BlizzCon 2026 reveals Monk class for Hearthstone, new StarCraft shooter, and Overwatch character

BlizzCon 2026 delivered a series of announcements that sparked debate among gaming press about which reveals stood out most. The Shacknews staff highlighted several major projects in development at Blizzard Entertainment.

The Monk class is finally coming to Hearthstone after years of developer pushback. Senior Hearthstone player Ozzie Mejia noted that developers had repeatedly declined to commit to the Monk at previous events and esports tournaments. "The Monk is finally ready to debut in the 2027 Standard year and I'm excited to see it," Mejia said.

A new StarCraft project generated significant interest despite mixed reactions. The game is being developed as an open-world shooter rather than a traditional real-time strategy experience. Rumors suggest it will focus on single-player narrative rather than faction-based competitive play, though some staff members expressed hope for multiplayer elements. The shooter is not expected to release until 2030.

The reveal appealed to players unfamiliar with the franchise who see the shooter genre as an entry point. Sam Chandler, who has played few Blizzard titles outside Overwatch, expressed interest in experiencing the StarCraft universe through a shooter format. "However, I think all of these worlds are extremely interesting, so getting an opportunity to explore StarCraft through a genre I'm comfortable with, a shooter, sounds great," Chandler said.

Other staff members highlighted the visual appeal of seeing StarCraft units at scale. Bill Lavoy, who has not previously engaged with the StarCraft franchise, found the reveal intriguing enough to consider the game upon launch. "StarCraft really jumped off the screen for me. I've never dabbled in the franchise but this reveal piqued my interest," Lavoy said.

Overwatch received a new character announcement with the reveal of Doctrine, a Black vampire character with a distinctive visual design. Donovan Erskine, former Overwatch head, highlighted the character's appeal. "The fact that we're getting a Black vampire with dreads and a slick outfit is cool as hell," Erskine said.

Diablo 5 also received announcements at the event, with developers detailing how Diablo himself will shape the world as players progress through the game.