Heroes of the Storm shocks fans with first new character in six years
Blizzard just shocked the MOBA community by announcing a new hero for Heroes of the Storm, the first addition in six years. The news broke at BlizzCon 2026, as reported by IGN and PC Gamer.
The new character is Xal'atath, the major villain from World of Warcraft's current Midnight expansion. She will enter the game's public test realm on Monday, September 14, with a full launch scheduled for September 28.
This update marks a significant shift for HotS, which entered a maintenance-focused state back in 2022. According to IGN, a Blizzard executive stated the company's future plans hinge on player reaction, suggesting this release is a test for potential larger support.
Blizzard President Johanna Faries directly thanked the game's dedicated community in her remarks. She also teased that another new hero might be on the horizon, telling fans to "stay tuned."
