronger Than Ever
Fares outlined Blizzard’s ambitions in an interview with Bloomberg, where she discussed both the internal cultural overhaul and the current state of development. “I think we’re in a place where we can deliver releases at a consistent cadence… We want to ensure that every calendar year includes at least one or two major Blizzard titles. If we align our schedule correctly—and I believe we have—then we can stay competitive by leveraging opportunities across our franchises,” she told journalist Jason Schreier.
The company appears prepared to fulfill this promise quickly once 2026 arrives. World of Warcraft: Midnight (March 3) and Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred (April 28) are already scheduled for the year’s first four months. Additionally, the developers are planning surprises for the tenth anniversary of Overwatch 2, and after a two-year break, BlizzCon is returning. This event will be a crucial moment in which Blizzard must demonstrate its regained strength. “Fans are hungry. They want to participate. They want to feel confident. They want us to give them a glimpse of what’s coming,” Fares said.
As for Blizzard’s broader plans, two key goals stand out. First, the company intends to concentrate primarily on its existing intellectual properties. “That doesn’t mean we won’t explore new ideas, but for now, we’ll double down on the IPs we still have in reserve,” Fares stated. Second, Blizzard wants to make another push into television and film. “I don’t have anything concrete to announce yet, but I can say we’re having extremely promising discussions [about adaptations] for virtually all the IPs in our portfolio.” Her aim is to see real results within her first five years as CEO—meaning no later than 2029.
Whether Blizzard can maintain its newfound stability remains to be seen. For that to happen, Microsoft must avoid further cuts, and the projects currently in development must progress smoothly. The company’s live-service titles are in strong shape: Diablo IV and Overwatch 2 maintain large user bases, while World of Warcraft continues to dominate its genre. The numbers look promising, says Johanna. “I’ll just say this: I believe the best days in Blizzard’s history are ahead of us. I truly believe that, and they’re not far away.”
Source: 3djuegos
