Blizzard Entertainment
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Blizzard is giving away free StarCraft and Heroes of the Storm digital goodies ahead of BlizzCon
Blizzard Entertainment is offering free in-game items for StarCraft II and Heroes of the Storm until September 28th. Players can claim a 15-day XP boost for StarCraft II and the Fix It Gear Head Thrall for Heroes of the Storm. These promotions coincide with the sale of BlizzCon digital bundles for various Blizzard titles, including World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Hearthstone, Diablo IV, and Diablo Immortal.
Evening Reading - July 22, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers various gaming and entertainment news. Highlights include reviews for Final Fantasy X/X-2 on Switch and Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game, Victor Wembanyama as the NBA 2K27 cover star, and Xbox backwards compatibility on PC. Business news includes earnings reports from Tesla, Google, and SpaceX, alongside updates on BlizzCon 2026 digital bundles and the reopening of the Cinerama Dome.
Heroes of the Storm’s quarterly update adds a new skin and makes more balance tweaks
Heroes of the Storm has received another quarterly update, which includes map rotation adjustments for Warhead Junction and Hanamura Temple, the addition of Haunted Mines to ranked play, and balance tweaks for several heroes including Abathur, Alexstrasza, Ragnaros, and Chromie. The patch also introduces a new skin for Lucio.
Blizzard is investigating a World of Warcraft cheating scandal after game master 'death-touched' bosses for friends without realizing it was being recorded
Blizzard Entertainment is investigating a cheating scandal in World of Warcraft after a game master allegedly used special abilities to instantly kill bosses for friends. The incident was reportedly recorded and shared online, leading to community outcry. Blizzard has acknowledged the situation and stated that appropriate action will be taken.
World of Warcraft fans demand consequences for Blizzard staffer seemingly caught cheating in-game
A Blizzard Entertainment staffer is under investigation for allegedly using "death touch" abilities to help players cheat in World of Warcraft. Combat logs suggest a GM or QA developer aided a group, including a streamer, in bypassing in-game challenges. Blizzard has acknowledged the issue and stated that appropriate action will be taken to maintain fair play.
If You Aren’t Going To BlizzCon 2026, You Can Still Spend Money Like You Are
Blizzard Entertainment is offering digital BlizzCon bundles for its major live-service games, including World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo IV, Diablo Immortal, and Hearthstone, for players who cannot attend BlizzCon 2026. These bundles, available until September 28, range from $25 to $30 individually, with an Ultimate Collection bundle priced at $50. Blizzard president Johanna Faries anticipates 2026 will be a significant year for the company, with potential announcements regarding World of Warcraft, Diablo 4, Overwatch, and possibly a new StarCraft game.
StarCraft 2 is included in Blizzard's BlizzCon digital goodies, which is more evidence a new game will be announced…
Blizzard Entertainment is offering free in-game items for StarCraft 2 and Heroes of the Storm as part of its BlizzCon digital goodies, fueling speculation about a new StarCraft game announcement. This follows a significant update to StarCraft 2 and a previous job posting for a lead designer on an 'AAA open-world shooter' using Unreal Engine, suggesting a potential shift for the franchise.
Blizzard reveals BlizzCon 2026 digital bundles
Blizzard Entertainment has revealed details about digital bundles that will be available for purchase during BlizzCon 2026, starting September 12. These bundles will include in-game items for popular titles such as World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo 4, Diablo Immortal, and Hearthstone, with a special Ultimate Collection Bundle also being offered.
Former Ultima Online lead says MMOs are "finally free of the fever dream of imitating World of Warcraft" thanks to Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, and more
Raph Koster, lead designer of Ultima Online, believes the MMO genre has moved beyond the World of Warcraft-imitating phase, citing the success of sandbox titles like Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, and Minecraft. He argues that the demand for social experiences and persistent worlds, even with smaller player counts, makes it an opportune time for new MMOs like his upcoming game, Stars Reach.
Blizzard intervenes in World of Warcraft cheating scandal: employee accused of insta-killing an enemy to help a Twitch…
Blizzard Entertainment is investigating an incident where a World of Warcraft game master is accused of using GM powers to insta-kill an enemy in a Mythic+ dungeon to assist a Twitch streamer. The company stated that a fair and competitive playing field is essential and they will not tolerate cheating.
Diablo 4 hotfix makes it easier to farm Mythics as Blizzard confirms Season 15 will remove Mythic reroll crafting from the Horadric Cube, "adding a direct upgrade" instead
Blizzard Entertainment has released a hotfix for Diablo 4 Season 14, significantly increasing the drop rates for Mythic items in the Undercity and guaranteeing them at higher Torment levels. Future changes for Season 15 will remove the Mythic reroll crafting option from the Horadric Cube, replacing it with a direct upgrade system that preserves the original unique item.
Blizzard's calling time on Overwatch's hero customising Stadium mode, and I may well be the only person that's sad about that
Blizzard Entertainment is discontinuing active development on Overwatch's Stadium mode due to low player engagement, with only three percent of the player base actively playing it. Game director Aaron Keller announced that while the mode will remain accessible, it will not receive new heroes or maps. The company is exploring alternative game formats, including experiments with 6v6 role queues and a 1-3-2 flex role queue, to address issues with the tank role in standard 5v5 matches.
Blizzard investigates as World of Warcraft raiders fly into uproar over accusations of a GM cheating in Mythic+
Blizzard Entertainment is investigating accusations of cheating in a high-rank World of Warcraft Mythic+ dungeon after a GM allegedly used an 'Area Death' ability to instantly kill a mob. Community Manager Randy Jordan confirmed the company is reviewing the situation to ensure a fair playing field. The incident involved the Nexus-Point Xenas dungeon, where a group was accused of manipulating logs to achieve a faster clear time.
We Finally Know Xal’atath’s Evil Plan For The World Of Warcraft
Datamined dialogue from World of Warcraft's upcoming 12.1 update suggests the villain Xal'atath's ultimate goal is not to destroy Azeroth, but to merge with its slumbering Titan Worldsoul. This revelation significantly raises the narrative stakes for the current 'Worldsoul Saga' expansion trilogy and the upcoming 'The Last Titan' expansion.
MOBA fans gobsmacked that Blizzard still supports Heroes of the Storm as the dev unleashes an army of updates
Blizzard Entertainment has released a new patch for their MOBA, Heroes of the Storm, adding the Haunted Mines map to Ranked play and rebalancing several characters. The update also includes a new skin for Lucio and various quality-of-life improvements, surprising many players who believed the game was no longer supported.
Path of Exile co-creator Chris Wilson says hardcore Diablo 2 players want "arbitrary" speed breakpoints because they can't resist ARPG optimization
Path of Exile co-creator Chris Wilson explains that hardcore Diablo 2 players enjoy optimizing characters around 'arbitrary' speed breakpoints in action RPGs. He argues that these specific thresholds for attack speed, cast speed, and hit recovery are a key part of the genre's appeal for dedicated players, who often create spreadsheets to maximize their builds.
Blizzard wants to bring archaeology back to World of Warcraft, but with "more fun" gameplay
Blizzard Entertainment is considering improvements to the Archaeology profession in World of Warcraft, according to Game Director Ion Hazzikostas. While the profession has been largely untouched since the Battle for Azeroth expansion, the team is discussing ways to make the moment-to-moment gameplay more engaging and fun, potentially for the upcoming The Last Titan expansion.
Whatever happened to Unleashed Games’ cooperative-focused MMORPG Haven?
Developer Unleashed Games, comprised of industry veterans, is facing financial difficulties in securing publisher funding for its cooperative MMORPG, Haven. The studio has experienced a lack of communication and a shift in livestream broadcasts, leading to concerns about the game's future. The team is currently reassessing their project and plans to provide an update soon.
Question time: How long have you been playing MMOs?
This opinion piece discusses the perceived age of MMO players and the evolution of MMO design towards seasonal structures and midcore content. It highlights the longevity of games like World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy 14, contrasting them with the shorter lifespans of newer titles like New World. The author, who has played MMOs since middle school, invites readers to share their own experiences and how long they've been engaged with the genre.
Diablo 4 players are accidentally trashing their best items due to an "objectively misleading" recipe, and it's the best argument I've seen for yellow paint in games
Diablo 4 players are reportedly losing valuable items due to a confusing "Upgrade to Mythic" crafting recipe in the Horadric Cube. While the tooltip is described as unambiguous, the similarity to the "Upgrade to Legendary" recipe leads players to believe they are upgrading their existing Unique item, when in reality, it transmutes into a random Mythic item of the same type. This has sparked community discussion and highlighted potential issues with in-game text clarity and player comprehension.
