Blizzard Watch WeeklyJun 29, 2026 9:00 am CT

Blizzard Watch Weekly: Out with the old, in with the new

By Elizabeth Harper

Everything has been coming up Warcraft recently, as WoW patch 12.0.7’s launch led directly to WoW patch 12.1’s announcement, but this week is about Diablo. Diablo 3 just started a new season, and Diablo 4 is just about to start a new season, its first full-featured season since the Lord of Hatred expansion launched. Though I say “full-featured,” the season still looks a little lightweight on paper, so we’ll have to see how it goes and whether it has any surprises in store when it launches on Tuesday. Still, it’s new content, and we’re always excited for the next new thing.

But for now, we’re sitting at the beginning of a brand new week. Here’s everything that’s been happening in Blizzard games, plus what’s coming up soon.

What happened last week?

WoW’s Midsummer Fire Festival is here, and it comes with brand new collection of transmog to earn — if you haven’t started, you should get to work on collecting Burning Blossoms and killing Ahune to snag those rewards.
Diablo 3 Season 38 ended unexpectedly (and unannounced), rolling into Season 39 on Friday. Jump in now to enjoy the returning Shades of the Nephalem theme, where you meet up with your shadow clones to slaughter mountains of demons. What joys, which only Diablo can provide.
We’re learning more about BlizzCon 2026, as Le Sserafim has been announced for the closing concert. Much beloved Darin De Paul will be hosting community night again this year, which we are always there for. But as to what big announcements Blizzard plans, we’re still wondering…
This week’s Hearthstone Tavern Brawl is the Battle for Tol Barad, in which you get a random zero-cost spell whenever you play a minion. This makes for a game that’s just as chaotic as it sounds, and because it’s a wild deckbuilding brawl, it’s even more chaotic than that — which is why we have deck recommendations for you.

What’s happening this week (and beyond)

June 30: Diablo 4 Season 14 begins, with a theme that brings Pandemonium into the heart of Sanctuary with new Pandemonium rifts and a Corrupted Reaper lair boss to fight.
June 30 – August 11: Turbulent Timeways returns to Midnight, starting with new Dragonflight Timewalking!
Through July 5: WoW Midsummer Fire Festival
July 7: Hearthstone’s Escape from Violet Hold expansion launches
Through July 9: Steam Summer Sale
Through July 14: A new color of the plush murloc housing decor item is available as a Twitch Drop

Other things we’re playing, watching, and more

The Steam Summer Sale is on through July 9 at 10am pacific (1pm eastern), so jump in to find some of the best gaming deals of the year and to keep your gaming backlog growing.
Say goodbye to your free time, because Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 is one of this week’s Epic Games Store freebies. While it isn’t quite as bad as the temptation to do just one more turn in Civilization games, it’s still dangerously addictive. Or for something completely different, try Voidwrought, a lovingly hand-drawn cosmic horror platformer. Both are free on the Epic Games Store through Thursday.