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Blizzard Introduces Xal'atath as First New Hero for *Heroes of the Storm* in Six Years
By Drooid · · How we work
New Hero Xal'atath Announced for *Heroes of the Storm*
At BlizzCon 2026 Blizzard revealed that Xal'atath, the primary antagonist of *World of Warcraft*’s Midnight expansion, will join the Nexus on Monday, September 28. The hero will first be available on the public test realm (PTR) beginning Monday, September 14. This marks the first character addition since Hogger launched in December 2020, ending a period in which Blizzard described the title as being in “maintenance mode.”
Background and Recent Development
*Heroes of the Storm* launched as a Blizzard-wide MOBA drawing characters from Warcraft, Overwatch, StarCraft, Diablo and other franchises. After the 2020 release of Hogger, Blizzard officially ended full support in 2022, stating that future patches would focus on client sustainability and bug fixing, with balance updates as needed. A significant patch arrived in 2023, followed by smaller changes and occasional new skins. The game has retained a niche but dedicated player base despite competition from titles such as *League of Legends*.
Official Statements from Blizzard
A Blizzard franchise leader told the media that the company will “see how this does,” indicating that additional content will depend on community response to Xal'atath. Blizzard also cautioned that the addition of Xal'atath should not be interpreted as a full revival of the title; future updates remain contingent on player feedback.
Potential Impact and Industry Context
Industry observers note that reviving classic games has become a broader trend, with recent updates to *Age of Empires 3*, *The Witcher 3* and *Diablo 2*. Some commentators suggest that expanding the hero roster—potentially even incorporating characters from other franchises—could give *Heroes of the Storm* a unique niche against dominant MOBAs. However, Blizzard’s own statements emphasize a measured approach, making the community’s reaction to Xal'atath the decisive factor for any further development.