PlayStation gamers, prepare to confront the Lord of Terror! Select retailers are now taking preorders for the PS3 version of Diablo III. Check out the full announcement and visit the official website for more information, including details on the exclusive preorder bonus: the Infernal Helm.

Things continue to heat up as we bring forth two new heroes to battle it out for your enjoyment and edification. This time, we've got two heavy hitters: the mighty paladin Uther the Lightbringer against the tyrannical warrior Garrosh Hellscream. Sparks are bound to fly in this fireside duel. Shoutcasted by designer Ben Brode, you’ll get to witness these powerhouses employ unique class-specific cards and Hero Powers in a bid to see who comes out on top of the discard pile.

Learn more about Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft on the official site and stop by the forums to take part in the discussions. Opt in to the beta on Battle.net here.

*Warning: Murlocs may bite. Do not feed after midnight. Keep out of direct sunlight. Do not get wet. Not responsible for lost fingers, toes, or socks.

Mark your calendars—a Blizzard is coming to Southern California! Tickets for BlizzCon^® 2013 will go on sale in two batches on Wednesday, April 24 at 7 p.m. PDT and Saturday, April 27 at 10 a.m. PDT through the official BlizzCon website. In addition, a limited number of tickets to an exclusive pre-BlizzCon Benefit Dinner will go on sale Wednesday, May 1 at 7 p.m. PDT.

BlizzCon 2013 takes place November 8 and 9 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA, and tickets to the two-day show will be available at $175 USD each. Tickets to the Benefit Dinner (which includes admission to BlizzCon) will be priced at $500 USD each, with proceeds benefitting Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Tickets to previous BlizzCon events have sold out within minutes, so be sure to synchronize your hourglasses.

Paladins, demon hunters, and Ghosts who can’t make it to the show in person will once again have the option to enjoy BlizzCon from home by ordering a BlizzCon Virtual Ticket, offering comprehensive live coverage of the event via a multi-channel Internet stream. Further details on the Virtual Ticket, including pricing, availability, and programming information, will be announced at a later date.

See the full press release or check out the BlizzCon Ticket page for more information, and be sure visit the official BlizzCon website at the dates and times above for a chance to purchase a ticket to the show. We hope to see you in Anaheim!

As an important next step in its ongoing efforts to provide world-class entertainment, Blizzard has purchased IGN Pro League technology and assets from IGN. Along with this purchase, Blizzard is bringing onboard members of the IPL staff as the foundation for a new team based in San Francisco whose primary focus will be on creating high-quality web and mobile content in support of Blizzard games, while some IPL staff have joined Blizzard's existing eSports team.

“This new team will help us to further develop the rich media experiences that extend the fun and engagement of our games online,” said Itzik Ben-Bassat, Blizzard’s executive vice president of publishing. “This is a team of passionate gamers with a proven track record, and we’re looking forward to now leveraging their expertise and technology to support a variety of online efforts.”

Regarding the transaction, Peer Schneider, executive vice president of IGN, stated, “With the continuing evolution of the eSports space and the renewed focus on our core media brand, we made the decision to sell the IGN Pro League technology and assets and become agnostic in our competitive gaming coverage. Following Blizzard’s acquisition of IPL assets, IGN will partner with multiple organizations and cover their events.”

In collaboration with the world's premier eSports organizations, we're rolling out a brand-new World Championship Series this year that establishes a unified global ranking system for StarCraft II eSports. What does this mean for players and eSports fans? Check out the press release and visit www.starcraft2.com/wcs to learn more.

We took the wrapper off a little something new today at PAX East. It's called Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, a free-to-play strategy card game for PC and iPad that will be extremely easy to pick up and play . . . and maybe a little hard to put down ;) Check out the press release for today's announcement, and then head over to www.playhearthstone.com to learn more.

In the wee hours of March 11, we kicked off a monumental 21-hour-long live stream featuring our official global launch events, along with tons of eSports action and community content, to celebrate the release of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm.

More than 1.1 million viewers tuned in to that broadcast, and about 1.1 million players went on to purchase their copy of the new expansion as of the first two days of launch.

Less than a week later, more than 1.1 million viewers tuned in to see the StarCraft II tournament at the MLG Winter Championship in Dallas, TX, featuring the new units and game-balance introduced in the expansion. You can read all about these major milestones in our latest press release. We want to give another huge "THANK YOU" to all of the StarCraft gamers out there who have helped usher in a new era of Swarm dominance!

Kerrigan has returned, and her brood has begun creeping planet earth. In the wake of a massive midnight launch event spanning thousands of stores across five continents, the global zerg invasion has commenced. Players around the world are now streaming back into the Koprulu sector to start the epic new chapter in the saga of StarCraft II. Check out the press release for all the details, and prepare to join the Swarm.

On March 11, we’ll kick off our global Heart of the Swarm launch party with activities and live stream content leading up to the midnight release. Read the press release for the details, and visit the Heart of the Swarm launch event site to see what’s going down in your neck of the world. We hope you’ll come out, join the party and help Kerrigan usher in a new era of Swarm dominance.

The minions of Hell grow stronger.

We’re excited to announce that Diablo III is being developed for the Sony PlayStation^®3 computer entertainment system. We’ll also be adapting the award-winning action–role-playing game for Sony's newly announced platform: the PlayStation^® 4!

Sit Down, Relax, and Kill Some Demons

Diablo III for the PS3^™/PS4^™ will be based on the core PC game and feature all the latest updates, including Paragon levels, the Infernal Machine event, Monster Power, Brawling, and more. This version is also being tailored with customized controls, a new user interface, and a dynamic camera perspective to provide an awesome Diablo III experience for PlayStation gamers.

Players will be able to wage war against the Burning Hells on their own in single-player games as well as team up and destroy countless demons with their fellow Nephalem in multiplayer games. For multiplayer, players will have the option to choose between four-player online (complete with matchmaking) and four-player local co-op modes for their couch-based warfare.

Follow the Falling Star to Boston, MA

The PS3 version of Diablo III will make its public debut at PAX East in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center from March 22–24, and attendees of the convention will be some of the first to defend the world of Sanctuary via handheld controllers.

We call upon all heroes to join us at the official Blizzard booth, where you can enjoy some fast-paced hack-and-slash, participate in fun contests and giveaways, and learn more about the game. (Community managers will also be on-site, and they look forward to answering your questions and slaying some of Diablo’s many malevolent minions with you.)

For more information, be sure to check out the official press release, and stay tuned to Diablo3.com for future updates.

BLIZZCON!!!!!! The seventh BlizzCon is coming to the Anaheim Convention Center Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9, 2013. Those who join us for this epic community gathering will experience two days of hands-on time with the latest Blizzard games, in-depth developer discussion panels, intense eSports action featuring some of the top players in the world, and a variety of other exciting activities and events. Further details on the show, including ticket pricing and availability, will be posted on BlizzCon.com at a later date. In the meantime, check out the press release for more info and prepare to help us blow Anaheim's mind.

Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of World of Warcraft players around the world who purchased the Cinder Kitten pet, we’ve raised a total of more than $2.3 million USD to support the American Red Cross’s ongoing Superstorm Sandy relief efforts. In December, we announced that for every Cinder Kitten purchased by December 31, 2012, 100% of the adoption fee would be going to assist victims of this disaster -- and the community embraced this fiery feline in droves, helping out a great cause in the process. Thanks again to everyone who helped make a difference.

Just a few weeks from now will see the official release of The Art of Blizzard book, published by Insight Editions. The Art of Blizzard is a superbly high-quality tome dedicated to presenting and preserving the visual history of Blizzard and our Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo franchises. With over 350 pages and nearly 800 individual pieces, including a never-before-seen look into some of our unpublished projects, this will certainly be a must-have collector’s item to adorn even the most discerning of bookshelves and coffee tables.

Read more.

You provided us with yet another inspirational, entertaining, and downright hilarious collection of Blizzard-themed holiday greeting cards and baked treats to cap off 2012. We look back on all of the entries fondly, as if the spirited (and the quirky) creators among you buff our IRL mana regen.

And now for some of our favorites. . . .

Update (1/1/2013): The donation period has ended. Our thanks to all who participated!

Now up for adoption in the Pet Store: the Cinder Kitten, a fiery little feline looking for a home to warm. Adopt this adorable rascal, and you’ll help bring relief to the victims of Superstorm Sandy in the process. From now until December 31, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. PST, 100% of the $10 USD adoption fee will be donated to the American Red Cross's Superstorm Sandy relief efforts. This support will enable the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support, and other assistance to victims of this disaster.

The Battle.net World Championship kicks off at 6:00 p.m. PST this Friday, November 16, and you can catch all the action live, FREE, and in HD over at www.battle.net/bwc. Tune in to watch the epic finale of the StarCraft II World Championship Series and the World of Warcraft Arena Global Finals, as some of the world’s best pro gamers battle it out for glory, cash prizes, and the coveted title of world champion. Read all about it in our latest press release, and we’ll see you online!

Prepare for the approaching Swarm.... On March 12, 2013, StarCraft® II: Heart of the Swarm™ launches around the world, igniting an intergalactic storm of intense strategic combat and opening a savage new chapter in the war between terran, protoss, and zerg. You can prepurchase the expansion NOW through Battle.net® and be ready to play the moment it goes live.

In addition to the Standard Edition and retail-exclusive Collector’s Edition packed with bonus items, you’ll also have the option to upgrade a Standard Edition to the Digital Deluxe Edition, which comes equipped with all the in-game content from the physical Collector’s Edition, including a Torrasque skin for your zerg Ultralisks in Heart of the Swarm multiplayer, unique Swarm-infested portraits for your StarCraft II character profile, a Baneling pet for your World of Warcraft® characters, and a set of zerg-ified blade wings for your heroes in Diablo® III.

Whether you plan to tear a path of destruction through the all-new Kerrigan-focused single-player campaign or jump right into the multiplayer action with the devastating new units under your command, it’s never too early to begin preparing for your Heart of the Swarm experience. Simply log in to your Battle.net® account and prepurchase Heart of the Swarm, and you’ll be flagged to automatically download the expansion content prior to launch.

Learn more about Heart of the Swarm

Learn more about the Digital Deluxe Edition

Learn more about the Collector’s Edition

For more details on the March 12 launch of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, be sure to head to the Heart of the Swarm game page to learn more about the expansion and prepurchase your digital copy.

*When you prepurchase StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, you will be able to download an encrypted version of the game once it’s available, prior to the game’s release. This content will be unlocked and available for play when the expansion launches on March 12, 2013.

As we count down the days until the Battle.net World Championship kicks off in Shanghai, China, the time has come to seed the brackets with all 32 players who will compete in the StarCraft II World Championship Series Global Finals. To assist in that task, Sean ‘Day[9]’ Plott, Ben ‘MrBitter’ Nichol, and Kevin ‘Rotterdam’ van der Kooi joined Blizzard’s own Rob Simpson and Jacqueline Geller as they explained the format of the tournament and randomly added the competitors to their groups.

The Battle.net World Championship gets underway next weekend. For a written explanation of the StarCraft II tournament, check out our How It’s Played article.

On November 17 & 18, join millions of other eSports fans across the globe to experience the epic conclusion of the Battle.net World Championship Series . . . and see who will take home the trophy and be crowned World Champion in StarCraft II and World of Warcraft Arena. The sold-out live event takes place in Shanghai, China and will feature a free, six-channel HD broadcast hosted on www.battle.net/bwc

The Blizzard Comic Contest is back for another three months. We’re looking for original comics focused on the Warcraft, Diablo, or StarCraft universes... and we want you to create them. Each month, we’ll review your submissions and select one winning comic to receive a prize. We’ll also choose several honorable mentions; winning entries and honorable mentions will be displayed on our comic pages for all the universe to enjoy. You can learn more details about the all-new prizes, read the complete official rules, and submit your comics here.

The winners of this year's pumpkin-carving contest have been chosen -- and they're monstrously spectacular. We'd like to thank everyone who participated this year, and we can't wait to see your mad scientist skills in action again next time around. Check out all of the creepy, incredible, and creative winning pumpkins here.

The battle for Pandaria has only just begun, but already millions of World of Warcraft players around the world have signed up to join the fray. Today we announced that Mists of Pandaria sold through approximately 2.7 million copies during the first week of its launch, and World of Warcraft’s global player passed the 10 million subscriber mark. Read the press release for more information, head to the Mists of Pandaria website to learn more about the latest expansion, and check the World of Warcraft community site regularly to find out what’s in store for the heroes of the Horde and Alliance as the fight for Pandaria progresses.

World of Warcraft®: Mists of Pandaria™ is now live and available in a store near you! You can also click here to upgrade to the digital version directly through Blizzard. Featuring a new playable race (the pandaren), a new character class (the monk), and an exotic new continent to explore, the new expansion offers a huge variety of content for new and returning players. Read the press release or visit the Mists of Pandaria info page to learn more.

We just released The Story of Warcraft, a comprehensive collection that will bring you up-to-speed with everything that's happened in the Warcraft universe since the release of Warcraft: Orcs & Humans.

The story of the brave people of Azeroth and beyond has been growing and expanding with each additional release in the Warcraft series of games. It’s a tale of mighty heroes, of powerful foes, a tale of strength, and honor, and of unlimited adventure. Now, you can check out a chronicle of the major events that happened in each Warcraft game, expansion, or major content patch. Each entry includes a short summary, a video trailer, and key art for the chapter. More content such as wallpapers, character cards (so you can keep track of the scores of heroes of the Warcraft universe), and more will be added to this section soon, so stay tuned!

Check out The Story of Warcraft now! And if you have any feedback or suggestions for future updates, we’d love to hear your thoughts! Just post in the comments and let us know what you think.

Starting on the evening of September 24, we'll be celebrating the release of World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria with gamers at a number of official launch parties around the world. Read the news in today's press release and find a launch-event location near you at our Mists of Pandaria launch events website.

Please click here to read an important security update about your Battle.net account.

The time has come for the epic return of the Blizzard Comic Contest! We’re looking for original comics focused on the Warcraft, Diablo, or StarCraft universes... and we want you to create them. Each month, we’ll review your submissions and select one winning comic to receive a prize. We’ll also choose several honorable mentions; winning entries and honorable mentions will be displayed on our comic pages for all the universe to enjoy. You can learn more details about the prizes, read the complete official rules, and submit your comics here.

Mists of Pandaria Launches September 25, 2012 – Pre-Sales NOW OPEN

Heroes of Azeroth, prepare to embark for an exotic new frontier! World of Warcraft®: Mists of Pandaria™ is launching on September 25, 2012 and you can be ready to play when the servers go live by pre-purchasing the game digitally. Plus, for the first time ever, players will have the option to upgrade a pre-purchase to the all-new Digital Deluxe Edition which comes with all of the in-game items from the retail Collector’s Edition, including a World of Warcraft pet and mount, banner sigil and accent for Diablo® III, and Battle.net® portraits for StarCraft® II.

We’re pleased to announce that the Battle.net World Championship -- the grand conclusion to the StarCraft II World Championship Series and the 2012 World of Warcraft Arena global finals -- will be taking place in Shanghai, China on Nov. 17 & 18.Check out the press release to learn more.

Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the World of Warcraft^® community around the world who took part in our recent server-blade charity auction, we’ve raised more than $330,000 USD to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^®.

In October 2011, we announced that a selection of retired World of Warcraft server blades -- hardware that once housed World of Warcraft realms -- would be made available for auction for this great cause, and you responded by opening up your hearts and your guild banks. Thanks again for your support and for helping to make a difference in the lives of children.

Our anniversary page is now home to a timeline detailing the 20-year history of Blizzard Entertainment. It covers nearly every major event, beginning in 1991 – when Mike Morhaime, Frank Pearce, and Allen Adham started Silicon & Synapse, the company that would become Blizzard – and taking us to the present day.

To help with the reminiscing process, we’ve packed the timeline with nostalgia-inducing images of old offices, “retro” box art, the graphics and haircuts of the 90s, some of our most recent game release events, BlizzCons, and the opening of Blizzard offices around the world. Take a look, but keep your eyes on the timeline page, because we’ll be updating it with more noteworthy occurrences in the future.

From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank the Blizzard community for supporting our games for over two decades – here’s to many more!

Following the global launch of Diablo III on May 15, the Lord of Terror has consumed a record number of souls. More than 3.5 million copies of the game were sold as of the first day of release, making Diablo III the fastest-selling PC game of all time. As of the first week of release, Sanctuary’s heroes had already reached a total of more than 6.3 million. See the press release for all the gory details.

We’re pleased to announce that Diablo III is NOW LIVE and available for purchase online at www.diablo3.com and at retailers throughout most of the world. Check out the press release for further details, and we’ll see you in the Burning Hells!

We’re pleased to announce that several official midnight launch events will be taking place around the world, starting on the evening of May 14, to celebrate the May 15 launch of Diablo III! See the press release for further details, and check out our global Launch Event site to find a location near you.

As you and your friends explore the “Darkness Falls, Heroes Rise” site, you'll find exciting new information about Diablo III, epic videos, unlockable content, contests, and the opportunity to earn exclusive sigils for use on your customizable banner when Diablo III launches.

Join the fight for Sanctuary today! Venture to New Tristram, seek the fallen star, and fulfill your heroic destiny.

We hope you enjoyed our April Fools' Day jokes for 2012! If you missed them, check out this year's pranks:

• Blizzard Kids
• Supply Depot
• Fledgling Heroes
• Zergotchi

And so, the Blizzard Joke Squad go galumphing back whence they came, hiding amid the slithy toves that gyre and gimble in the wabe, busily plotting and scheming for the future. See you again next year!

Games can be incredibly useful tools to teach players valuable skills and life lessons. To help young gamers take learning “to the max^™,” we’re launching Blizzard Kidzz: a suite of educational games set in the Blizzard game universes. Blizzard Kidzz games will cover important subjects for gamers aged 6 and up, including mathematics, reading/writing, science, history, and more! Visit the Blizzard Kidzz preview page now for screenshots, game descriptions, and preorder information!

Blizzard Entertainment is proud to announce a revolutionary new handheld title set in its award-winning StarCraft universe, StarCraft: Supply Depot! Read more about this epic gaming experience coming soon for iOS and Android devices, and play an exclusive demo of the game featuring the complete first mission!

Pushed to their limits, the beleaguered terrans plan a last-ditch attempt to save their people from extinction. They enter deep development on the most important research project of their time, one that will elevate warfare forever.

Check out the StarCraft: Supply Depot preview now!

We are proud to announce the impending launch of a series of novels written specifically with younger Blizzard gamers in mind. This series of novels, titled Fledgling Heroes, will focus primarily on themes and topics that are relevant to teen and tween readers while still delivering epic, heart-pounding, page-turning action.

At Blizzard Entertainment, we’ve been telling stories for years. Stories about demons from a plane of eternal torment and insatiable hive-mind aliens ravaging the galaxy. Tales of armies clashing mercilessly across worlds without end. These are big stories, stories that we love—but are they real enough? Do they convey the true humanity of the characters you’ve come to know and love (or hate)?

Starting this year, our new Fledgling Heroes series of young adult novels, aimed at our growing tween and teen audience, will give you a chance to watch iconic Blizzard characters fall in love, overdo it with concealer, and tackle that most dangerous of raids: the emergency house party.

Read on to learn more about the first novels to be released under the Flegling Heroes label . . .

Appetite

Kruzz has it tough. Ever since his parents sent him away to live in cosmopolitan Stormwind, life’s been bleak. By fate or just a cruel trick of biology, he’s growing faster than the other kids. Everyone makes fun of the way he talks, and Kruzz’s body image issues are so paralyzing that he’s begun to wear a disguise to class.

But then one day, he meets a gnome. Rolli’s a star forward on the flag capture team. She’s inspirational—passionate, hotheaded, and unafraid to break the rules—and shockingly, she seems really interested in Kruzz!

There’s only one problem: Kruzz is an ogre! And he can’t stop eating, especially in a kingdom full of thousands of two-legged meats.

Rolli might care about him, but first she’ll have to get over the fact that they look really awkward together. Meanwhile, Kruzz is forced to make the most difficult of choices: embrace Rolli as the girl he’s always wanted, or cook and eat her before she realizes he’s planning to cook and eat her.

The Anger Gauntlet

Trouble is festering in the Undercity. Unruly Forsaken who were between the ages of 12 and 18 before they were reanimated are starting to question their leadership—and now these unteens have made the terrible mistake of gaining the Banshee Queen’s attention!

Sylvanas Windrunner, the undisputed ruler of the Undercity, plans a masterstroke of statecraft to quell this rebellion and pacify her people. She demands that three young members of each of the Undercity’s quarters participate in a brutal gladiatorial battle to the death, where only one dead person will survive.

Into this utterly foolproof recipe for continued totalitarianism are flung the contestants of the Mage Quarter: quick-witted, capable, likeable friends Catnip Nebelung and Mason Abernathy, along with resident elevator guard Gorgus the Belly-Maw. The odds are on Gorgus winning—but odds are made to be beaten!

The Anger Gauntlet strives to ask difficult, eternal questions. Is it okay to take someone else’s unlife if it means saving your own? Should we trust our leaders? And are 400 pages really enough to describe an arrow’s exit wound?

Ross Harrison and the Secret Academy

Eleven year-old Ross can’t stand life on the Dominion homeworld of Tarsonis. Sure, the capital of terran civilization offers plenty to do, but Ross’s adoptive parents are terrible, terrible people. His “mother” is a staunch disciplinarian who makes him eat, sleep, and go to school in the bathroom and complete 5-mile forced marches while carrying his fat brother in a backpack. And his “father” is an insufferable despot and the reigning All-Districts Hate Crimes champion.

But one day, Ross receives a private holo-vid invitation. It says that he’s special, and offers him a scholarship to study at the secret military academy of the Emperor’s Legion, the elite retinue of terran special operatives that his parents—his REAL parents—once served with. When he accepts, Ross’s whole life changes.

Ross’s natural greatness sets him on the fast-track at the Legion military academy. Despite being an emotionally perplexed creature with an underdeveloped sense of self-control and no real life experience, he’s put in charge of the famous Fourth Squad that his dad used to lead. And not a moment too soon.

When all of the Legion’s officers and their husbands and wives decide to go on an irresponsible extended holiday, the nightmarish alien zerg descend on Tarsonis in droves. Ross is the only soldier in the entire Dominion military with enough bravado and drive to save the planet from annihilation!

We’re also working on a new collection of short stories to answer one of the questions we’re most often asked about our more famous heroes and villains—“But what were they like in their early years?” Discover the turbulent adolescence of popular faces like 13-galactic-cycles-old Zeratul as he struggles with his budding psionic powers, or join young Garrosh Hellscream as he deals with an absentee father and natural disasters on a planetary scale.

Spend time with then-Warchief Thrall and Archmage Jaina Proudmoore in the warm summer days after the fall of Archimonde, when the mistrust between Alliance and Horde seems destined to fade away, and anything—anything—can happen.

The Fledgling Heroes project is something that we’ve really wanted to do ever since we started making games, but we had to wait for the right time.

And the right time... is now.

Say goodbye to your dusty old Battle.net Authenticator and hello to its new incarnation: the Zergotchi! Blizzard Entertainment’s newest authentication system takes the next step in both virtual pet and Authenticator technology to provide you with the login experience of your life! The Zergotchi will not only be an endless source of fun but will also make sure your account stays as secure and safe as ever – in style. Feed it, play with it, care for it, and give it the love it needs to grow into the monster it was meant to be.

Features:

- Adds an additional layer of security to your account
- Impressive 16-bit display
- Grows according to your play-style
- Intuitive, user-friendly interface

Check out this page to read more about the marvelous Zergotchi.

Visit the Blizzard Store today and become the proud owner of this next-generation Authenticator. But please hurry – supplies are limited!