Video Game Industry Sets Sights on 2029 and 2030 Releases

September 17, 2026 - 18:36

Blizzard Entertainment used its recent Blizzcon event to announce two major titles with release years attached, a move that stands out in an industry where games are typically revealed long before launch without specific dates. Diablo V is slated for 2029, while a new open world first-person shooter set in the StarCraft universe is targeting 2030.

Blizzard president Johanna Faries explained the decision to Bloomberg, stating the company wants to show confidence in its biggest upcoming projects. Studios often announce games early to attract hiring talent, but rarely commit to a year this far ahead.

A look at Wikipedia's running list of upcoming releases shows just how unusual this is. The 2027 page lists around 270 titles. For 2028, only eighteen games appear, including The Witcher IV and Tomb Raider Catalyst. The 2029 list contains only Diablo V. The 2030 list has only StarCraft.

Steam's upcoming releases section shows dozens of PC games marked for 2029 and 2030, though most are unknown independent projects with names like Goojeegoop and Greeblings. One recognizable entry is In The Valley of Gods from Firewatch developer Campo Santo, listed for December 2029, though that project has been on hold since 2019.

Meanwhile, workers at Microsoft-owned King, the studio behind Candy Crush, announced through their Swedish union that they will strike on September 25 if no labor agreement is reached. Unionen said over a year of negotiations ended without a contract. King chief operating officer Ulrika Hojgard responded that the company offers competitive terms and remains committed to dialogue with union representatives.

In other news, Heart Machine and Polyarc both announced significant layoffs or closures this week. Level 5 founder Akihiro Hino addressed fan concerns about AI use in the company's games. Roblox revealed plans to let its games run as standalone apps and in web browsers. Netflix announced partnerships with Sega for multiple adaptations. The New York Times promoted its games boss to Chief Games Officer. And the new Resident Evil film from director Zach Cregger is earning strong early reviews.