Of everything Blizzard put onstage at the BlizzCon 2026 opening ceremony, one item is playable right now. Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom went live on September 12, 2026 US time, delivering the first new Warcraft real-time strategy storyline in more than 23 years. The last new campaign content for the series was Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne in 2003.
The campaign covers the fall of Lordaeron and how it became the Undercity, picking up where Arthas left the kingdom and following the Forsaken as they break from the Scourge’s control. Blizzard has positioned it as the bridge between The Frozen Throne and the earliest days of World of Warcraft.
What Is in the Campaign
- Structure: A four-mission prologue titled Last Days of Lordaeron, covering Arthas and the kingdom’s collapse, followed by the main campaign set around the Undercity.
- Length: Roughly 30 hours of gameplay, with close to an hour of in-game cinematics.
- Cast and setting: Sylvanas Windrunner leads the Forsaken, with Putress, the Scarlet Crusade, and Naxxramas all appearing across the story.
- Continuity: Blizzard has said the story threads here carry into World of Warcraft: Forever, the new third WoW experience launching November 4, 2026.
The Forsaken Paladin
The campaign brings a new neutral tavern hero, the Forsaken Paladin, which Blizzard describes as the first new tavern hero in over 20 years. It is free in multiplayer rather than locked behind the campaign purchase, and it works across Classic, Reforged, and Definitive Edition graphics settings. Brad Chan, senior manager of Blizzard’s RTS and RPG group and project lead on Warcraft III, presented the hero at the show and deflected questions about its multiplayer balance.
The Free 3.0 Update
Running alongside the DLC is patch 3.0, which Blizzard is treating as a definitive pass over the game’s visuals. The update rebuilds more than 600 units and refreshes environments, lighting, effects, and structures while keeping the original silhouettes and art identity intact. Players on different graphics settings can still play together. Blizzard’s release materials also list a revamped World Editor among the update’s changes.
The update matters for reasons beyond the visuals. Warcraft III: Reforged launched in 2020 to heavy criticism over missing features and technical problems, and the game has had little new content since. A paid campaign plus a free overhaul is the first substantial investment Blizzard has made in the title in years.
Paid and Free at a Glance
| Item | Cost | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forsaken Kingdom campaign | Paid DLC | Standalone or bundled with the base game, via Battle.net Shop |
| Patch 3.0 graphics update | Free | 600+ units rebuilt, refreshed lighting and environments |
| Revamped World Editor | Free | Included in the 3.0 update |
| Forsaken Paladin tavern hero | Free | Multiplayer, works across all graphics modes |
Where to Get It
Forsaken Kingdom and the base game are available from the Battle.net Shop listing for Warcraft III: Reforged, and full campaign and patch details are on the official Warcraft III site. The complete BlizzCon 2026 schedule is at the official BlizzCon site.
